Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1901-09-20
|G. A. r. ENCAMPMENT.
Torrance. of Minnesota, Elected to
the Highest Office.
Half Million People Witness the Grand
Parade of Battle-Scarred Veterans-A
Loss IN Membership-Report on
Pension Matters.

Cleveland, O., Sept. 1.-THE sur
viving veterans of the greatest war
in all the annals of history, of the
greatest struggle for human liberty
the world has ever seen-that iron
gray host of God known as the Grand
Army of the Republic-have again
responded to the bugle call and yes
terday fell into line as they were
wont to do in the dark days of the
civil war. 1t is estimated that near
iy half million people were spec
tators of the magnificent pageant
The column was over eight miles in
length and was splendidly handled,
the column moving steadily and with
scarcely halt or break until the en-
tire line had passed the reviewing
stand. The governors of several states
marched in the line with their re-
spective posts and were proud to go
afoot with their old comrades in the
old way. Senator NJ. A. Hanna
caught the infection of the hour and
left the reviewing stand to march
down the line with Memorial post. In
addition to the regular line of veter-
ans, 90 bands and 1OS drum corps in
cessantly poured forth patriotic and
martial music.
The first day of the national con-
vention of the G. A. r was taken up
with the reading of the reports by
the commander-in-chi adjutant
general, chaplain and the various
committees. The proceedings were
prefaced with the adoption of res
olution offered by Gen. Daniel e.
Sickles, rendering to the president the
affectionate sympa thy of the G. A. r.:
Commander-in-Chief Rassieur, in
spirited address, severly arraigned
Pension Commissioner Evans upon his
administration of the affairs of the
pension bureau. His complaint en-
braced alleged unfairness and dere-
LECTION of duty in office. Gen. Sickles
was careful to exonerate President
Mckinley and directed his attack at
the head of the pension bureau. Com
mander-in-C Chief Rassieur made
supplemental report to his address in
which he made sharp attack upon
the officers OF the pension bureau at
Washington. He urged that the COM
mittee be instructed to prepare
charges against the pension commits
sioner and that these charges be pre-
sented to the president, asking for an
investigation of the same.
The report of the adjutant general,
r. III. Sterrett, showed that the total
membership June 80, 1901, was $685.
5O7, In 6,67S posts. The gains during
the last year were so,01o, and the
losses 37,172. The number on the rolls
June so, 1901, including $3.50 sus-
pended, was 295,057.
The report OF the grand chaplain
showed that on last Decoration day
the graves of 312,e46 veterans were
decorated.
The roll showed a total voting
strength Of 1,340, including delegates.
department commanders and past de-
partment commanders.
The Woman's Relief corps IL In a
prosperous condition, the treasurer's
report showing q total In all funds Of
SIP, lao, with no liabilities. The roll
Of officers and delegates Of the W. r.
C. showed total voting strength Of
s5s.
Torrance for Connnnander.
Cleveland, O., Sept. 14.-Judge Ell
Torrance, of Minneapolis, was unan-
imously elected commander-in-chief
of the Grand Army OF the Republic
at Thursdays session Of the annual
convention. Gen. Daniel e. Sickles, Of
New York, withdrew from the fight,
leaving the field to Stewart and Tor
rance. The balloting stood $50 to
47e in favor of Torrance when Com
rade Wagner, who had the Stewart in
teresta in hand moved to make Tor
rance's election unanimous. The
other officers elected were: Senior
vice commander, John McElroy. of
Washington; junior vice commander,
James O'Donnen. Of Illinois; surgeon
general, DIR. W. r. Thrall, of Cincin-
of Pennsylvania.
The council of administra tion dis
posed of the report of the pension
COMMITTEES by referring both major
fly and minority reports to the com
mander-in-chief and to q committee
on pensions to be appointed by him
with instructions that at a suitable
time, in the discretion of the COM
mander-in-chief, the whole subject
matter shall be brought to the atten-
ton of the president of the United
States for his consideration.
The Ladies of the Grand Army of
the Republic at yesterdays session
of their fifteenth annual convention
elected the following officers: Presi-
dent, Mrs. Emma Wall, Of Lawrence,
Kan; senior vice president, Elsie
Waggoncr, of San Francisco.
Mrs. Carlista B. Jones, of Bradford,
Vt, was elected president of the
Women's Relief corps by acclama-
ton.
The Colored Veterans organized a
national association with J. L. Du-
part, of New Orleans, as president.