The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-08-28
Congressman Eugene F. Loud
Faces His AdVersaries Ask
ing for Justice.
Annual Encampment of the Army and Navy
Republican League-Gage Indorsed
Seamans Elected Commander.

Delegates to the fifteenth annual en-
campment of the Army and Navy Repub-
lican League assembled at Alcazar Hall
at p. m. yesterday. The session, lasting
from o'clock until p. m, was animated
throughout and at intervals exciting.
A motion to indorse Leon Jones for
Sheriff of San Francisco was carried
with cheers for Jones, but a motion to
indorse Eugene T. Loud for Congress in
the Fifth District caused a breeze of
excitement and prompted Mr.. Loud to
assert that his name had been brought
before the convention without his knowl-
edge or consent. Sharp strife between
Los Angeles and Oakland over the office
of commander-in-chief resulted in an
other victory for the south. The honor
went to w. H. Seamans, close personal
friend of Henry It. Gage, the Republi-
can nominee for Governor.
The convention was called to order by
Judge McElroy, -in-chfef.
Little time was lost in preliminaries. A
committee on credentials was appointed.
but the hall was so densely packed with
Grand Army veterans, who had assem-
bled either as delegates or spectators,
that the committee had hard work to
get out of the main hall into smaller
room. While the committee was exam
lining the credentials presented by the va
rious camps, the convention was enliv-
ened by spirited speeches. The comman-
der introduced Comrade Loud, and the
representative In Congress from the
Fifth responded. He observed that 1t
would not be the truth to say that the
call TO speak was unexpected, as every
one knew that men in public life We're
expected to speak on such occasions. He
recalled the Incidents of his youth and
the great events of the war from 1861 to
1866. and paid compliment to the civic
patriotism of the veterans, who were de-
tending the civil interests of the coun-
try as good citizens. He spoke of his
own reluctance, as a public man, to ad-
yocate that the country should embark
in a war with Spain. In substance he
said:
Our work has not ended. The nation
has entered on new course Graver
fore Confronted this country. I dreaded
the embarkation of the country in another
war, fearing that questions of government
provide for. We must legislate anew.
duced. When the year began these ques-
in the hearts of the American people
there is a sentiment that will not permit
the surrender of anything we have fought
and have been called ultra-conservative
but realize that Porto Rico and Cuba
must be governed by the strong arm of
a powerful nation: In my Judgment, Cuba
win meyer pass from under the folds. of
the American flag.
THE conditions and elements of COM
mercfal expansion of the Atlantic coast
Of our country as applied to the retention
Of Cuba and Porto Rico apply with equal
force to the Pacific Coast commercial de-
mands in. reference to the Philippine
Islands. A strong government Is there
needed, so that the commerce of the Pa
cific will receive the advantage of the
acquisition
Colonel George Babcock was the next
on the platform, and he spoke of the new
page in the history of the human race.
He declared that the flag should ever re-
main where it now floats. He believed
that the war was ordained as step in
the emancipation of the human race.
Speeches were made by w. II. Seamans,
General e; S. salomon. Major F. A. sher-
colt and Colonel c. l.. Pierce.
w. H. H. Hart told the delegates about
a private interview which he had recently
with President Mckinley. According to
the version of the ex-Attorney General
the interview lasted from midnight until
a. m Schoonemaker of New Jersey
was present throughout the conference.
When the interview began the President
expressed some doubt as to the wisdom