The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-08-31
GRAND ARMY
HAS PERFORMED
ALL. ITS, S,WO||Rk.
Major Leo Rassieur Chosen as Com.
mander-in- Chief-of Ulcers se1
lected by Acclamation
DEBATE ON NPENSlONQUE
Aroused No Hostility Court Of Ap-
peals Asked For to Act on
Pending Claims,

COIuuNuueI-3u-ShA - SSS tAs't1I AN'tS1I
sicur, Of St. Louis.
Senior Vice commnnder-E. Q. Mil
liken, Of Portland, Me. q
Junior Vice Commander n Frank,
seamon, Of Knoxville, Tenn.
Surgeon General - John A. Will
kins, Delta, Ohio.
Chaplain in Z Chief = Rev. A.
Drahms, Of San Quentin, Cal.
CHICAGO, Aug. so.--with the selec-
ton Of the above officers and the choice
OF Denver for. the national encampment
OF 1901, the Thirty-fourth national en-.
campment of the Grand Army Of the
Republic. practically came to q close
to-day. iJ
The programme as mapped out BY the
reception committee included two days
more before the veterans are supposed
TO return to their homes. Nothing in
the way Of business remains to be
transacted, the next two days being oc-
cupied entirely in excursions, patriotic
concerts in the parks and other: affairs
OF social character The convention
was called to order promptly at Q
o'clock, by Commander-in-chief Shaw.
The committee appointed to consider
the annual report OF the ,commander-ln-
chief. approved OF it with the exception
OF his recommendation Of an effort to
secure the change for, the date of Mem
orial Day from May. 80 to the last Sun
day in Mays The report was adopted
and the delegates took up the vexed
question OF pensions.
The Pension Report.
Over the report of this committee and
over various amendments and substI-
tutes which members had prepared ito
offer, n rather warm debate was antic-
ipated. but the report as submitted by
the committee was adopted without
amendment and practically without de-
bate. The. main feature Of the some
what lengthy report was the petitlon'to
Congress- to pnssEa blll-providins for a
court OF appeals to act Immediately on
the thousands OF pension applications
now pending, and which court Of ap-
peals shall have final Jurisdiction. La
ter in the day. pension matters were
again brought before the delegates by
the report Of the committee onyresolu-.
tlons on the subject OF service pen
sIons. Over thls question the commit
tee was divided and majority and
minority reports were presented. The,
majority report which was adopted snf-
ter a somewhat lengthy discussion.
recommended that the whole matter be
referred to the committee on pensions
thus practically burylng It until the
next annual encampment. The minor
Ity report presented by Past Command
er Hurst, OF Ohio, recommended the
passage by the encampment OF u reso-,
luton favoring service pensions, based
on length OF service.
H Election of Officers.
Pension matters being disposed Of,
the election Of officers wns taken up and
In an eloquent speech Major William
Warner. OF Kansas City, presented
Major Rafsieur. of ST. Louis, In noml-
nation for the position OF commander
in-chicf. =' y; 4
Judge Advocate General Ell Torrance
made brief seconding speech. There
were no other nominations and mo-
ton to suspend the rules and declare
Major Rassleur elected by acclamation
was carried amid much applause. The
new commandcr-ln-chief was escorted
the platform amid hearty cheers
from his comrades and returned his
thanks for the honor which he accepted
In n neat speech.
The other officers were also elected
by ncclnmation.
Delegates from the various women's
organizations affiliated with the G.. A.
R. were then introduced. With the
womcn's relief corps was Miss Clara
Barton and the venerable lady was
heartily cheered Us Commander-in-
chief Shaw led her to the front OF the
platform and introduced her to. the
standing delegates. Miss Barton made
brief talk In response to the greet
ings she had received and an adjourn
mcnt was then taken until afternoon.
Lengthy Debate.
When the delegates reconveued sat
2:30, the report OF the committee on
resolutions In regard to the various
auxiliary associations was taken up,
Over the recommendation OF the. COM
mlttee that the Daughters OF Veterans,
the Women's Relief Corps and kindred
associations be recognized, a debate,
lengthy, and nt times acrimonious, took
place. A substitute offered by John
r. Gilman, of Massachusetts,& limiting
NIL auxiliary associations recognized,
by the G. A. II. to the women's alli-
ancc, was adopted by an overwhelming
vote. a resolution was then adopted.
eulogizIng the work and character OF
Miss Clara Barton and authorizing CO.
operation with the Red Cross Society.
A resolution wns also adopted, nsking
Congress to make IN appropriation for
the purpose Of erecting a suitable mon
umcnt at Washington to commemorate
the services of the soldiers and sailors
OF the army and navy OF tho civil war.
General Stewart was directed to send
tclcgrams to the President of tho lIni-
ted States. General Chnfrec, at Pckin, Z