The Portland daily press., 1898-02-25
VETERANS TOGETHER.
Annual Meeting Department Of
Maine G. A. R.
STREETS AND HOTELS OF LEWIS
TON SWARM WITH VETERANS.

TON SWARM WITH VETERANS.
The Politics of the Order Chief Subject of
Conversational Triangular Fight For
the Commandership-. Commander
Carleton's Remarks on Pensions.
SPECIAL TO THE PREss.l
Lewiston, February 24.-The Veterans
have once more invaded and captured
the. City of Spindles, and everywhere on
the slush covered streets today were to
be seen the wearers :! of the army blue.
and .the menl who l.notls possessing uni
FORMS made known their membership in
| the Grand Army by the familiar badges
and buttons and the gilt cord around the
soft felt hat. The veterans are growing
old in years, but their greetings were as
cherry and light hearted as those of
striplings. All the forenoon they
thronged the hotel Offices and discussed
the politics of the department, never
failing source of interest and especially
so this year when triangular fight for
the Office of commander is under way.
Rev. c. A. Southland has been several
| times candidate and has long been
prominent In Grand Army affairs. Last
year he ran for the coveted place against
Hon. Leroy T. Carleton of Winthrop.
The contest was settled by the withdrawal
of Mr. Southard, and his friends were
soon at work for him again, but the field
was not left for Mr.. Southland alone.
Comrade Seth T. Snipe of Bath is an
other candidate with active friends. The
third in the trio In print of the time
| when he was announced as candidate,
| is Ex-Governor Robie of Gorham. The
Grand Army friends Of Mr.. Robie made
the announcement only a few weeks ago
that they should present his name to the
enoampment. All the Maine veterans
read the announcement with interest
and many had soon enrolled themselves
among the enthusiastic supporters of
the ex- x-governor, the movement in his
behalf rapidly gaining in strength and
numbers, so that his friends say that
WAllo tlO JdSt VI lllO C1uu1o1UOo W bC
announced, the Governor is likely to
stand in the first place when the votes
are counted On the other hand the
friends of Mr.. Southland were equally
positive in behalf of their favorite. The
opinion during tle day was that it would
be Robbie or Southard. The election oc-
ours tomorrow. All the candidates were
on the ground and their rooms in the
Hotel Atwood were thronged with old
comrades and supporters.
The discussion of,department politics
and the exchange Of greetings was start
ed afresh with each arrival of veterans
and every incoming train during the day
was crowded with them. Among the
Portland men seen in the crowds were
Commander Larnson of Bosworth Post,
ex-Deparment Commander W. Fl. Green,
W. S. Dunn, Capt Whitman Sawyer, Ed
ward c. SWEET, Fl. S. Thrasher, G. E.
Dam, E. G. Milliken, L. S. Douglass
Hiram Ellis, &. g. Johnston, B. A. Nor
ton, G. G. Douglass, b. P. Ingalls,, E.
II. Hanson, A. NJ. Sawyer.
| From other places there were noticed
among others, q. II. Burbank of Saco
DR.. A. C. Hamlin and A. M. Robinson
Of Bangor, John d. Anderson of Gray,
Stanley Plummer of Dexter, State Lii
Sbrarian Carver, G. J. Bouse and Abe
Russell of Augusta, Hillman A. Smith
of Thomaston, Moses A. Stafford of Kit
terry, A. R. G. Smith, Whitetield, j. P.
Cilley of Rockland, W. A. McCausland
[ Gardiner, W. K. Dana, Westbrook, M. A.
Hanna, South Portland.
Early in the afternoon the sentirels
| took their stations at the doors of the
Lewiston city hall, and then the veterans
began to file in whispering the counter
sign as they. ys.Jpassed. The hall was well
filled when the proceedings began. The
first session is devoted largely to the pre-
sentatiop of reports and the transaction
of routine business.
Assistant Adjutant General Loren 20
B. Hill in his report presents the follow
ing statement of the condition of the De-
partnent of Maine:
| The number of members
/ in good standing in the
Department january 1897,
was 1926
The number gained during the
year 1897, as reported by Com
manders of Posts, was:
| By muster, 10S
By transfer, 27
By reinstatement, 93 22s
! $685.
The losses during the year 1897,
as reported by Commanders
of Posts, were:
| By death, 23S
By honorable discharge, 81
By transfer, 3S
By suspension, 414 III
Number remaining in good
standing Jan. 1, 1898, 7,sSt
The number remaining sus pended ii
719.
In accordance with the rules and regu
lations this Encampment will elect one
representative and one alternate at large
| ~, I%arT, fns