Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-10-19

UeH. H. u. DyrenIOrth,
Commander in Chief, u " u
Meacham. and his staff, and the following
delegation from the different regiments in
this jurisdiction:
Hancock, No. Frank T. Howe, Daniel
Beach, F. NJ Taylor, Frank N. Taylor, G.
E. Bollinger John Middleton, D. W. Glas-
sic, E. B. Payne, S. S. Yoder, P. C. Balm
Logan, No. IS. J. Block, H. L. Street
VIM. Irving, J. G. Burchfield, ]. T. Ryon,
H. Wheeler, w. A. Whitney.
Sedgwick, No. &C. V. Petteys, A. M
Legg E. H. Parsons, Horace Coleman F.
T. Bickford.
Shaw, No 4-John n. Darstes, r. D.
Goodman, James Saunders.
Henley, No. Lewis D. Brooks, Jerome
Lang E. S. Harding.
Green Clay Smith, No. 17-Chr. F. Naske,
Charles S. Heron, S. r. Whitney, Geo.
W. Hill, w. j. Johnson.
Rapid Growth of the Order.
1t is expected that this coming encamp-
ment will be one of the most important in
the history of the order. The growth Of
regiments within the last few months, par
ticularly in the west, has been almost phe-
nomenal, applications for charters having
come in some times at the rate of fifty
day to the commander-in-chief. There
has been especial activity in the state of
Illinois and particularly in Chicago, and
that is one of the reasons why the encamp-
ment is being held there. The Union vete-
rams who are attached to this order are
displaying great interest not only in mat
tiers that pertain particularly to eX-Union
soldiers, such as his right for pensions and
preferment in office, but in matters which
have general interest, and the welfare of
the citizen throughout the entire country.
In fact, the members of the order are TAX
ing active political interest in the localities
in which they live and this activity is be-
ing felt very materially during the cam
paign. The Union Veterans Union Is the
only active aggressive political organization
of ex-Union soldiers. 1t originated in this
city fifteen years ago and the men who
formed the first command were members
of the Grand Army of the Republic, who
believed that organization could be
formed of battle men soldiers who were
not afraid to be aggressive and insistent in
their demands that justice should be melted
out to those who had periled their lives for
the preservation of the Union. The first
command was named after General Han
cock and is known as Hancock Command
No. l. 1t is the parent command of the or
der and from this has sprung every other
regiment throughout the country, the order
now numbering over 10000 men. There is
hardly state in the Union in which there
is not regiment of battle men soldiers and
at the rate of increase for the last year the
organization will soon be nearly equal to
that of the Grand Army of the Republic
Nearly all the members of the Union Vete-
Army of the Republic, but who believe
that they can do more active good for the
veteran soldier in the younger order The
second command was formed in Akron,
Ohio, under the leadership of Stuart Miller
but the second command in this city soon
followed and is known as Logan Command
No. 2.
The National Eneampment
Within a few months after the organiza-
ton of Hancock Command numerous COM
mands were organized in Maine, Massachu-
sets, Connecticut, Kentucky, New York
Pennsylvania. Ohio. Michigan, Illinois and
other states and the first national encamp-
ment of the order was held in this city in
the fall of 1886. At that encampment M
A Dillon, who had been the most active
spirit in the formation of the new organi-
cation. was elected national commander and
constitution and bylaws were adopted
under which, with comparatively few
changes the order worked until three years
ago, when the present constitution and by-
laws were adopted. AS has been stated. the
organization admits to membership none but
battlefield soldiers of Union veterans who
had proved their devotion to their country
by periling their lives at the front under
a baptism of fire. The second annual en-
campment of the order was held at Cleve-
land. Ohio. September g. 1887 and was a
great success, due in a large measure IN
the work of General Clark who was af
terward national commander At this en-
campment, in which General Dillon was
unanimously reelected. the per diem pen-
sion bill was suggested and its. adoption
by Congress recommended. This bill was
In effect to give each Union soldier, honor
ably discharged, a, pension of one cent for
each days actual service per month In
connection with delegates appointed by a
meeting of soldiers and sailors the same
year, the officers Of the u. V. u did all
In their power to secure the passage of this
bill but as Is well known, in vain
The third national encamnmapf I,.1a
in McKeesport, Pa, in September 1898 and
was attended by large delegations from all
over the Union Robert Alton, who had
been charter member of Hancock Com
mand, the parent organization, and who
had been the adjutant general of the or
der nearly it's entire existence up to that
time, was unanimously elected commander
in-chief. Under his management the order
increased in numbers and influence, but
he declined reelection at the fourth ma
tional encampment, which was held at De-
troit. Mich. in September, 1859, where the
members of the order were the guests of
Governor Alger. At that encampment Wm
w. Clark of Cleveland Ohio was elected
commander-in-chief and he was reelected
the following year
| s. s. YOder Elected.
The national encampment in 1891 was
held in Cleveland again and at this en-
campment General s. s. Yoder was elected
commander-in-chief and he was reelected
the following year at the national encamp-
ment held in this city at the time the
Grand Army national encampment was also
held here In 1898 the national encamp-
ment was held at Boston. General Roberts
was elected comrnander-in-chief His sfc-
| cessor was General A. j. Cakes. who was
elected at the national encampment held