The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-05-03
CONNECTlCUT'S 6. A. R.
THIRTY-THIRD ANNU4L ENCAlrP-
 MENT OF THE DEPARTMENT


 MENT or THE DEPA RTMENT At Winsted-Commander Jones' Ad-
 Military Instruction in tho Schools
 Other Topics Considered.
 At the thirty-third annual encamp- ment of the Connecticut department of Z the Grand Army, begun in Winsted Tuesday afternoon, the annual address of the department commander, Captain Henry R. Jones, of New Hartford, was delivered and is as follows
 { Comrades of the Department of Con-
 necticut:
 One year ago, in the Capitol City of our state, I was unanimously elected by your suffrages to be your commander X My own was the only name presented before the thirty-second encampment for this high and honorable office. That I appreciate this great honor there can be no doubt; my heartfelt thanks go to you, my comrades, with my apprecia- < tion.
 I entered upon my duties with much fear that my strength and abilities would not be equal to your expectations, but with each succeeding step my way seemed clearer, and the year has passed along, until now at the end of the jour- ney stand before you and ask that my Z services in your behalf may be viewed with charity, and that my record may be accepted as the best that I could make
 MY STAFF.
 The first and perhaps the most i'm portant duty which I had to perform $ was to- choose comrades of the depart ment to serve in the various staff posi- lions to our mutual acceptance; com rades of Well-establiShed ability and in- tegrity who would fill the offices in manner which would reflect credit on this administration, and sustain the record of those department administra- tions which had gone before. In mak- ing choice I consulted with those who had had experience and who knew the requirements for the different responsi- pilities. I have had no occasion to re- gret my action in these appointments in
  have proved themselves faithful help CTS and honorable gentlemen. They will render to you their own accounts of their stewardship.
 THE DEPARTMENT OFFICERS.
 In these officers of your choice you as well as myself, have been fortunate. The senior and junior vice-department commanders, the medical director, and X the department chaplain are all com rades of the Grand Army of the Repub- lie of whom any department might be proud. They are men of high standing tn their various walks of life, and are 11onored by the people among whom they live. They have my sincere thanks for their kind encouragement and help, and I believe they are entitled to yours.
 THE SOLDIERS HOME. x Very early in my official service l was called upon with the department and staff officers and the committee, ap- pointed by the department commander for that purpose, to meet with his excel- lency, Governor Iounsbury, and the Sol ( diers' Hospital board, to visit the Con necticut Soldiers Home in Noroton. { This was pleasure as well as duty. The home given by our generous state to it's disabled veterans is a fine institu- < tion, located upon a beautiful spot. Here, through the well-directed efforts of a very capable superintendent. Cap tain James N. Coe, past commander ot Admiral Foote Post No. IT, and his able and faithful corps of assistants, the old soldiers of our state are abundantly and tenderly cared for in health and sick ness and are permitted to enjoy hap py life in their declining years. We should all be thankful for this great benefit and privilege of which any or all of us may some day be glad to avail ourselves And let us not forget to hon. or the memory of the Homes noble and generous founder, Benjamin Fitch,
 THE WOMAN'S RELIEF CORPS.
 On May 18th, the department com- snander, with the other department offi- cers and officers of the staff, were invi- ted by Mrs. Cordelia A. Bakeman, de- partment president, to visit the conven tion of this most helpful auxiliary to the c. A. R., held in Milford. The invita- tion was gladly accepted, and we were cordially received and hospitably enter tained At that convention Mrs. Anna R. Looms, of Rockville. the wife of Past Junior Vice-Department Com- mander Loomis, was elected depart ment president. With this earnest and capable lady I have worked in perfect harmony for the best interests of both organizations. Mrs. Loomis has several times asked my advice and cooperation in the affairs of the Womans Relief Corps, and in every instance it has been given, believe, to the advantage of the department, in certain localities. This association of loyal patriotic women has done much to further the interests N of the Grand Army and its generous aid to the widows and orphans of sol diers and to the living soldiers them selves is manifest to any one who will take the trouble to investigate their work--especially in giving aid to the feeble inmates of the Soldiers Home. TO the few posts in the department which are without Womans Relief Corps I would recommend that the comrades take steps to encourage the women among them who are interested in our order and it's various measures, to organize themselves into corps aux Hilary to the Grand Army God bless the noble, patriotic women of America!
 SONS OF VETERANS.
 This gallant band of the sons ot pa friotic sires has not vet seen it's best