Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1899-09-07
THE GRAND ARMY VETS.
Opening of the Thirty-third En-
oampment at Philadelphia.
TO MEET NEXT YEAR IN CHICAGO.

Twenty Thousand Veterans Marched
In Tuesdays Great Parade-The Con-
test For COMMUNICATIVE Ma
val Veterans Split,
Philadelphia. Sept Twelve hun
bred delegates TO the annual conven
ton of the Grand Army of the Repub
lie assembled in the Grand Opera
House yesterday, and the convention
resumed its sessions this morning,
final adjournment being set for this
evening. The sessions are secret.
The principal business of the opening
session was the receiving of reports OF
officers and reference to the proper
committees. The first session closed
with the election, by reclamation, of
Acting Commander Johnson to the
Office of commander-in-chief, made va
cant by the death of James A. Sexton.
and of Junior Vice Commander Ross,
of Wilmington, Del, to the office or
senior vice commander. Their sue
cessors will be elected at this conven-
ton.
The first business after recess was
the selection of place for the next en-
campment, and Chicago was chosen by
reclamation.
The report of the committee on pen
sions was then read and motion was
made to refer it to the committee on
resolutions. This created much dis
eussion, many of the delegates favoring
the immediate adoption of a resolu
ton covering the evils mentioned in
the report. The Michigan delegation
Ave 70 oh n no
on the ground that it failed to specify
what the Grand Army wanted
They were supported by Indiana,
Kansas and New York After a dis
cussion lasting nearly four hours the
report was referred back to the COM
mittee with instructions that it be pre-
scented at today's session embodying
recommendations and resolutions. The
complaint of the veterans as contain
ed in the pension committees report
is that the law governing the granting
of pensions is misconstrued by the
pension examiner.
There were lively times at yester-
days session of the fourteenth annual
convention of the NATIONAL Association
of Naval Veterans. A resolution pro-
viding for the admission of partici-
pants In the Spanish war to member
ship in the association started rum
pus, and the result was that there is
now a split in the organization At
the convention held in Cincinnati last
September the resolution just men
toned was introduced, and under the
rules was laid over until this year.
When the vote was taken yesterday it
was Overwhelmingly against admit
ting the men of the late war, and the
delegates of Farragut association, of
New York. and Admiral Boggs asso-
citation, of Newark. N. j.. walked out
in body 1t is their intention of
starting an opposition association, to
be known as the United States Vet
eran Navy.
At the meeting of the Ladies' Auxil-
larry, Naval Veterans, the greater part
of the days session was confined to ex-
tending the limits of membership.
Hitherto the wives, sisters, daughters
and nieces of veterans of the war of
1872, the Mexican war and the rebel
lion have been eligible. Yesterday de-
scendants of the revolution veterans
were added, and on the Spanish-Amer
lean war it was decided to await the
action of the mems association. which
has resulted in a split. Officers were
elected, with Mrs. A. R. Sears, of Bal
timore, as captain-commander
At the meeting of the Ladies of the
G. A. r. President Winslow announced
that a new home for veterans and their
wives viii be established in California.
The total present membership of the
association is 25.556. Representatives
from 81 states answered roll call. A
new department was added to Oregan
and So new circles were formed.
At the convention of the G. A. r.
WOmen's Relief corps Mrs. Harriet ].
BODICE of Connecticut was elected presi-
dent for the ensuing year.
The visiting veterans who are not
delegates to the convention spent the
day in visits to the various points of
interest about the city. The great at
traction of the day was the squadron
of fighting ships anchored in the Della
ware river.
Last night a monster dog watch was
held at the Academy of Music, at
which many prominent Grand Army
men were in attendance. At Camp
Sexton, in Paramount Park, where
nearly 10000 veterans are quartered,
there was display of fireworks. Many
reunions of regiments, societies and
other organizations were also held last
night.
The first event of the week was the
parade of naval veterans and the crews
of the North Atlantic fleet, which took
place on Monday. The three rear adj
mirals, Sampson, Casey and Melville,
rode in carriages. and were loudly
cheered.
In Tuesdays parade of the Grand
Army 10000 veterans participated, and
nearly 100000 people lined the side
walks along the route of the parade.
three and a half miles, and cheered the
venerable heroes as they marched
through streets lavishly decorated with
bunting. A feature of the parade,
which was over six hours in passing.
was the chorus of 5000 school chill
dren on monster stand at the city
hall. Children attired in blue formed in
huge outline the letters G. A. r. Be-
tween these letters those in red cloaks
were seated in the form of monster
keystones. while thousand or more
who were attired in purest white form
ed the background, which brought out
the letters and the keystones in vivid
relief. The parade proved disastrous
to many of the veterans, over hun
bred being taken to hospitals prostrat-
ed. Three of these have died and
seven are in critical condition. The
dead are: Charles Melich. Scranton.
Pa; Joseph c. Paul, Philadelphia; Cap
tain George Turner, Chester Pa.
Before the parade of the old sol
diers president Mckinley and his staff,
together with Admiral Sampson and
other officers of the fleet now lying In
the Delaware. drove over the greater
part Of the route Though the hour
was early, there we're already many
people on the street, and the reception
accorded them was of that hearty and
enthusiastic character always accord
ed the president in Philadelphia. At
ter leaving the reviewing stand the
president was entertained at luncheon
in the rooms of the department of pub
lie works, and subsequently, while the
parade was still passing, he visited the
warships in the harbor. His appear
ance on the river evoked an enthusi-
astic demonstration. After attending
the Grand Army campfire in the even
ing and a banquet at Odd Fellows
Temple, at both of which he made
short speeches, the president and his
party, including Secretary Root and