The National tribune., 1899-06-08

During the Spanish-kmerican war he
served as Captain of the 7th Company,
United States Volunteer Signal Corps,
operating in Porto Rico, under Gems. Miles
and Brooke. This company was known
as the Illinois Signal Corps. Comrade
National Guards, and is Manager of the
Western Union Telegraph Company at
Springfield. He was Junior Vice Com
mander of the Department in 1894. y
CALIFORNIA AND NEVADA.
Comrade T. C. Masteler, Assistant Ad-
jutant-General, San Francisco, writes as
follows:
Not since the Cabrillo celebration of
1893 has San Diego presented SO brilliant
an appearance asfit did during the 32d
annual session of the Department Encamp-
ment of the Department of California and
Nevada just closed!2
"The Encampmeht was called to order in
the Louis Opera House by Department
Commander Solomon Cahen, May 1, with
16o representatives present, as shown by
the report of the Committee on Credentials.
The first days session was taken up with
the presentation of reports and their refer
ence to proper committees. The report of
the Department Commander was an elo-
quent review of his administration, and
was repeatedly Interrupted by prolonged
applause Having bees elected the very
made the events of the past year his OPEN
ing theme. He spoke ofithe splendid army
and navy placed in the field and on sea,
saying that while "A large majority of the
comrades were precluded by age from be-
coming active partici pants in the glorious
achievements during the past year, they
were well and prominently connected with
the movements, battles, and victories of
our fleets and armies, through comrades
who were the actual leaders and command
ers'' F-a
The Commander paid beautiful tribute
to the loyal women who compose the
Woman's Relief Corps, and whose I'M
SWervlng loyalty, generous treatment of
the old soldiers, and their unstnted de-
vetion to the Order make it impossible to
say too much in praise of their noble char
acter. The Sons of Veterans were urged
to more earnest efforts in recruiting their
ranks.
The Commander held that the Federal
and State laws relating to the employ
ment in public positions Of veterans of the
civil war in preference to others, was SO
honored in the breach that comrades gen.
orally complain of a policy which they had
every right to believe would be changed ere
this, particularly as it has been promised
by a power and Administration the Or
ganization helped to create, and to the
support of which it has given its most
loyal adherence.
He advocated the cause of military in
struction in the public schools as whole
some lesson to the youth of our country,
that the best way to preserve peace, is to be
prepared for war. This character of in
struction he is glad to see is committed to
the care of Grand Army comrades, whose
visits to the public SCHOOLS are always re-
ceived with loving reverence by the loyal
young students.
The report of the Assistant Adiutant-
General shows that at the close of the year
1897 the membership of the Department
was 5,355, distributed among la Posts.
During the term ended Dec 81, 1898, there
were S22 gained by membership, most of
them by muster, and 1 ,051 lost-of which
number $50 were mustered OUT to join
the Grand Army above the skies; 528 were
lost by suspension, and the balance by
honorable discharge, transfer, delinquent
report, and surrender of charter This
leaves a total membership in this Depart
ment of 5, 16 comrades in 1O4 Posts
Inspector Blinn's report was very COM
plete and interesting, as it presented the
fact that there are relief funds on hand
amounting to S11, ,3S7.30; Post funds in
hands of Quartermasters, S9925.26, and
other property amounting to S21 1913 %
consisting OF bonds, securities, real estate,
etc.
Comrade j; J; Lyon, mortuary regis
trar, transmitted ms report, which en-
braced the names of 127 comrades who con-
stituted the roll of the dead for the year,
and who were buried by comrades in the
Department. II 1II.
A handsome badge was presented the
retiring Department Commander. The
badge is the regularinsignia of the G "A r.,
but with the bar of Major-General across
the flag, the two stars being represented by
beautiful diamonds Suspended from the
bar, in the center, is a miniature gold bear.
INDIANA ENGAGEMENT.
NLo tn
daughters, sons aHd friends were out in
full force at the recent Department Encamp-
ment at Terre Haute and for three days the
blue uniforms, brass buttons and National
colors were everywhere Many pleasant
Campfires, Reunions ani social gatherings
were held, the regimental Reunions being
particularly interesting, as it was at these
that comrades who perhaps had not met
since their muster-out gathered to talk over
the experiences of over 50 years ago
Rev. Daniel l.. Ryan, Department Com