The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-06
CARRIED IN THE BLUE
Veterans Of 81 Assemble for the
G. A. R. Encampment.
TORRANCE SPEAKS
He Gives Three Cheers for the De-
partment-Ladfes' Orders
In Session.

FAC 0ASCS AAEcS CheefS IOv the De~
partment-Ladies' Orders
In Session.
Five hundred veterans of the Grand
Army OF the Republic are in Minneapolis
the occasion being the thirty sixth
Minnesota.
Inc comrades met in Century hall at 10
a. M yesterday and dispatched large
amount OF routine business. Depart
menta headquarters may have been
established in Parlor E of the
Hotel Nicollet. and the lobby was
crowded this morning with gallant grey
boards in blue suits.
The chief business of the encampment
centers in the election of officers to-mor-
row afternoon. 1t is generally believed
that Perry Starkweather. senior vice COM
mander, will succeed Department Com
mander William II. Harries and that
Junior Vice Commander Isaac D. Mahan
of st. Paul will be made senior vice
commander. The fight therefore, is for
the Junior vice commandership and there
are four active candidates-George Whit
new, Wadena; NJ. w Bates, Duluth; j.
frank Locke, Long Prairie; and Harrison
Wnlte or buverne. Few of the veterans
care to venture prediction as to which
one OF these comrades will be selected.
A feature of the morning session was
5rlef address by Commander in Chief
.Wdge Eli Torrance, who received an ova-
tlcn from his old comrades. Not to be
outdone. the commander in chief gave
three rousing cheers for the department
OF Minnesota. The cheers burst upon the
veterans like thunderbolt, and were
given by Judge Torrance alone. He told
the comrades that he was nightly proud
q ~ f1,<v fo~H 0fo
and ne wanted to honor them sig9ally.
He also found much to commend in the
excellent reports of the various officers.
bis remarks were received with great
enthusiasm.
Brief addresses were also made by
Perry StarkWeather, senior vice COM
mander; Isac L. Mahan, St. Paul, junior
vice commander, and ]. Frank Locke, de-
partment chaplain ~ .,-~.js - u.s.. -
The Dept Commanders Address.
The address of Commander William H.
Harrles was an eloquent and optimistic
EFFORT, which was received with every
manifestation of approval. He said in
part: -.s.....-.
Comrades-When Major B. F. Stephenson
ana CHAPLAIN W. j.. Rutledge Of the -Four.
teenth Illinois Infantry, while on the march
and IN the camp. talked about the organza
ton they proposed to form Of the soldiers Of
| the union army as soon as they were mus
tered out OF service, they could not in theil
most sangu1ne moments have dreamed of suc1
great fraternal body of men as the Crane
Army of the Republic grew TO in after years
! One OF the foundation stones of the struc
| ture, very appropriately, was the absolute
! equality of all its members
Grant, the leader Of all the armies was NJ
greater than the commonest private in thu
| rear rank All were comrades and shared
| alike in it's councils and it's work as well a.
| in its glorious memories.
| The founders OF the Grand Army of the Re
| public builded better than they knew. bu
| not Wlthstanding this fact, when politics crep
! into Its ranks it became tottering structure
! The order, which had been 24O, 600 strong il
| 1868, declined to 900 in 1871. Then the fol
| lowing article was added to the rules anc
regulations: al e ~ .,se.r .-x. a-
! No officer or co1nradei of the Grand Arm,
of the Republic shall I'M any manner use THU
organization for Dartizan purposes and nj
discussion of partizana questions shall be per
mitted at any ofSits meetings; nor shall an,
| nominations for political offices be made
With the adoption of this article wise
counses prevailed. and the order went bacl
to its foundation principles. with a love TO
them which it's Christening had increased, ant
| the Grand Army Of the Republic grew as i
never had before in all its history. ~ -
other foe and it is impossible to ward him
off. We have reached the period In our lives
! when the. journey to the eternal camping
| ground is not far away. ..'... az. -
| We assemble now with diminished mum.
bers on our rolls and at the rate our COM
rades crossing over the dark river, II
will not be great many years when the
| Grand Army of the Republic will be known
! only in history. .rs' -.-z..s
| The report Of the assistant adjutant gen.
eral shows that Dec. 81, 1901, we had in this
department 173 posts and 5,SS7 members Thi;
shows net loss of three posts and 81 mem.
bers during the year. ~. co.,. -
Post As at Adrian, Post rs at Eagle Lake
and Post ISL at Fremont have SURRENDERED
| their charters. ..,...-,a, T.. .
! Post 1913 at Dassell and Post 14S at St
Paul have been cited before the council Of
administration to show cause why.
! One new post has been organized at Akeley
in Hubbard county, since the first Of Janu.
| airy last, which makes la organized posts
in this department.. ~ <- -,