Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-08-30
MEET FOR BUSINESS.
Veterans of G. A. r. Come Together
For Annual Business Meeting.

Chicago, Aug. 29.-In Studebaker
hall this morning the veterans OF the
G. A. R. turned their attention to mat
tiers of business. The annual meeting
was formally called to order by Com
mander-in-ch chief Shaw and was opened
with prayer by Chaplain Granin. May
or Harrison then formally welcomed
the soldiers to Chicago. His address
was most happily Geceiyed. Comman-
der-in- Chief Shaw replied expressing
the thanks of the army for the hospi-
tally shown them. His address fol-
lows:
Commander in Chief Shaw said in
part:
The comrades of the Grand Army
are deeply touched by the splendor Of
Chicagos welcome and the wealth of
her boundless hospitality. Your, elo-
quent words find an echo in every
heart before you, and over all this
broad land they will charm and de-
light the aging heroes of other times
and other scenes, when wars hard sac
ritices filled the nation with mourning.
Such unexcelled evidences of the pa
triotism and appreciative gratitude of
your citizens, as we see on every hand
on this great occasion of the Thirty
Fourth encampment touches us al
most to tears, for it is sweet to be re-
membered."
On behalf of the Grand Army of the
Republic l thank you from a full heart
for your noble hospitality, and thru
you the citizens of this famous city for
the bright days prepared for the many
thousands who bore the burden Of
war in the saving of the nation to the
full liberty in the COS. Over all the
wide borders of our united and happy
country, the sweet music of concord
and commerce falls upon the ear, glad.
dening all hearts and promoting con-
cord as beautiful as it is gratifying
from every standpoint of citizenship
and national glory. We now have one
emblem of our nations peace and pow
er, and under it lies the promising des-
tiny Lincoln prophesied when 100000
600 of free and happy people should
possess our land.
Flag of the Seas; on ocean wave,
Thy stars shall glitter DER the brave;
Flag of the brave! Thy folds shall
fly
The signal of hope and triumph high"
And may the blessings of Almighty
God rest upon all our people hence
forth.
AS General Shaw resumed his seat
]. M. Longenecker, commander of the
department of Illinois, rose to greet
the veterans on behalf of the soldiers
of Illinois. General Louis Wagner re-
sponded for the members of the army.
This closed the morning meeting.
The convention reassembled at
o'clock when General Shaw read his
annual report, as follows:
"My first official act was to send out
fraternal circular letter to the com
rades of the nation, calling upon them
to unite IN an earnest effort to build
up our membership thru prudent and
wise consideration of the claims OF
comradeship. Special reference was
made to the dropped" and suspend
ea members, and the need of frater-
nifty, charity and loyalty, in the largest
sense, in the line of securing the aid
and comfort of all the veterans of the
great war The result of this appeal
has been most gratifying as a whole.
/ Department commanders, laid de camps
and faithful comrades have done much
to strengthen our noble order thru
personal efforts in behalf of this great
organization.
while the Grand Army of the Re
public is a fraternal and reminiscent
order, and one that has no equal in its
UNIQUE objects and membership, the
| fact is that constant effort is necessa-
!, ry to insure it's highest usefulness. We