The Iola register., 1901-06-14
THE GRAND ARMY
Junction City Encampment Springs
a Surprise

was great upheaval at the Kansas
G. A. r. encampment to-day. The
privates formed combine and com
pletely routed the colonels, who have
been running things for several years.
Unfortunately for Farmer" A. w.
Smith, of Mcpherson, he was the can.
didate OF the colonels for department
commander. He was defeated, and
Martin Norton, of Blue Rapids, who
was backed by the privates, was elect.
ed to that Office by a majority of forty
five votes.
The privates didn't stop at depart
ment commander. They swept the
platter clean. The following is a full
list of the n ewly elected officers:
Department commander, Martin
Norton, Blue Rapids.
Senior vice commander, Major j.
b. Remington, Osawatomie.
Junior vice commander, b. f. Peal
er Salina.
Chaplain, G. l.. Smith Winfield.
Medical director, N. w. Hayes,
Abilene.
Last night everybody predicted that
Farmer" Smith would be elected
commander today almost by acclama-
tion. This morning it was noised
about that Smith had promised to
make o. II. Coulter editor of the
Western Veteran, adiutant general,
and that the same old crowd that had
been running the department in years
past would be continued in office.
The privates decided that it was time
for new deal. They organize hur-
riedly and the old crowd was dumb
founded when it found itself outvoted
at the election. 'Tarmer" Smith was
defeated on account Of the desire to
have new deal, not because there
was anything against him personally.
He was a victim of circumstances
The 1902 encampment was sent to
Ft.: .:Scott, and Hutchinson capturedthe
reunion for this fall.
The resolutions adopted by the de-
partment were tame. The plank in
reference to pension commissioner
reads:
"Resolved, That we, the comrades
of the Kansas G.. A. r., do most earn
estly request the president to appoint
as commissioner of pensions fortheen-
suing term one who will construe the
laws in the spirit in which they were
enacted and administer the laws ac-
cording to the order and rules of evil
dence."
The history used in the public
schools of Kansas was condemed in
unmeasured terms and committee of
five was authorized to urge the text
book commission to get new one.
This committee was also authorized to
name the monuments that the Kansans
should have SO that the legislature
may have something to work on along
that line when it meets again. The
department commander was authorized
to bring test case to determine the
validity of the law compelling the ap-
pointment of old soldiers to public
offices. The candidacy of General
Sickles, commander-in-chie of the
national G. a. r., was indorsed. a
resolution of sympathy over the atllic-
tion of Mrs. Mckinley, which prevent
ed the president from attending this
encampment, was adopted. The coun-
ell of administration was directed to
use money in the department fund
for the purpose it is intended only.
1t seems that the officers have been
using it as they pleased. These dele
gated were elected by the G. A, r..
encampment to attend the national en-
campment: At-large, a. w. Smith,
Mcpherson; Y, f, Andrews, Iudepen-
dence; d. w Finney, Neosho Falls;
0. Olson, Wakeeny.
First district-Ed Jones, Holton; f.
G.. Markhart, Leavenworth.
Second district-N. G. Parker,
Lousburg; D. b. Shuey, lola.
Third district-H. G. Loomis, Win
field; John II. Sperry, Thayer.
Fourth district-C. Il. Stone, En-,
poria; f.. n. Smith, Eldorado.
Fifth district--W. r. Short, Con-
cordia; Fred Higginson, Belleville
Sixth district-William Hildebrand
Osborne; j. b. McGonigal, Colby
Seventh district-M. w. Sutton
Dodge City; George Nimmocks, Gar
den City.