The herald., 1898-09-10
PRESIDENT IS PRAISED
ALoER's CONDUCT OF THE WAR
ENDoRsED
OFFICIAL HoNoRs DIVIDED
The President Earnestly Appealed to
to Make Pension Getting Some
what Less Difficult
Associated Press Special Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire. =.
CINCINNATI, Sept. 9.-The work. Of tre
Thirty-second annual encampment Of the
G. A, r. was concluded today. The ex-
pected discussions on the resolutions from
the pension commission did not occur.
The rule in almost every instance was to
adopt reports as presented. and In this way
the pension report went through without
objection, although It was modified later
TO take away any impression that might
have arisen that President Mckinley was
under censure.
While the encampment was concluded IN
The afternoon so that the national board
Of administration could meet with Com
maander-in-Chief Sexton for routine
initial work. the national convention OF the
.hree organizations Of ladies continued all
lay and until late tonight. They had
much more fighting over the officers than
the ex-soldiers. Their afternoon and even.
ing sessions were devoted to the contest
over the division of the honors, and In those
.ontests Illinois carried off almost every
thing. The department Of Illinois secured
.he comma ander-in-chief last evening, also
me president Of the Woman's Relief corps.
Today that state secured the president Of
the Ladies' Of the G. A. r. as we'll as the
president of the Daughters Of Veterans and
thirteen of the members o. the national
.ounc!l and also the secretaries and coun-
cillor Of the Women's Relief corps
The encampment opened this morning
with a small attendance and proceeded to
finish the election OF officers. The follow
ing were elected by acclamation:
Senior Vice-Commander-in-Chi ]. C.
Johnson. Cincinnati.
Junior vice-Command nd erin Chief, David
R. Ross, Delaware.
Surgeon-General, DR.. Pierce Of Nebras-
ka.
Chaplain in Chief. Colonel Lucas Of In
dianapolis.
A delegation from the National Associa-
tion Of Army Nurses presented letters OF
greeting.
The reports Of committees were read and
adopted.
Cheers for Mckinley
While the delegates were waiting for the
report on resolutions, the question Of adj
hitting those who were drafted or other
wise enlisted in the Confederate army and
afterwards served In the Federal army.
was precipitated by the Department of
Tennessee. The discussion developed a de-
sire to have this plan apply to all States
rather than to Tennessee alone and as that
will require a general amendment with
notice OF one year, the question cannot be
decided until at Philadelphia next year.
The resolutions referring TO President
Mckinley and Secretary Alger we're given
precedence when It was decided to conaider
the report of the committee ad seratim.
The resolutions referring to the Presi-
dent were first adopted by rising vote in a
scene Of most enthusiastic demonstrations.
They read as follows:
Resolved, That the Grand Army of the
Republic has watched with pride and sat
isfaction The wise, conservative. unselfish,
patriotic and statesmanlike manner In
which our honored comrade, William Nc
Kinley, as president Of the United States,
has met every emergency which the recent
trouble with Spain imposed upon our coun-
try.
That his wisdom and prudence, in his en-
deavors TO preserve peace with honor, as
well as the vigor and patriotic ardor with
which our army and navy were equipped
for the conflict when the war became i'm
m!nent, have won our hearty and unre-
Rejoicing in the glorious termination OF
the conflict in which our country has been
engaged, we hereby express our gratitude,
no; only to our distinguished comrade the
president, but also to the officers and men
in the land and naval forces Of the United
States for their heroic conduct and sublime
achievements for humanity and the glory
of our flag and country.
Alger Praised
As soon as the demonstration following
the adoption Of the resolution was over,
The following was read and adopted by a.
unanimous vote, without discussion and
with another demonstration of approval:
Resolved. That from knowledge formed
of our experience as soldiers during four
years Of active service, we recognize the
unfaltering energy and patriotic devotion
with which, as secretary Of war, Gen. AL
ger has borne the weigh:y responsibilities
and performed the important duties sud-
denly imposed by the recent war with Spain.
creating and main tanning so large an army
under such unfavorable conditions, the
deeds Of which not only shed luster on the
american soldiers, bu. also challenge the
3 lmiration of the world.
Ha Pension Matters
The resolutions on pensions caused much
E11;usslon and agitation.
&re report of the committee on pensions
sres that generous and patriotic con-
# f'tion of the law should govern the
saistration Of the department. and
Xvtlved, That In view Of the repeated
eints of the unfair construction Of
En1sion law and Of the making and en-
OF rules which are In violation of
and inimical to the interest of ap-
N this encampment Is impelled 70
#H Comrads VIM. Mckinley, presi-
&he United States, TO exercise his
and see that the law Is executed
OF fairness, Justice and liberality.
&Xd' That all rules which tend to