The Portland daily press., 1900-08-31
Is D. c. MilIiksn Of Portland Who
Was Chosen Yesterday.
Judge Rassjeur Elected
Comm nder.
Pension Report Adopted With
Out Discussion.

Chicago August 8O.-Judge Leo Ras-
sieur of ST. Louis, was this morning
elected by reclamation commander-in-
chief of the Grand Army of the Republic
for the ensuing year. There was no OPP
position and the election went through
with hurrah, e. G. Mill1ken of Maine
was chosen senior vice commander, and
Frank Seamons Of Tennessee, junior vice
commander; John A. Wilkins of Delta,
Ohio, surgeon general; II ~. A. Drahams,
OF San Quentin, Cali, chaplain in-chief.
There was no opposition to any OF the
candidates, The convention met pursu-
ant to adjournment, at o'clock sharp,
and after some trif1ing matters Of a rou-
tine nature had been disposed Of the
selection of a COMMUNICATIVE chief was
taken up. Adjutant General Stewart an
nounced that nominations were In order.
1t was known to all what the result would
be, as there was no opposition to Judge
Rassieur, and when Major VIM. w. War
ner OF Kansas City, himself past COM
mander-1n-chief, mounted the platform
to present the name of Judge Rassieur,
he was greeted with prolonged appIau Sc.
He spoke in part as follows:
Commander-ln- Chief and Comrades-A
comrade can have no more Iaudable am
bition than to be commander-in-chief of
this, the greatest of all civic organiza-
tions; an organization on whose roll of
membership are found the names of the
nations most iIlustrious citizens and
statesmen, an organization that demands
that his commander-in-chief, shall be a
firm, fearless and unfaltering defender
of the rights of "him who hath borne
the battle, and of his widow and his
orphan;" an organization that will make
no mistake by electing as its commander
in-chief Comrade Leo Rassieur Of Mis-
souri,.
Major Warner closed his address with
warm eulogy of Judge Rassieur, as a
soldier and a citizen, and earnestly
urged his election.
When the applause that greeted Major
Warner a ddress had died away, Judge
Advocate General Torrance of Pennsyl-
vania, made a short ssconding speech in
behalf of Judge Rassieur, and Adjutant
General Stewart then asked if there were
any more nominations to be made. A
motion was made that Judge Rassieur be
declared elected by acclamation and it
was carried with a roar Of approval. The
newIy-elected commander-in- chief was
escorted to the platform and expressed
his thanks for the favor shown him by
his comrades in a brief speech Of accept
ance. He spoke as follows:
Commander and comrades of the 34th ma
tional enoampment:
am overwhelmed by the manner in
which you have manifested your favor
for me on this occasion. I would have to
be untr1e to myself if 1 did not realize
that the compliment you have paid me
has been rendered and Will be accepted
as compliment to the department Of
Missouri, which has seen fit to make me
its representative in asking for the high
honor which has been received. All the
ability which possess shall be devoted
to the work of this grand organization,
in order that it may have an honest
and reliable administration, that every
comrade may be heard in reference to
any and every subject that he deems of
Importance to the national organization.
1 appreciate that in that way justice is
to be done to the humblest member of
our order. 1 appreciate that this cleo.
ton conters upon me an honor second
to none that can sbe given In this
country. 1t comes from an organization
that represents those who served their
country in its greatest peril. 1t repre-
sents those who were willing to sacri
flee what they had in this world In or
der that this nation might live and pros
per. The past 35 years have shown the
wonderful results that followed from the |
sacrifices made by those who have passed
away, I believe that we are still upon
the threshold of a great destiny before
us. However great the future may be. |
all will be owing to the old soldiers who |
fought that the country might be pre-
served one and indivlsible. Tt shall be
my duty to have that fact brought home |
on every proper occasion, and, as long
as I have the voice to prevent Its being
lost sight of, that voice shall urge upon
our people the beauty OF being just and