The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-04-13
GRAND ARMY
DEADLOCK
Unable to Choose COM
mander=in=Chief. Ross
Promoted to Senior
Commander.

The Grand Army OF the Republic will
have no Co,nmanderin-Chief to succeed
. thu late James A. Sexton until the meet
ing Of tho thirty third annual ellcamp-
ment In Philadelphia next September.
but the duties OF the position will continu
to be performed by Senior Vice Command.
erin Chief w. G. johnson, OF Cincinnati.
This decision was the result Of yesterdays
meeting of the Executive Committee of
Ihe National Council of Administration
of the Grand Army, which was primarily
called into session for the purpose OF elect
ing o ander-in-Chief
The decision reached was the outcome
Of deadlock lasting for more than five
hours, and was considered a compromise.
although Vice Conmander ,lohnson's
friends declared it to be practically VIC
tory.
Therelwere but two candidates for the
vacant commanderslip, the present
Senior Vice Commander, w. c. John-
son, and Gonoral John e. Black of Chi
cargo, now Commander OF tho DEPART
nent OF Illinois.
tco were private, and the only official an
nouucement made was the result and the
fJllowing resolution, which was adopted
Whereas, For the first time in the his
tory of tho Grand Army of the Republic
the Commander-in- Chiof has died while
IA office; therefore, he it
Resolved That as q mark Of respect to
the memory Of James A. Sexton, tho late
Commander-in- Chief, the Senior Vico
perform tho duties of Commander-in-
Chief and tho office Of COMMANDMENT
Chief shall remain without an incumbent
until the meeting of the thirty third Ma
tional Encampment.
After the adoption Of the resolution the
meeting adjourned. While nothing was
officially made public in regard to the vot.
ing, IL was rumored that the vote stood
at q tie-live voting for each candidate.
The session convened at 5 in the afternoon
ht tho Grand Army headquarters, at Fifth
and Chestnut street 4, and at o'clock Ell
adjournment was taken for two hours.
No action had been taken up TO that hour.
Reoonvenlng at o'clock, the meeting
lastod until 10.
General Black represents tho State on
which tho honor of communicating was
bestowed in tho person Of tho late COM
! andor. and, as tho year is not up, it was
,imed that Illinois should lctain tho
nor till the end Of the year. In addition
General Black is prominent Grand
Army man, and has held u number Of
high positions.
For Vice Commander johnson it was
urged that he stands in line OF promotion,
tuu thIt tuO plCocuOht VI buuOt oisai'lLu-
tlons shows that in tho case Of the death of
hn officer his Immediate subordinate
should succeed him.
No personalities entered into the contest
and no charge was made that other candi-
date wash nny way unworthy of the honor
A prominent Grand Army man in spoak-
lng of the subject said that this occasion
had shown the necessity for revision oil
the ution, because as the matter
nD\y Glands fhpre ic mi htr prnpelnnt mr.
law to show what action Is tho right one
under the circumstances. Continuing he
said that the bylaws of the organization
give the power OF electlnga a SUCCESSOR to
any national officer to Educational Council
Of Administration. But that the Council
Is not empowered to delegate its functions
to the Executive Commit. 90.
In the present case the action taken was
o.. the recommendation ofJudse Advocate
Ell Torrence Of Minnesota lie said further
that had the contest been bitter one any
action takon might be contes cd and the
whole affair through lack of proper legis-
lntlon, become cause Of violent dissen-
sion
! Both sides declared themselves to be
satisfied with tho result last evening, and
there was no indication that any appeal
will be made.
4 A DELAWAEEAN' PROMOTION.
Junior vice -CnleI Dan
lei Ross, of Wilmington Del, will now
perform the duties of senior vco COM
lnander. Commander Ross Is an active
Grand Army man, and is also well known
In political and business circles. He Is
30 years of age, and served throughout tho
war as member OF Sisgel's and Hunters
statfs. He enlisted in Philadelphia in 1856!
In company Of engineers and served as
private and first sergeant. 1lo has been
commander Of Post 49, Is past commander
Of the Department Of Delaware and was
elected junior vice commander -in-chief
asst year at Cincinnati.