The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-09-14
Domestic.

1.-THE biennial State election in Maine,
held on Monday, resulted in a substantial
Republican victory, but when comparedwith
1894, the usual majority polled by the can
didates OF that party was greatly reduced.
The lower branch of the Legislature will
probably stand 1888 republicans to eighteen
democrats, gain of twelve for the latter.
The Senate, however, will remain unchang-
ed, being, as in former years, solidly repub-
lican. All four republican congressman
were elected, but Speaker Reeds majority
was reduced. The result Of the stiff fight
Of Mckinney against Speaker Reed was
hardly apparent until later returns came in,
and then it was seen how well the demo-
cratic candidate ran. A decrease of nearly
1000 for the Speaker of the House denoted
decided lack of interest on the part of his
constituents
PRESIDENT MCKINLEY said last week in
regard to mastering out troops: II have al
ready directed that 100000 of the volunteers
shall be mustered out of the service. About
1000 will remain, as the government now
requires in Cuba, Porto Rico and the Phil
ippines larger army than the regular mil
itary establishment affords. The muster
out, like the muster in, will be as nearly as
possible according to the population of the
several states. The suggestion to muster
out all the volunteers from your State can
not therefore be entertained. 1t is the in
tention of the department to organize four
ed at present. AS far as possible these
corps will be organized according to the To-
cality in which they are stationed. Thus
there will probably be one corps for Porto
Philippines and a fourth for such other
places as may require the presence of
troops"
Col. JAMES A. SEXTON Of Chicago was
elected commander-in-chief of the National
Grand Army Encampment, at the annual
gathering held last week in Cincinnati. The
remaining officers were elected by acclama-
ton, as follows: Senior vice commander
in.chief, W. G. johnson of Cincinnati; jun
ior vice commander-in-chief,D David Ross of
Delaware: surgeon general. Dr. Pierce Of
Nebraska; chaplan-in-chief, Colonel Luz
bus of Indianapolis. Resolutions regarding
the pension department were adopted as
follows: Resoloed, That any effort to pre-
vent the honest applicant for pension from
succeeding by any subterfuge, rule or
forced construction of the laws which will
work injustice to the applicant Is to be con-
demned by all honorable men. Resolved,
That in view of the repeated complaints of
the unfair construction Of the pension laws,
and OF the making and enforcement of
rules which are in violation of the law and
inimical to the interest of applicants, this
encainpment is impelled to call upon Com
rade William Mckinley, president of the
United States, to exercise his authority and
see that the law is executed in spirit OF
Justice and liberality. Resolved, That all
rules which hinder and embarrass the al
lowance of honest pension claims should be
repealed, and we ask the president that he
use his authority to cause those whose duty
it is to execute the laws to so perform their
duty as to do justice to the soldiers and adj
minister the laws 80 as not to obstruct the
prosecution Of pensions by technical require
ments not within the province of the law
and which are only calculated to hinder
and obstruct in the effort to obtain lawful
pensions" The next encampment will be
held at Philadelphia in September, 1899.