Evening journal., 1900-08-30
DenOunce Histories Used in
Southern Schools
GEN. WAGNER MAKES ADDRESS
No Opposition Develops 10 Judge
RaSSieur, Of st. Louis, For
Commander in-ChiCi

Chicago, Aug. S0.-Yesterday was.
for the Grand Army Of the Republic as
an organization. strictly day Of busi-
ness For those members who were
not hurdened with the responsibilities
attending the position of a delegate to
the convention OF the Grand Army it
was day of anything and everything
but business. From morning until
night the convention labored at its
work in Studebaker Hall listening to
numerous reports from officers and
committees. while the vast majority
OF the old soldiers went to the parks,
took boat rides on the lake and those
who had not seen blood enough in their
younger days accepted an invitation
from the packers TO visit the stock
yards where they heheld more slaugh-
ter than had taken place at the
"bloody angle" at Spottsylvania and In
the bloody lane" nc Antietam com
bined
The convention was opened with
prayer by Chaplain-in-Chief Grimm,
after which addresses were delivered
by Mayor Harrison COMMANDMENTS
Chief Shaw, Commander Longenecker,
Of the department of Illinois. and Gen.
Louis Wagner. Gen. WaRner's address
closed the morning session.
In the afternoon the first thing taken
up was the report of the pension COM
mittee. This would contain, il Is gem
orally thought. some warm statements.
but there was none. There was not in
the report a specific declaration or rec
ommendation upon any subject. The
committee in the outset went at length
into the history OF the work done BY
G.. A. r. committees In obtaining from
the last congress increases In certain
classes of pensions 10 then discussed
the differences of opinion existing be-
tween the pension Office and those
members Of the Grand Army who hold
the opinion that the old soldiers have
not received sufficient consideration.
The report argued at length against
the statements that have been made
by the pension office in reply to the
original criticisms made by members
Of the Grand Army. but offered no
suggestions as to a direct line OF policy
TO be pursued.
After the pension committee had
presented its report silver services
were presented 10 Adjutant General
Stewart and Past Commander Johnson
as a token of the esteem in which they
are held by their comrades
The committee, which had taken
the annual message OF Commander
Shaw under consideration, reported ap-
proval Of all his suggestions with the
exception Of that relating to the change
Of the date of Memorial day from May
30 to the last Sunday in May. On this
the committee reported adversely and
their report was adopted by the con-
yention.
School histories used in the public
schools of the southern states We're
denounced by the Grand Army. The
official declaration was made that the
histories have been written with the
purpose Of perpetuating in the minds
Of southern children the sectional preju-
dice Of the days of '61. Resolutions
were adopted calling on the public, in
the name Of the Grand Army, to Danish
the books from the schools Of the
country
1t is expected now that the work OF
the encampment will be over by noon
today unless there should be a pro-
tracted debate over the report OF the
pension committee, and this is not con-
sidered probable No opposition has
developed to Judge Rassieur. Of St.
Louis, in his candidacy for the position
of commander-in-chief, and it is prac-
tically certain that he will be elected
on the first vote. There has been very
little talk regarding the place of the
next encampment, but two places, DEN
yer and Salt Lake, having been men
toned