The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1901-09-19
SECOND DAY.
The Encampment Hastily Adjourned on Ac-
count Of the Presidents CoEdition-oficers
Elected and All Business Re.eIred 70 the
Council OF Administration.
Cleveland, O.. Friday. Sept.

Council OF Administration.
Cleveland, o., Friday, Sept 13-
In the morning news left no hope that
the President could live more than a few
hours. The announcement of his death
might come at any moment, and it was
felt that it would be highly inappropriate
TO attempt to transact any other business
than that vitality necessary for the exist
ence of the Order; tO-wit, the election of
officers for the ensuing year.
The Commander-in-Ch Chief called the En-
campment to order at 8 o'clock, and made
a brief allusion to the Presidents condi-
ton. 1t was moved that 10 or 70 min
utes be devoted to religious exercises. A
point of order was raised against this
and sustained.
Comrade Past Commandcr-in-C Chief
Burdett protested that an appeal to God
Almighty was always III order.
BY general consent few minutes Were
set apart for the purpose, and the Chap
lain-in-Chief led the Encampment in re-
peating the Lords Prayer.
The COmmander-in-C Chief stated that he
adjourned the Encampment the evening
before while Gen. Sickles had the floor,
the business being the consideration of the
majority and minority reports from the
Committee on Pensions.
ComTade j. S. Dodge Qnd.) moved to
lay both reports on the table, and dis
charge the committee.
Gen. J. Z. S. Goblin Pa.) moved as an
amendment, by unanimous consent, that
all business before the Encampment, ex-
cept the election of officers, be referred
TO the National Council of Administra-
ton, and that the Encampment adjourn
Immediately after the election and install
latiOn.
Comrade Dodge accepted the amend
ment, and the motion was carried unani-
mously.
l.
that nominations for Commander-in-Ch Chief
were in order.
Gen. Sickles said that his name had
been proposed for Commander-in-C Chief,
but he was not candidate, and he hoped
that no friend would propose his name or
vote for him.
The Adjutant- General called the roll for
nominations
When Minnesota was reached Gov. Van
SAINT took the stage, and in an exceedingly
forCeful. tactful little speech. put in NOM
ination Past Department Commander Ell
Torrance, q comrade splendidly equipped
in every way for the high Office. He
came Of patriotic ancestry, who had fought
in every war the country had been en-
gagged in. His father and four brothers
had gone in at the outbreak of the war
and fought through to the close. lie had
carried his musket as an enlisted man,
until his merits had won him a commits
sion. he had been repeatedly wounded,
and came out of the army with a most
enviable record. His record as a citizen
was proud. He stood high among his fell
low-citizens for every manly quality. He
was lawyer of high ability, had adorned
the bench OF Minnesota, and was a cul-
tured, scholarly man.
Gov. Van SAINTS speech was as apt and
forceful rs ever heard in the Encamp-
ment in presenting a candidate.
Obi DO \ -
in nomination Past Department Com
mander Thos. j. Stewart, of Pennsylva-
MIA, and did it with tact and skill equal
ing that of the Governor of Minnesota.
He said that Comrade Stewart was the
son of poor Irish immigrant, who was
struggling hard to support q numerous
family in new country. Twice Com
rade Stewart had enlisted, but his father
had invoked the aid of the courts to give
the boy back where he could help support
the family. When he finally got in he
was still under II. At that time 1t re-
CURED unusual courage to enter the army,
for everybody then knew the awful reality
OF the war, and men came In to fll the
awful gaps made by the incessant carnage
Of battle: Comrads Stewart faced the
stern reality, knowingly, and was with his
regiment in the final crushing of ths Con
federacy at Petersburg and Appomattox.
The responsibility for his not having
polWdeu n1b IatQer, VINO
repeatedly took him out Of the army, and
Gen. Grant. who brought the war to SO
sudden a termination after he did enlist.
Since 1868 there has been no man any
where who has done more constant, loyal
service for the Grand Army than Thos
j. Stewart. He has been all the time
wherever he was wantsd-whether In the
Post room, the Campfire or the Depart
ment or National Encampmsnts. He was
ready at all times for anything that
would help the comrades. or advance their
cause. He had crowned this with Ave
years gratuitous service as Adjutant- Gem
eral. and made a donation of what others
had properly charged several thousand
dollars for.
There were numerous seconds, and
when the roll was called for the ballot
1t was found that Torrance had received
476 to 23O for Stewart.
Before the result was announced Gen.
Wagner moved to declare Ell Torrance
the unanimous choice, remarking that
Pennsylvania was satisfied, another Penn
sylvanian was elected Commander-in-
Chief.
Comrade Torrance came to the stage, in
response to calls. and said that he felt
that hs had been chosen to the greatest
ofics In the world. and the magnitude of
the honor almost frightened him, as he
thought Of the responsibility, and the ex-
ample set By thu great COmmanders-in-