The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1898-09-16
ENCAMPMENT ENDED
The Grand Army Finishes the Elec-
ton of Its officers.
M'KINLEY AND ALGER ENDORSED.
The Report of the Committee on Pensions
Was Adopted without Discussion-A
Generous Construction OF the
Pension Laws Wanted.

of the Grand Army of the Republic
was concluded late in the afternoon
yesterday. There was a small num-
Der comparatively in attendance in the
morning. but later the numbers were
increased and the desire to complete
the work and turn TO other duties was
so great that the rule in almost every
instance was to adopt reports as pre-
sented, and in this way the pension
report went through without objec-
tion, although it was modified later to
take away any impression that might
have arisen that President Mckinley
was under censure.
The encampment opened yesterday
morning and proceeded to finish the
election of officers. The following
were elected by reclamation: Senior
vice commander-in-ch w. c. john
son, of Cincinnati; Junior vice com
mander-in-chief, David Ross, of Della
ware; surgeon general, DIR. Pierce, of
Nebraska: chaplain-in-chief, Col. Lu-
cas-, of indianapolis. The reports of
committees were read and adopted.
While the delegates we're waiting
for the report on resolutions the ques-
tion of admitting those who were
I drafted or otherwise enlisted in the
confederate army and afterward joined
the federal army was precipitated by
the department of Tennessee. The
resolutions Endorsing President Nc
Kinley and Secretary Alger for
their conduct of the war were adopted
by a unanimous vote in scene of
most enthusiastic demonstrations
The rannrt IF tho pOn m ittaa on nam
sions is as follows:
Your committee to whom was referred the
resolutions relating 10 the pension question
reports that it has considered all resolutions
respecting the subject matter, and recommends
the adoption Of the following;
Resolved, That II is the judgment OF this en-
campment that In the administration OF the
pension laws generous and patriotic con-
struction should govern, and the laws be adj
ministered in the spirit OF justice and fairness
In which they were enacted
Resolved, That any effort to prevent the
honest applicant for "A pension from succeed
ing by any subterfugc, rule, or forced construc-
ton Of the laws which will work injustice to
the applicant is to be condemned by all hon
Orable men.
Resolved. That in view OF the repeated COM
plants Of the unfair construction Of the pen
sion law aud Of the making and enforcement Of
rules which are in violation OF the law and in
imiea TO the interest OF applicants impels this
encampment to call upon Comrade William
Mckinley, president Of the United States to
exercise his authority and to see that the law
IS executed in spirit OF fairness, justice and
liberality.
Resolved That all rules which tend to hinder
and embarrass the allowance OF honest pension
claims should be repealed, and we ask the
president that he use his authority to cause
those whose duty IL Is to execute the laws to so
perform their duty as to do justice to the SOL
nd adm nfpfN fha laKu not IN, "a.
Struct the prosecution Of pensions by technical
requirements not within the province OF the
law and which are only calculated to hinder
and obstruct In the EFFORT to obtain lawful PEN
sionS
Resolved That the rule Of the pension ONCE
by which widow Is debarred from pension II
she has an income OF tl00 per year Is unjust,
and we ask the president that the order be alb
rogated and the minimum income debarring
from pensions be fixed at not less than $500 per
aunum. In this connection we desire TO inform
the president that very early in his admins
traiion IL was announced by q high official in
the pension ONCE that the widows limit would
be raised to $500, but It never materialized
Resolved That we ask for the re-establish-
ing Of order 1874, which was enforced under the
Harrison regime This order, in simple terms.
took coRnizance in rating mans pension OF
all the disabilities he suffered under. II was
abroRated by the last administration. and II
was held that TO be entitled TO the lowest rate
Of 10 per month a comrade must have one dis
ability which is rated at that amount II he
mas three disabilities rated az ~ ench he gets
no pension at all This iniquitous rule Is
maintained up to this hour, and we submit Il
is not such treatment as we had "a right to ex-
peCt from Comrade William Mckinley.
The report was adopted without dis
cussion.
Considerable discussion arose upon
the proposition from the department
of Tennessee TO amend the rules so as
TO make soldiers who had been con.
scripted in the rebel army and who
afterward served in the union army
and were honorably discharged eligi-
BILE TO membersh p in the Grand Army.
, A resolution offered by comrade
from New York, declaring it to be
treason for any member of the Grand
Army TO refuse TO do all in his power
to give employment to fellow-mem-
, bers was the subject of quite an ami
mated discussion. 1t was charged by
the opponents of the resolution that
its purpose was 30 cast censure upon
|, congress or upon individual members
, of congress, and that such action was
undignified and unbecoming from this
encampment An amendment was
offered TO modify the resolution by
striking out the word treason and in
sorting a milder phrase. But the en-.
campment, with considerable unanim'
, ity, voted down the resolution.
The application by the Ladies' Re.
lief corps for permission to amend
their constitution so as To enable
them TO use relief funds for the benefit
, of soldiers of the Spanish-American
war was acted upon favorably by the
encampment
The proposition to make eligible to
membership in the Grand Army sol.
I diers who have served in the war with
Spain was laid on the table.
This ceremony of installing newly
elected officers was performed by Com
rade Wagner. The last action of the
encampment was the adoption by a
rising vote of vote of thanks to the
retiring commander-in-chief, Gen.