Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-09-07
UD\O!i FOR JOHNSON.
Chosen u. A. r Commander
Fer Two Days Term.
REPORTS OF OFFICERS MADE.
Contest For the Long Term Commander
ship Lies Between shaw and Ressieur.
Pennsylvania Dele e.ation For Shaw.
A Badge Presented to johnson.

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. Colonel VIII.
liam z. johnson of Cincinnati, the act.
ing commander i'll chief of the G.. A
H., vas elected TO fill the uneXpired
term of two days. This will render him
ineligible to candidacy for the full term,
and he will be given the title of past
conlmander-iu-chief.
The contest for the commandership is
between Colonel Albert ID. Shaw of
New York and Judge Leo Ressieur OF
MisSC uri.
There are likely to be lively times III
the meeting for the counsel of admins.
tratlon after the adjournment of the
convention. There will be an effort to
change the method of choosing the ex.
ecutlve committee, which is practically
the governing body of the national or
ganlzation.
In addition to the national encamp.
nent the following auxiliary aSsOcia-
tions began their annual meetings:
Naval Veterans, Women's Relief corps,
Ladies OF the G. A. R., Union ex-Pris-
oners of War. Ladies Auxiliary Naval
Veterans, National Army Nurses asso.
citation and Daughters of Veterans. In
addition there were many corps re-
unlOns during the day and night. The
show feature was a parade of Union eX-
Prisoners of Wac.
he encanpment Is made up of 344
delegates from the various states and
terlir rieS, $50 department officers, Ill
national officers and past commanders
Ip-chiet and 6S2 past department. conf
manuers, the total voting strength
being ,252
Inc opening address was made by
Seuiur Wee Cummander-in-C Chief w. O.
Johnson.
Ia spoke of the appointment of a
pension committee that made an in
ve,tiSstiou iii Washington, aud said the
committees report would be heard later.
vt one point he said in part
Through the efforts of Connrade
May, department commander of New
York, and Comrade Walter Thorn,
president of the Brooklyn War Veter-
ans and Sons association, President
Mckinley, on July II, 1899, issued an
executive order to cabinet officials which
protects veterans holding places in the
civil service positions exempted from
classification by his order of May 80,
1888. There is no law by which veter-
cept such as were discharged from serv-
ice, or disability, sickness or wounds
incurred III the line of duty. l, there
fore, deem it proper to recommend that
senate bill No. 3,256, or similar meas
ure, be presented to the Fifty-sixth con.
gress and through the proper channel
It's passage secured, if possible, and to
this end 1 would recommend that a
committees of tlve comrades be appointed
by thelncOming commander-in-chie
The report of Adjutant General
Thomas j. stewart said i'll part: 1.-The
membership of the organization in
good stanulug June 30, 1898, was 1913
posts, with membership of 305, 1908;
on Dec. 81, 1898, 7,17S posts, with a
membership of 29S, 747, and on June 80,
1879, $3.50 posts, with membership of
3S7,9Sl. Expended on relief during the
year, $3.50, 0,9o5. GA. -"
The report of Quartermaster General
Fred w. Splnk shows the following
financial condition of the organization:
Receipts, $26, ,3OS.6S; expenditures, $l4,-
G3J.2o; balance on hand, $11,672.45.
the surgeon general. Albert S.
Pierce, reported chat during the past Is
months ii ,0S3 deaths had occurred in
the Grand Army. There are, the report
states, l,612 deserving sick and MANNED
soldiers not receiving pensions. In gov
ernment and state homes for soldiers
and sailors there are 6, ,43I inmates and
81 Old sailors and old soldiers are in
;LllnSnOuSeS.
In lis report Daniel r. Lucas, chap.
lain lncllef. states that there are 6,6S2
sole graves unmarked. He recon-
menus that as the government furnishes
heaustones the neglected graves should
receive attention.
The report Of Alonzo Williams of
Providence, inspector general, gave the
loss by death as ! ,944, which added to
losses through other causes, such as dis
charges, honorable and dishonorable.
surrender of charter, suspensions and
transfers made the total loss 45.S55.
The number of members i'll good stand
ing June 80, 1899, was 2S7, ,9Sl.
O,her reports presented were those of
the JuuiUr vice cOmmander-in-c chief,
surgeon general and chaplaiu-in- chief
After they had been read they were
referred to the committee on amend
ments.
After the election OF Colonel johnson
as commander-in-chief Daniel Ross of
Wilmington, Del, Junior vice conf
nlander, was elevated to the office of
senior vice commander, succeeding
Colonel Johnson.
during Il recess that was held the
delegation met i'll caucus |
and voted unanimously to support Shaw |
for the office of commander in chief. |
They also decided to present no candi.
date for office to the convention. This |
action WAS taken for the purpose of |
breaking up the practice of conceding
to the state in which the encampmedt |
is held the officer of senior vice
chief.
After his election, Commander-in-
Chief johnson was the recipient of IL
badge, the gift of his chief OF
staff, Colonel W. l.. Smith. and aides.
Miss Clara Barton Appeared.