The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-10-17
Gen. Torrance, Veteran COMMANDING
Officer, Makes an Interesting
and important Address.
The Case of the Late Pension Commissioner
Evans---Anarchists and the Late
President Mckinley.

WASHINGTON, Oct s.--The encamp-
anent of the G. A. r. which is the bust
ness meeting of that order, began its
session at 10 o'clock today in the First
Congregational Church in this city.
The attendance comprised aboht 1000
delegates, making it one of the largest
conventions ever held by the organiza-
ton Commander-in-Chief Torrance
presided and an opening prayer was
delivered by T. v. Starkey Of Pittsburg,
who acted as chaplain in chief. The
report of the committee on credentials
was accepted and without the formali-
ty OF a roll call the business of the
meeting proceeded. The meetings were
secret.
At the outset resolution was adopt
ed expressing the grief of the conven-
tion over the death of President Nc
Roosevelt's indisposition.
A collection of photos of most of the
past national officers of the order were
presented to the convention by Dele
gate Beath of Pennsylvania, with the
condition that they are to be preserved
in the Congressional library.
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Commander Chief Torrance then
delivered his annual address He was
received with cheers and was frequent
ly interrupted by applause.
General Torrance began his address
with touching allusion to the assas-
sination of President Mckinley, eulo-
gizing in strong terms the dead Presi-
dents character and condemning in
bitter language the crime that struck
merit of laws by Congress which should
make certain the punishment of any
person who should make an assault or
the Chief Executive. No quibble con
cerning constitutional rights, he con
tended, should be allowed to stand il
the way of such legislation
Within the memory of every membe
of this encampment, the most notabl,
steps in our country's progress hav'
been taken in the face of imaginar.
constitutional difficulties. American
institutions are of priceless value ant
have cost too much in sacrifice AM
suffering to be put in jeopardy for
single hour. and the gallows and tn
dungeon could be the just reward o
every anarchist who sets foot upon ou
shores, or attempts to put in practic
his doctrines of universal hate an
chaos"
Continuing, he said that lawlessnes
Of speech usually precedes lawlessnes
st act, and added: 1--WE have neve
had a President who deserved to b
caricatured, and we never will have on
that a seIf-respecting press or peopl
can afford to hold up to public ridicult
More respect for rightful speech, wit
less appetite for sensationalism, wi
do much to wither the evil passions c
man, and to promote the safety an
security of both life and property i
this republic
Taking up the question of pension:
General Torrance related the circum
stances connected with the investiga
ton of the charges against former Pen
sion Commissioner Evans. Speakin
of the report made by the Grand Al
my's committee on pensions Genera
Torrance said that the acceptance {
the resignation of Commissioner Ey
ans by the President Immediately TO
lowed the presentation of this commit
tees report to him. Referring furthe
to the effect produced by this inquir
he said: ''One most gratifying resu
OF our investigation was to find that n
ground existed for the wholesale .charg
es of fraud so often made against tn
pensioners. A large part of the last rt
port OF Commissioner Evans was take
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