The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-17
High Tribute Paid to the Grand Army
Of the Republic by Its
Chief Omcer.
THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT
COMMANDER DUNLAP's ANNUAL RE
PORT HEARD WITH INTEREST,".
Five Hundred Delegates i'm Attend
ance-Meetings OF w. IL. G.
and G.. A. R. Ladies.


1t was considerably after 10 o'clock yes
terday morning when Department Com
mander Dunlap's gavel resounded In Tom
linson Hall. The opening exercises OF the
G. A. r. ritual were never so well per-
formed. Chaplain Stewart. OF Dapville, In
voked the divine blessing while five hum
dred delegates stood with bowed heads.
The following special committees We're
named after the rules of procedure were
adopted:
Committee on Neutrality-suspicious. I.
Johnston. Post 9; Gil r. Stormont. Post Is;
James b. Roach, Post 81: a. D. vanosdai.
Post 26; Henry A. Root, Post 46.
Committee on Elective Officers Report
Henry NJ. Caylor, Post 1913; ]. ID. Alexan-
der, Post 2i7: NJ. ID. Tackett. Post 5: II.
c. Mahin, Post $50; Thomas NJ. Little.
Post l2s
Committee on A. A G.. and A. O. MS
Report-H b. Shively, Post 6; Pierson ID.
Harris. Post Is: j. +. Bradheld. Post 103:
Joseph c. Goochenower, Post 257; J. A
Hatch. Post 102.
A little routine business was done, but
before the commander had begun TO read
his address the presence OF the COMMITTEES
which was sent to escort COMMANDMENTS
| chief Shaw was announced. The commit
| tee consisted of Capt. W. H Armstrong,
| Gen. J. r. Carnahan. Past Department
| Commander A d. Vanosdal, Col. ID. n.
Foster and Admiral Brown Commander
in-chief Shaw came in with Senior Vice
| Commander-in-chief Robbins and the COM
mittee. lie was introduced by Past Com
Il .x.1 ~
| length He said:
| claims of the Grand Army OF the Repub-
| lie to the gratitude and good will OF every
| true lover Of our country. IL Is fraternal
order based upon service in the Union ar
| miles, and has for its ideals fraternity
| charity and loyalty The heroic Logan,
| soldier. hero and statesman, was its lead
and his memory will be ever sweet TO every
| comrade while life lasts Great generals
who commanded armies have taken thesr
places alongside the privates who stood
| behind the guns--and in the sacred bonds OF
comradeship have proved that the senf-
| ment OF patriotism and duty know no dis
| tinction of rank and service In the noble
conflict for Union and freedom, after sweet
| peace was won. / sometimes think that
| there is view of our Grand Army not
| generally fully appreciated. and that IL is
| the influence IL has had in teaching love
of country and broadening the spirit or
| loyalty TO the stars and stripes There
| are over nine thousand Grand Army posts
| i'm the Nation. and for many years each has
by the action OF veterans who periled their
| lives in defense of the flag of the epoch OF
Washington, and whose presence has hiled
| the hearts of millions of children with in
= spring memories OF great deeds and great
sacrifices for our country. Our annual ma
| tional encampments have been unprece-
| dented pageantries of inspiring object les
| sons of the times that tried the girth and
| grain OF men. and these great parades viii
| go down in history worthy demonstra-
| tions of a grateful people In honor OF the
| saviors of the Nation.
| .At every meeting reception / at
| tended in my recent visit 10 Southern de-
| partments the happy evidences of a broad
| reconciliation were manifested I'm man.
| ner TO prove that the former sectional ex-
| clusiveness and irritations have mainly
| given way to cordial and reciprocal views
| of a common American citizenship. In nearly
| every instance the Confederate veterans
have We'd with Union veterans in honorfng
! your commander-in-chief by their presence
| and war greetings and there was no sign
of discord from first to last OF my extended
| tour. Truly, IL is pleasant for former foes
| TO dwell together In unity, and 10 prove 10
| the whole world that the final settlement
OF our stupendous conflict by the court OF
war has resulted I'm union Of hearts and
| of interests as beautiful as IL Is glorious
| from every Christian and material point OF
| view Terrible as was the long and bloody
| tragedy between the South and the North.
the issue left with full understand
1
national sentiment was fatal TO peace and
| harmonious development. on a safe and
| sound basis. A knowledge of this fact led
| our wisest leaders and teachers OF public
| opinion-both I'm the North and the SSufh--
| TO early advocate the policy OF concord. and
1 to plead for prudent and wise mutual coun-
sells regarding the unhappy past, and 10
seek a common ground OF unity Under God
4 the Spanish-American war came as a fus-
| ing sentiment Of popular enthusiasm. and
out OF the Southland eagerly came the sons
OF wearers of the gray, TO stand IN serrieo
| ranks by the side of the sons of the wearers
| of the blue. marching to the tune OF liberty.
1 under the stars and stripes. and led by ex-
| Confederate and ex-Cnion officers or the
est century I'm the life OF man has witnessed
| the most blessed fruits OF righteousness as
| the crowning glory of our new and splendid
| civilization.
| PENSION QUESTION.
| IT am sure you viii expect me TO refer
TO the pension question. as an impor-
| SAnt topic at such a Grand Army fGnc-
! ton as this. do so with a special plcs.s-
ure at this time for the reason that I
| believe there is juster view being taken
in the present of the pension question than
| there was even one year ago. This comes
j from the discussion that has been vigor-
ously and faithfully pressed before the
public by just friends OF the saviors OF the
| Nation. In my view, the people as a whole
| are right-hearted on the policy OF deserv-
1 ing pensions, but wrong-headed and
! thoughtiess critics have at times misled
1 public opinion regarding the rights and
| needs of our aging veterans Two choruses
| OF criticisms have mainly been heard con-
/ cerning pensions and applicants for PEN
| sions-first the enormous present pension
| expenditure, and second. the cry about
| pension frauds and pension sharks. e.
| pension agents. Now i'm all fairness. II
| must be admitted that our government
at the command OF our loyal milIions-is
| paying out an annual sum total IN pensions