Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-09-07
The Grand Army Now Settles
Down to Solid Work,
Col. Johnson Elected Commander-in-
Chief for Unexpired Term.
"A. o. Shaw. New York. and Leo Rcssieur. dis.
souri,, Leading Candidates.


national encampment in the Crane
Opera house. The election of the next
Commander-in-ch is an importanr
question which will be decided by the
delegates. Col. VIM. G. Johnson, the
acting communicated chief, was elect
ed TO fill the unexpired term of two
days. This will render him ineligible
to candidacy for the full term and he
VIII be given the title Of past-com-
manderin-chief. The contest for the
! commandership is between Albert D.
Shaw of New York, and Judge Leo
| Ressieur of Missouri
There are likely to be lively times in
| the meeting of the council OF admins
tration after the adjournment of the
| convention. There will be an effort to
! change the method of choosing the ex-
| ecutiVe committee which is practically
the governing body Of the national or
ganization. Hitherto it has been the
/ rule To authorize the commandment
/ chief TO appoint from the members of
\ the council of administration seven
men 10 act as the executive committee.
! Added to their number are the adj
jutant general and quartermaster gen
/ eral. who are also appointed by the
communicative chief. Elections are
( are made by delegates selected. one
I from each 1000 comrades, a delegate
| from large, and from each state de-
! partment and All past communicating
chiefs, and senior vice commanders-in-
chief.
| The National Encampment met in
| executive session at II o'clock. The
/ delegates did not hold the customary
/ open meeting owing to the large
amount of business to be transferred.
! The encampment is made up of 344
| delegates from the various states and
! territories, $50 department officers. III
national officers and post commanders
! in conference and 6S2 post department
commanders, the total voting strength
| being 1852.
The opening address was made by
Senior Vice Commander in Chief w. C.
! Johnson. Then followed reading of
! reports.
The report OF Alonzo Williams Of
Providence. r. l., inspector general
gave the loss by death as 1894, which
added to losses through other causes
such as discharges. honora BILE and dis
honorable, surrender of charter. sus-
pensions and transfers. made the total
loss 1850. The number of members in
good standing, June so, 1899, was 2S7,-
gSl.
a committee on resolutions was then
appointed, consisting of one member
from each of the 10 departments
The most important event of the
mornings session was election of
Senior Vice Commander Johnson as
commanders n-chief to serve the I'M
expired term Of the late Col. Sexton.
Commander Johnson will continue in
office until the end of this encamp-
ment.
Daniel Ross of Wilmington, Del.
junior vice commander. was elevated
to the office of senior vice commander,
succeeding Col. Johnson.
The first business after recess was
the selection Of 4 place for the next
encampment. and Chicago was chosen
by reclamation.
The report of the committee on pen
Sions was then read and a motion was
made to refer it to the committee on
resolutions. This created such discus
SION many delegates favoring the i'm
mediate adoption Of a resolution COW
ering the evils mentioned in the re-
port The Michigan delegates objected
to the report on the ground that it
failed to specify what the Grand Army
wanted. They We're supported by the
Indiana. Kansas and New York dele
gates. After discussion lasting near
~ four hours the report. was referred
back to the committee on pensions
with instructions that it be presented
OF
concentrations and resolutions. The
report will be printed, tonight and
distributed among the delegates I'm
til then it will be withheld from publ
cation.
The complaint of the veterans, as
contained in the pension committees
report. is that the law governing the
granting of pensions is misconstrued
by the pension examiner. The report
is not critical, but is said to contain
statement of facts as they exist in the
pension department.
The encampment adjourned at $50
o'clock to meet tomorrow morning.
The 18th annual convention OF the Wo- |
mans Relief Corps began. this morning |
President Flo Jamison Miller Of Monti |
cello, ILL.,, in the chair. Nearly 800 dele
gates, representing every state in the |
Union, We're present. Following the ap
pointment of committees. President Miller /
read her annual address. The remainder
Of the session was devoted to the reading
and discussion of the reports.
The report Of Mrs. Matrfe Jamison Tip.
petit of Illinois. national secretary, for the
year ending June 30. 1885, shows a mem
bership in good standing of lis, 73l with
}5 departments and 60 detached corps AT
the present time there are 50 departments
and 50 detached corps, with membership
IN good standing Of 1896.
TIE report shows that $50 ,29771 was con.
tributed from the various departments to
the emergency fund for the soldiers of the
Spanish war. Massachusetts and Ohio
headed the list with SO, so and $40, 715.OS.
respectively.
The report of Mrs. Isabelle r. Bagley.
national treasurer. shows total receipts
IF $i2,0i01 10 the general fund during the
year and balance of sl4,17f.53. The re-
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