The National tribune., 1898-12-29

Eoings Of Interest Among the Union Ex
Sailors.

Eotngs OF interest Among the Union Ex'
Sailors.
Rear Admiral J. +. r. Foss has issued
General Order No. from National Head
quarters, Naval Veterans Association, Min
neapolis, Mimi. appointing as National Aids
the following shipmates: Joachim Hempel,
New York City; +. A. Brown, Salem, Mass.
Jos. Clifford, Providence, tR. L.; Thomas Cox,
Willoughby, o.; Chas Ii. Evans, Baltimore,
Nd; X. N. Hopkins. Chicago, ILL.,; Edwin
F. Boyce, Gaysport, O.. = Horace l.. Worces-
ter, Rochester, NJ H.; +. J. M. Button,
Annapolis, Md; Jos. II. McGlees, w. Phil
adelphia, Pa; William Ryder, Portsmouth,
Va; Eben B. Hill ST. Louis Mo.
Division Chiefs are announced as follows:
Eastern Division-J. d. Baker, Farragut
Association, 80, Boston, Mass
Central Division-John Bower, Farra-
gut Association, /, Philadelphia.
Southern Division-Will L. Atkins, Naval
| Veteran Association, 13, Cincinnati, O.
| Western Observation-Disclosures +. Gooding,
| Illinois Naval Veteran Association, IS, Chi
cago.
At the Convention at Cincinnati Septem
Der, 1898, resolution was offered to amend
the Constitution ard General Laws of the Ma
tlOnal Association so as to admit 10 full menl-
hership the Naval Veterans of the Spanish
War. By an almost unanimous vote of the
Convention this resolution was laid upon
the table for ono year, thus preventing any
action upon it until our next Convention.
A special committee Of Farragut Associa-
ton, 2, Port of New York, having recently
issued circular letter to the various local
Associations, requesting vote on this resi-
luton, and asking that such vote be reported
| to them, the Rear-Admral Commanding calls
attention of all local Associations to the fact
that this resolution having been, by vote OF
the Convention, laid upon the table for one
year, it IS not proper or legal to take any
action thereon until the expiration of the time
specified. Every shipmate of the National
Association has ken an obligation to sustain
and be governed by the Constitution and
General Laws. These provide that the only
persons who can become members are any
officer. appointed or enlisted man, who has
served III the U. S. Navy, U. S. Marine
Corps, U. S. Revenue Marine Service, during
any portion of the time between April IL,
| 1861, and Aug. 30. 1865, " etc, excepting hon
orary members, provided for in Sec. 2 OF Art.
| ~ of the Constitution
| Rear-Admral Foss continuing, says:
The eligibility clause of the Constitution,
as above quoted, Is to-day i'll full force and
effect, and has never been amended III any
way. 1t is clear, full. explicit 1t shows
clearly the design OF the founders of our As
sociatiOn. The last two Conventions show
the wish of the large majority Ot our ship
mates 10 retain the charter given by the
founders of our Association. and The prOvls-
ions of the Constitution and General Laws
must be regarded as the law covering every
National officer local officer and shipmate of
this Association, until such time as it is legally
/ III. Ill, .1x,l<
gates in COnventiOnasSembled.
- The whole world. hon6rs and gives credit
to the gallant naval heroes of the Spanish
war; none more 50, t!,;ip the shipmates of
our Association; butw cannot legsIate them
into veterans of thssciyilwar, nor turn buck
| the hands of time to make them eligible to
membership i'll an assoca ion Of civil war
veterans Our Convention this year laid the
whole matter On the table until next Con-
vention, and your commanding officer an
nOunces that he should consider himself I'M
/ true TO his obligations and unmindtul of the
voice of his shipmates as expressed ut Gin
ciDnati if he were to recognize rs members of
this Association any who did not serve some
portion OF the tune between April. 1861, to
August, 1865.
. 1t will be for our next Convention to de-
eide as to whether they will change the char
acter OF our Association and do away with
tie civil war veteran feature. Until our Con-
stitut.on shall be legally amended at next
Convention, these Headquarters cannot Iecog
nize any other standard OF eligibility than
what the Constitution declares to-day"
TIE following correspondence explains it
self, and cannot but prove a matter OF pride
and coagratnIation TO every shipmate OF the
Association:
| FLAGSHIP OLYMPIA, MANILA. p. l.,
| Oct. 90, 1898.
| w. f. JACOBS, Secretary Gideon Welles
| Naval Veteran Assn, New Haven, Conn
| DEAR SIR: In reply to your letter of May
8, | assure you it would afford me much
pleasure TO be enrolled as a member of the
Gideon Welles Naval Veteran Association of
Connecticut. My most sincere thanks are
due to the members of your Association for
their expressions of greeting and thanks so
kindly expressed in yOur letter.
With best wishes, believe me, very sincerely,
GEORGE DEWEY.
Rear-Admiral Dewey was elected mem
Der Of the Association by unanimous vote.
and Secretary w. L. Jacobs, OF Gideon Welles
Association, has forwarded badge and copy OF
the Rules and Regulations to him at Manila.