Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-10-16

Washington, Oct 1.-THE Grand
Army encampment closed yesterday,
although a few social gatherings may
assemble today. San Francisco was
chosen as the next place of meeting
and the election of officers begun
Thursday was completed. Resolutions
were adopted by the encampment hay
ing in view the liberal treatment OF
veterans in the matter Of public office
and pensions. Kindred bodies to the
parent organization also brought their
several conventions to a close, the
Sons of Veterans, Woman's Relief
corps and other bodies choosing Of
ficers for the ensuing year.
The Union Veterans union had
decidedly lively day and the final re-
suit was a split in the organization.
The first row was over the question OF
eligibility to membership. A resolu-
ton was adopted that let down the
bars too much to suit some of the del
egations with large membership in the
order. This caused ill-feeling. Later
friction in the union developed rapidly
in consequence OF a committee which
had been investigating the character
and conduct of Commander-in-CLief
Dyrenforth, adopting the report rec
ommending the suspension Of the COM
mander-in-chief. General Dyrenforth
was presiding when the committee en-
deaVored to report. He refused to
recognize it or surrender his office to
the next ranking officer OF the order
Turbulent scenes followed until final
ly, the delegations from New YORK.
Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Iowa and
Pennsylvania withdrew, those remain
ing re-electing General Dyrenforth
and the seceders taking steps to form
new union.
The Woman's Veterans Relief as
ISOLATION, auxiliary to the Union Vet
Grams union, elected the following:
President-Mrs. Annie r. Cannehiu
Akron, Ohio.
Senior vice-Mrs. Sarah Z. Beach,
Washington, D. C.
Junior-Mrs. Alma Ferguson, chi
cago.
Chaplain-Mrs. Beckie Young, Iowa
Conductress-Mrs. Christie Hickey.
Iowa.
Reports show the association to be
in a flourishing condition.
Pandemonium Re!gns.
Washington, Oct. 1.-THE session
of the Union Veterans union yeSter-
day was marked by scenes OF wild dis
order and confusion. The proceedings
at times became so heated that per
sonal encounters seemed likely. The
trouble began when the effort was
made to amend the constitution so as
to restore the six months service
clause as a basis for membership. The
proposition was rejected, causing i'll
feeling. A motion was then carried
to permit the sons of members to vote
and otherwise participate in the pro-
ceedings. An amendment was also
adopted, admitting to membership
sons-in-laW and grandsons, and any
honorably discharged soldier. While
the Young was going on the Ohio, Hi
nois, New York, Michigan, Iowa and
Pennsylvania delegations held con-
ference over the proposition to with
draw and affiliate with the Massa-
chusetts department which severed its
connection with the union after the
! Des Moines convention.
Before the afternoon session the eX-
| ecutive committee heard General Dy-
renforth, commander-in-chief,i in rela-
| ton to the charges filed against him,
alleging the use of arbitrary power
and rejecting on his personal charac-
| ter. Later a committee recommended
Dyrenforth's suspension.
Dyrenforth was notified of the &C
ton by General Hutchinson, deputy
COMMUNICATIVE chief, who had been di-
rected by the executive committee to
preside. PandemOnium followed.
Every man was on his feet, chairs
were overturned an an effort made to
throw Hutchinson off the platform.
He however, kept the crowd back
with a heavy cane. Dyrenforth re-
fused to recognize the committee, and
after Hutchinson had been called on
to preside DyrenfOrth refused to make
way for him. Hutchinson then left
the hall, as did the delegations above
named, and the convention elected Dy-
renforth commander-in-chief.
The executive committee declared
the election illegal and that under the
constitution Hutchinson is legal com
handkerchief. As the anti-DyTen-
forth men filed out they stated that
they would not remain in the organiza-
ton under Dyrenforth, or unless the
six months service clause was re-
stored.
AS order was secured the conven-
ton, with Dyrenforth in the chair,
completed the election of officers, in
Guiding J. S. Marley Of Illinois, A NJ.
Phillips of Iowa, George n. Meade of
Michigan and w. J. Taylor of Mime
sofa, as members of the executive
committee.