Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-03

Ohio, quartermaster general; DR.. c. McNei
of Iowa, SUI geon general; William A. Pile Of
Missouri. chaplain, and ]. X. Proudft o
Wisconsin, William Vendever of Iowa, T. c
Osborn of Illinois, T. G. Fletcher of Wis
consin, T. T. Taylor of Ohio, T. K Milwoot
OF Kentucky, f. J. Bramhall OF New York
Nathan Kimball of Indiana and Clayton Nc
Michael Of Pennsylvania council of ad-
minStratior.
The objects of the organization were
clearly set forth in a set OF resolutions
These resolutions make interesting reading,
especially at this time when the order is
passing into the shadow, having most faith
fully carried out the design for which it was
created. 1t was set forth in these resolu-
tions, among other things, that the Grand
Army was 'to maintain in civil life those
great principles for which it stood in arms
under tho national flag; that it stands
pledged to crush out active treason, to ad-
vance and support loyalty, to secure sound
constitutional liberty to all men, and
vindicate everywhere and at all times the
full and complete rights of every loyal
American citizen, against all combinations
or force or fraud that may attempt to deny
or deprive them OF such rights
For some time after the formal organ
i7ation at indianapolis the order made rapid
progress. Then 1t stood still Then 1t
went backward and finally it looked as
II 1t would go to pieces. This was due
principally to the fact that many members
tried to use the organization for political
purposes. A bitter internecine strife ensued
and when the second convention, called at
Philadelphia on January 15 1868, met the
Grand Army was almost without legs This,
in nj nf tbA
state departments had been organized. Pub
lie opinion was against 1t, and the press
was very largely against it. The member
ship had dwindled almost to nothing. The
twenty-one state departments were mere
skeletons.
Two things saved the order One was the
adoption OF resolution after a bitter fight
setting forth that "the organization does
not design to make nominations for office,
nor to use its influence as a secret or
ganization for partisan purposes" The
other act that gave new life was the cleo
tion OF General John A. Logan as COM
mander- in chief, General Logan was then,
as he was up to the hour OF his death, one
OF the best beloved men in the United
States The veterans Of the volunteer army
fairly worshipped this impetuous, dashing
soldier, and they rallied by thousands to the
support of the Grand Army as soon as his
election was announced. The general took
full advantage OF the newborn enthusiasm
With his well-known energy he set to work
TO build up everywhere. He was reelected
in 1869 and 1870 and when In 1871 he was
succeeded by General A. E. Burnside the
Grand Army had made great headway.
Beginning of IL All.
With this post as a starter, DR.. Stephen
son began the real organization of the "De-
partment Of Illinois" He appointed a STAFF
10 expedite the work. This stan consisted
OF Colonel Jules C. Webber as aide-de-
camp and chief OF stan; Major Woods adJu-
tant general; Colonel John NJ. Snyder, quar-
termaster general; Lieutenant John S.
Phelps, aide e-de-camp and captain; John
A. Lightfoot, assistant adjutant general
These men worked so well that within
three months state convention was held
at Springfield. This convention, which was
called to order on July -, 1866, elected as
state commander General John NJ.
Palmer. the candidate OF the gold demo-
Gratis in the last presidential campaign.
General John Cook was elected as assistant
department commander; General Jules c.