The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-27
GENERAL MILES HGNORED
Spanish War Veterans Elect Him
COmmander-in- Chief.
The Lieutenant General. in Ac-
<noyvIedgipg the Compliment. Pays
American Soldiers - Yesterdays
Sessions of the National Army.


The National Army of Spanish War Vet
Grams opened the second days session of
their convention yesterday morning at 10
O'Clock, in the Washington Light Infantry
Armory.
The principal work of the delegates was
in making arrangements for sending COM
mittee TO the encampment of the Grand
Army of the Republic, which viii be held
at Chattanooga, October s, to confer with
a number of Spanish War Veteran asso-
Citations, which will be represented at that
encampment, for the purpose of discuss
ing the amalgamation OF the Spanish War
Veteran societies of the country.
The committee is composed of Major
James G. McMurray, of New York; Col.
James H. Tillman, of South Carolina;
Major Harold C. Megrew, of Indiana; Capt.
C. S. Andrews. of New York. and Capt.
Charles W. Parker, of the District of Co.
lumbia
Sunday preceding Memorial Dav in each
year was selected by the society for church
ceremonies in honor of their dead, and the
designation of the day as Church Memorial
Day was adopted
+, Several changes in the rules and regula-
tons and in the ritual were made, and a
design for a badge was adopted.
Considerable discussion was given 10 the
question of a uniform to be worn by the
members of the organization. That which
was agreed upon consists of grey trousers
and blue coat. A recess was taken between
u and l O'Clock, to visit Lieut.. Gen. Nell
son A Miles.
The afternoon session was devoted TO the
election Of officers. The election of Gen.
Nelson A. Miles as commander IN chief was
unanimous. Harold C. Megrew was placed
in nomination for senior vice commander
in chief by the nominating committee, and
Col. James II. Tillman of South Carolina,
was also placed in nomination by a dele
gate. Mr. Megrew, Withdrawing his name,
presented that Of Gen. Joseph A. Wheeler,
of Alabama. Col. James H. Tillman was
elected on the first ballot. Col. William
H. Hubbel. of New York, was elected unan-
imously Junior vice commander in chief
Other officers elected were: Adjutant
General, A II. Axline. Indiana; Inspector
General, Col. F. Il. Harrington. U. s. NJ
c.: Judge Advocate General, Major Charles
R. Miller. Ohio; Surgeon General, Dr. S.
Clifford Cox, U. S. N; Sponsor, Miss Clara
Barton. District of Columbia; Council of
Administration. Col. NJ. E. Urell, District
of Columbia; Capt. Henry D. Green, Penn
sylyania; Capt. Bernard H. Reinold, New
York; John H. Hopper. New Jersey; Max
Ohio: Otto L. Luis, South Da-
kota; Harold C. Megrew, Indiana: the re-
naming member of the council TO be named
by the three commanders and the adjutant
general
Colonel Tiliman and Colonel Urell were
elected committee TO notify General
Miles of his election.
The installation of the newly elected
officers was the business of the evening
session General Keller with few COM
plimeatary remarks. installed his success
sor. General Miles. as the commander in
chief of the association.
In response, General Miles said in part:
Il thank you for the honor you have
conferred upon me in selecting me as your
commander in chief. l consider it a high
honor and appreciate it In the highest de-
gree. / thank Commander Keifer for the
compliments of his Introduction, and shall
consider it my duty to follow in his steps
i rejoice in the fact that We live TO see
the day when We are where our fathers
stood more than q hundred years ago We
are united band OF soldiers standing to-
gether as they stood, coming from the
North. South, East, and West, shoulder to
shoulder. l realize that although you are
a body Of veterans, that | am looking into
the faces OF young men, men with all of
life before them. Wars are not so uncom-
mon q thing as some people would have US
believe. History does not prove that the
OF freedom from warfare was
true. In the last few years more wars have
than ever before. Wars are now
going or all over the world. We have an |
efficient force, not only in this country, bat |
on the other side Of the globe. You will,
no doubt, during your lives. see a great
many wars, and yourselves in times of |
need may again buckle on your swords !
and again be enrolled as soldiers in de- !
fence of your country.
The Spanish war was, indeed a brief |
war. 1t is singular fact that every man. |
whether he came from the North. East, |
West, or South, showed the same fortitude. |
and wherever his duty may have called him |
not one committed a dishonorable or cow
srdiy act. Not a single gun was captured. |
not q single man, not a single inch of
ground was surrendered, not flag was
taken down. Can you point to a single |
war ins:aucinS the same facts?"
The senior vice commander in chief |
elect, Col James II. Tillman, was next in |
stalled Repeated calls for speech from |
Colonel Tillman ELECTED glowing tribute !
10 General Miles. whom he referred to as /
The master military genius of the world |
he spoke of the united condition of the
country, and claimed the stars in the flag
as representing his State as much as any
State. The applause that followed Col
Dnel Tiilmans address drowned for fully a
minute the strains of Dixie" with which
the band greeted the conclusion of his re-
marks.
Col. NJ. E. UrelI. Lieutenant Colonel
Gen. II. A. Axline, and
Charles A. Miller responded to vociferous
calls for speeches. and were accorded a
full measure of applause.
C. C. S. Burger representing the G. 4.
R., addressed the Spanish war veterans,
them upon the accomplish
uent of the unitedness of the country
which the veterans OF the Union had
fought to defend In 81.
The meeting adjourned with the singing
of My Country. 'Tis of Thee"
The rest Of the evening was devoted TO
!, camp fire. meeting, over which Colonel
T.IIman presided, and addresses were
made by General Keifer, Captain CHS
holm, and others.
New Jersey Republicans Meet.