The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1900-08-30
ANNUAL
Reports or Grand Army Officers
Are Submitted

CHICAGO, AUGUST 29.-This was,
for the G. =. r. as an organization,
strictly a day OF business. For those
members who were not burdened with
the responsibilities OF attending the
position of delegate to the convention
of the Grand Army 1t was a day for
anything and everything but business
From morning till night the conven-
tion labored at its work in Studebaker
hall, listened to the numerous reports
from officers and committees. Many
OF the old soldiers went to the parks
or took boat rides on the lake and
those who had not seen blood enough
in their younger days accepted an in
vitation from the packers to visit the
stock yards. where they beheld more
slaughter than had taken place at the
bloody angle" at Pottsylvania
and in bloody lane" at Antietam COM
bined.
The convention opened at 10:30 O'Clock
and from the start business was push
ed with energy. The opening session was
entirely Of a social character, and was
open. 10 the public. The afternoon
meeting was of an executive char
acter.
MORNING SESSION.
The annual meeting was formerly
called to order at 1O:3O o'clock by
Commander Shaw. The hour
originally set for the meeting was 10
o'clock, but so many of the old soldiers
were 50 late in answering the roll call
that It was impossible to commence at
that time.
General Shaw announced that the
meeting would be opened by prayer by
Chaplain Granin. The audience rose
and remained standing during the
prayer
Mayor Harrison then came to the
front Of the rostrum to formerly wei
come the old soldiers to Chicago. HIS
address was happily received.
Commander-in-Chief Shaw of the
Grand Army replied to Mayor Harri-
son for the members Of his organiza-
tion expressing the thanks Of the army
for the hospitality sown them.
ADDRESS OF COMMANDER-IN-CH CHIEF
SHAW.
Comrades The honor conferred by my
unanimous election as your commander
in-chief one year ago. placed me at the
head of the greatest patriotic organiza-
in the world. and IT has been my ambi
tion to worthily discharge the manifold
duties of this great office. To this end
I have devoted all my time to the de-
mands of the position in the endeavor to
make good my promise made upon en-
tering the work that l would try and
make "a busy year among comrades"
appear before you to render an account
of my stewardship. and to make such
recommendations as seem desirable at
the close of the year of service
COMRADSHIP.
My first official act was to send out a
fraternal circular letter to the comrades
OF the nation. calling upon them to unite
in an earnest effort to build up our men,
bership through prudent and wise consid-
Grafton Of the claims of comradshir.
Special reference was made to the
dropped and suspended" members,
and the need of fraternity, charity and
loyalty, in the largest sense, in the line
of securing the aid and comfort Of all
veterans of the great war.
The result Of this appeal has been most
gratifying as whole. Department COM
manders aides-de-camp and faithful COM
rades have done much to strengthen our
noble order, through personal efforts in
behalf OF this great organization.
While the Grand Army of the Republic
is a fraternal and reminiscent order, and
one that has no equal in it's unique OBJ
jects and membership, the fact is, that
constant effort is necessary to insure its
highest usefulness. We are all growing
old and with increasing nfrmities, there
IS urgent need Of a closer touch and larg-
er sympathy with and for each other
"Kind words are more than corOnets,"
and the comradely cheer that knows no
shadow Of turning, this side Of the grave
should be an unfailing basis for our re-
lations to the Grand Army. 1t is a
source OF peculiar qualification TO your
commander-in-chieft TO know that during
tho past year remarkable record Of
ccrtord has followed this policy of fra
tel nifty I'm all departments.
THE "DfW WEY DAY" PARADE.
The question OF submitting TO a rear
assignment Of the aged comrades Of the
Grand Army in the civil pagenatry Of
patriotism in the Dewey parade in New
York led TO a somewhat earnest protest
and the final refusal to march at all
his action was based upo nthis belief
that the heroes who saved the nation
10 full union and unchallenged liberty,
and so made il possible for the great Ad-
mral Dewey to win the honors in Manila
Bay, entitled them 10 march in glory
and in joy al the head Of the line, in
his honor. The loyalty OF comrades in
refusing TO march-under the protest OF
that splendid comrade and department
commander Joseph w. Kay, was as pru-
dent and timely as # was commendabe.
Some phases Of that unpatriouc occur
renee would baVe been severely dealt