The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-18
THE w. r.. c. ADJOURNS
After EIecting Officers and Disposing
of Much Business.

The air was charged with intense excite
ment at Roberts Park Church yesterday
morning the hour for the opening of the
w. Il. G.. convention drew near. Many of
the delegates were busy electioneering for
their respective candidates. The adjourn
ment of the convention Wednesday in the
midst of the election of department pres
ident caused considerable dissatisfaction
among the delegates and each faction rec
ognized the expediency of redoubling their
efforts to secure the election of their IA
vorites. The proceedings of the previous
made that Capt Wallace Foster was at the
door, He was admitted and enthusiastical-
ly received by the delegates The w. r. c.
salute, consisting of the waving of a small
silk flag, was vigorously given as Captain
Foster was introduced from the platform
He read an interesting paper on Patriotic
Teaching" giving brief history of the
origin and progress Of the movement He
closed with the following protest:
II would most respectfully call your at
tention to the report of the chief aid on
military instruction in public schools in the
journal of the thirty-third National En-
campment OF the G.. A. X. at Philadelphia,
in 1899. l fully indorse the military in
structions of the aid, but must protest
against his interference with the patriotic
work inaugurated by the w. r. G.. seven
years ago. 1t is humiliating to learn from
this aid that il Is the G.. A. II. who have
been instructing the youth in our public
schools in patriotism. From my ten years
experience in the patriotic field / have al
ways contended that 1t was through the in
huence and intense patriotism of the w. r.
c. that this work has been done. of which
this aid pleads ignorance. / am astonished
at the nerve and audacity of this chief aid
when he claims much for the G. A. r.,
and himself in particular, and knows moth
ing of the great patriotic work you have
been doing for the last seven years
II indorse, with all my heart, military in
struction in public schools, for there is a
great field for this special work, and II Is
right and proper that the G.. A. r. should
undertake it's Introduction. but when the
chief aid crosses the line to challenge the
w. r. c. and interfere with their specially
chosen work, i claim ii my vested right
and duty to accept the challenge with a
solemn protest, TO protect and defend the
interests of the w. r. C. with all the en-
ergy and force that are I'm me-"
The convention then proceeded to the
election of officers. The candidates for de-
partment president were: Laura s. Burr,
of Anderson; Eta T. Houk, Scottsburg:
Sue w. Hart. Elkhart. The ballot resulted
in the election of Mrs Laura s. Burr.
The following nominations for senior vice
department president were made: Alvira
NJ. Miller, of George H. Chapman Corps,
Belle Ingersoll. of Joseph r. Gordon, and
Thesta Alice Ross, OF George III. Thomas
Corps. all OF Indianapolis 1t resulted in
the election of Mrs. Ross.
An interesting report OF the condition of
the State Soldiers Home was made by the
matron, Mrs. Belle Ingersoll. Among other
things she stated that the home Is greatly
in need of a widows home the building
formerly used for this purpose having been
taken for a woman's hospital. There is also
need OF an extension 10 the main hospital.
Mrs. Ingersoll stated that several soldiers
In the Spanish-American war have been ad
mitted TO the home, two of whom have died
and two are now In the hospital. BY order