Evening star., 1899-02-03
Annual Encampmeut Of G. A. R.,
Department Of the Potomac.
COMMANDER HENDRICKS ADDRESS
Reception Of Reports and the
Nomination Of Officers
OMAN'S RELIEF CORPS

| ally Spattered with the SHOWS of time and
| yet the large auditorium was crowded The
| men present were surviving members of
| that Grand Army of the Republic which,
| with ardent and youthful visor, went forth
| to perpetuate the institutions of freedom
which their young successors have but re-
! Gently placed within the reach of u 900 900
! more Of their fellow-Tnen. The gathering
was brought about by the opening session
| of the thrty-1irst annual encampment of
the Department of the Potomac, c. A R.
| Momentous events had occurred since the
last annual meeting, year ago Another
war had been fought and won. and the ma
| ton had commenced another great epoch
| in the development of its grandeur.
| 1t was an impressive scene to see the old
| veterans together, and a pathetic one when
| it was realized that only few more years
| would see them thus congregating to COM
| memorate the glories In which they shared
Commanders Address.
In his address as department commander
| Arthur Hendricks recounted the events Of
! the last twelvemonth, and in sketching the
| Spanish-American war graphically pictured
| the President IN the lead carrying aloft
| the standard of his country. Back of him.
| with him, and sustaining him to the end,
exclaimed Commander Hendricks, were
| 70,000,000 of his countrymen, united as
never before,
This patriotic exhibition of unity and
strength, he continued, did not come of
| itself AS a basis, first had been the saw
ing OF the nation. Then the patience, for
beaTance, loyalty and patriotism of those
who had saved it. Then the teaching of
| the young and the prccept and example in
the daily lives of those who We're the de
tenders of the republic All this bore its
legitimate fruit.
The people once in arms against the
flag fhrpnueI n nd -ad
in deeds of valOr and self-sacrifice with
those who had fought under its folds for
the integrity and perpetuity of the Union.
| The fires of patriotism apparently removed
all barriers to a thorough reconciliat ton,
and under the leadership of Union and con-
| federate generals alike the youth of our
| couhtry-many of them sons of those who
| fought for or against our flag during the
! war of the rebellion-marched together un-
| der the broad banner of humanity"
Reviewing the results Of the war and
| considering the problems confronting the
| nation, Commander Hendricks said:
With the courage arising from success
| full encounter with all manner of obstacles
with the spirit of progress gained from the
traditions of the past. backed by the energy
| and vitality of a great and enterprising
| people, there Is no doubt that, as in the
| past, so at this time and in the future
common sense, honesty of purpose and in
! nate nobility will play their part in the
| settlement of all questions which may con-
| front us.
! When we thus consider passing events
though now footsore and weary and YEARS
nave become a burden, and though the
cherished memories Of q war in which we
| honorahly participated are becoming duled
| by the influence of time. we will ever bless
| the day that enabled us to see in a united
nation, the full fruition OF our highest
hopes and expectations"
Dead of the Late War.
| Further On in his address Commander
| Hendricks recommended that the graves
| OF all soldiers who died in the Spanish
American war and whose bodies are in
! TERED in cemeteries within the jurisdiction
| OF the department be decorated. He then
| sketched the work accomplished by the de-
! partment during the year and paid high
| commitment to the various auxiharies of
| the e. A. K composed of ladies' the Wo-
| mans relief Corps the Ladies of the G.
! "A. X, the Legion of Loyal Women the
various ladies' aid societies attached to the
| Union veterans Union, Union Veteran Le-
| gion and Sons of Veterans TIE Temporary
| nome Tor uniol ex-soldiers and sailors dur
| ing the year had furnished 1876 meals
ana 1oOo6 lodgings. He reviewed the eff
| Iorts OF tue employment committee. and in
| considering the plan inaugurated in the
| treasury Department to reduce salaries of
| clerks who reach the age of seventy years
| stated that the inclusion of old soldiers in
such a rule was not Just
IN CONCLUSION Commander Hendricks paid
hlsn tribute TO each of the members of his
| staH for their earnestness and fidelity
The Nominations.
At the close of the address which was
| cordially appiauded, nominations were made
tor offlcefs to serve until the next encamp-
ment For the position of department COM
| nander but two names, were presented
| those Oh caleb Farnsworth and Patrick
| ~ arrcA Dr j. F. Raub declined to allow
nllnsetl 10 oe nominated. following the
| course ne dld year ago; when he with
| drew after being regarded as a formidable
candidate.
Other nominations were as follows SEN
ior i,n wee commander, G. II. slaybaugh;
| chaplain, w. II. Hahn: surgeon, Dr. J. r
| tiayes ana Or. Thomas Colver The cleo
| tion on VIII be held at the session tonight.
| me reports of the other officers We're
| lhen received. Assistant Adjutant General
| L. Vanderhoef called attention to the rapid
| decrease IN membership and the large ad-
| GGitionai amount expended for relief over
! former years. He recommended earnest
| ana concerted endeavor on the part of the
| several posts to recruit their ranks. The
suspended list, he stated, eaualed 2S per
| cent OF the active membership of the de-
pa mpartment, ana in number of posts from
| 10 to 50 per cent-in ono case even exceed
| ing the active membership. He submitted
| a tapulated statement showing 2,713 active
saeinoers' ia4 suspended u dropped and
| h4IS.ol expended in charity during 1898.
Assistant Quartermaster General Fred G.
SaiVeft reported receipts and expenditures
| during the year and showed balances on
| hand of Ss1S64 in the general found, SO 46
| in the relief fund and 81 ,92507 in the mem
orial fund.
The report of the employment Committee
showed 239 applications for employment,
uinety-one of the applicants securing it,
while the relief committee reported that
neip had been extended to 1S6 applicants.
| $S07.75.
Reports were received from Medical Di-
rector H. NJ. Bennett, Chaplain W. E. Par
son, Inspector Jacob H. Devices and Chief
mastering oficer George E. Davis.
Ihe encampment then adjourned until
| tonight.
Woman's Relief Corps.
! Coincidentaliy with the annual encamp-
| ment of Department OF Potomac, G. A.
| R., each year the Woman Relief Corps
OF that organization hpids its annual con-
| vention. and the, tentAs repetition of that
event occurred last night in @. A. R. Hail.
Mrs. Anna Peck. dehartment president,
called the conventionssto order, and 112
| credited. delegates were announced as be-
| ing qualified to vote. Mrs Peck's annual