The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-03-17
THE GRAND ARMY.
What Veterans Are Doing for
the Good of the Order.

| He calls the attention of comrades to the
| action of the 31st National Encampment,
| favoring the establishment of a National
| Military Park at Nicksburg, as an APP
pEopriate monument to the great COM
mander whose genius planned the NlckS-
| burg campaign and brilliantly carried it to
| a successful issue" In a resolution the
| Grand Army of the Republic Endorsed the
| bill for the establishment of the Park. and
| respectfully petitioned that it be passed by
| the present Congress.
| Commander Chief j. p. S. Goblin,
| Past Commanders in-Chef "A. G. Weissert,
| John KountZ, John p. Rea, j. n. Walker,
| 7. S. Clarkson, and Comrades &. NJ. Dodge
and Frederick ID. Grant, Department OF
| New York; A. Hickenlooper, Ohio; John
McNulta, Illinois; w. ID. Hoard, Wisconsin;
| VIM. H. Hodgkins, Massachusetts; Samuel
| A. Losch, Pennsylvania Nelson Cole,
Missouri; William Humphreys, Michigan;
| Geo. f. McGinnis, Indiana; c. l.. Davidson,
| Iowa, constitute the committee which is
| pressing the measure tefore Congress, and
the Commander-inC Chief asks the hearty
co operation and support of every member
| of the G. n.
The last Encampment authorized the
publication Of the journals of the Ma
| tional Encampments, with the General
| Orders of each year, if q sufficient number
of subscribers could be obtained to defray
the cost. COMMANDMENT Chief Goblin in
vites subscriptions through the different
| Departments.
| On the recommendation of the Chaplain
in-Chief the late Encampment authorized
| a committee to prepare suitable blanks for
| Post and Department Chaplain's Me
mortal Day Report Rev. Mark b. Taylor,
Past Chaplain in Chief; Rev. John w.
+ Savers, Chaplain of the Department of
Pennsylvania; Rev. Charles f. Hill, Chap
| lain of the Department of New Jersey,
| have been announced as a committee III
| is also proposed to secure. through the
| President OF each Department OF the W.R.C.
| the number of women of that Order par
! ticipating with the Posts in Memorial Sab
| hath services Like information will be
asked from the Sons of Veterans.
The printed Proceedings of the 31St Ma
4 tional Encamrment of the Grand Army OF
| the Republic, held at Buffalo, n. y, Aug:
| rs and q, 1897, also copies OF report OF
! Committee on Pensions and of Committee
on School Histories made to the 31st Ma
tiOnal Encampment. have been transmitted
to the various Department Headquarters
I for distribution to Posts.
The COMMANDMENT Chief requests cOntri-
buttons, as heretofore from Posts and COM
rades to aid our comrades in the Southern
Departments in paying the annual tribute
of flag and flowers to the memory OF former
c0mrades-in arms who noW rest in the vari-
Gus National Cemeteries The membership
Of the Grand Army in these localities is
not large. while the duties devOlvlng upon
them are heavy.
Remittances may be sent to Thomas j.
Stewart, Adiutant- General, Fifth and
Chestnut streets, Philadelphia, Pa.
MAINE ENcAMPMEST
The recent Encampment OF the Depart
ment Of Maine, held at Lewiston, was well
attended" Commander Leroy T. Carleton
presided. His address was largely devoted
to pension matters, and his vigorous utter
ances in defense of the veterans rights
were heartily Endorsed by the Encamp-
ment.
Asst Adi't-Gen Lorenzo B. Hill presented
his report, which showed a net loss in mem
bership during the year of 543,, leaving the
present number in good standing 1885
The number Of Posts is the same as last
year, 1875. There remain suspended 719
members. There had been expended in
| relief by the different Posts OF the Depart
ment something over 81 ,272.
Department Chaplain j. w. Webster pre-
scented an interesting report The number
Of deaths during the year were pa as
against l75 during the previous year.
The Maine W.R.C. sent "a letter which
gave their membership at 1889, and said
that overqSi 500 had been expended by the
Department in charity work during the
| year. and 81 $40 by the different Corps.
Col Harry WeiSsinger, OF Louisville, who
saw service in the Confederate army, pre-
scented on behalf OF his city I" Peace Flag"
| TO the Maine Department. 1t was milk
white banner inscribed with fitting words,
and bringing good will and love from the
boys i'm gray to the boys in blue
/ The vote for Department Commander
/ stood PA for Rev. c. a. Southland, of Lewis
| ton. to 1873 for ex-Gov. Robbie, of Portland.
| Gov. Robe in brief speech moved that
unanimous. The following officers were
| elected by reclamation: 5. Y. c., Stanley
/ Plumnler, Dexter; j. V. c., /. Y. Emerson
| lewiston Medical Director, j. II. McGre-
| gor; Chap, j. w. Webster. Hon. Hillman
| Smith and Edwin Riley were elected as
members OF the Council OF Administration.
1 Resolutions were unanimously passed
| requesting the Maine delegation in Con
gress to bear in mind that in all Federal
! appointments the veteran soldiers and
sailors should have preference.
i Another resolution unanimously passed
| was . That the Department OF Maine
| views with unqualified disapproval the in
reduction into the public schools Of text
books on American history which mis-
| represent the character and belittle the
| achievements and heroism of those whC
fought to save the Union during the dark
days from 1861 to 1865, while magnifyinl
| the accomplishments, exaggeratng the
daring and casting fake glamour of senti
ment about The motives and conduct Of
those who fought to destroy the Union"
| FLORIDA ENCAMPMENT.
| Although the attendance at the Gaines
| vile Encampment of the Department Of
| Florida was not as large as expected, what
| was lacking in numbers was made up in
enthus assn Of the old veterans. Depart
ment Commander Ellis presided.
The most important business to come be
fore the Encampment was the election OF
| officers George ii. Packwood, of Tampa
was elected Commander; Edwin Kirby, oil
| Fruitland, Senior Vice Commander; Col.
| H. r. Dutton Of Gainesville, Junior Vice
Commander; j. X. Rainey, of St. Angus
I tine, Medical Director, and j. p. Shoupe,
of MikesviIle, Chaplain. Palatka was
| selected as the next place of meeting.
feature of the Encampment was the
Campfire, where soldiers of. the Blue "
and . Gray" assembled I'M friendly Re
union. The arrangements were made
under the direction Of Lew Wallace Post
The GAR. veterans were met by the
United Confederate Veterans, and under
escort Of the East Florida Seminary Cadets
the Blue and Gray" marched to the
| hall arm in arm. u
Co. H. T.. Dutton introduced Col. E. p.
! Cater, of the Fast Florida Seminary, who
welcomed the veterans. The response was
| by Rev. j. +. Shoupe, Department Chap
| lain. Comrade Shoupe is IA fluent speaker,
| and his words were cheered to an echo,
but when he shouted in laundering tones
'Nivi Cuba Libre" the house fairly
trembled.
| Dixie" was played amidst wild en-
| th,tsiaSm and cheers went lD from both