The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-10-14

Army got down to business today and
the encampment of the order. besides
hearing an address from Commander
in-Chief Torrance and reports from a
number of officers and committees.
elected a new head for the ensuing year.
The new commander-in-chief of the
Grand Army of the Republic is General
I. j. Stewart. of Pennsylvania, who was
a leading candidate for the honor n
year ago. His competitors today were
General John G. Black. of Illinois, a
former commissioner of pensions, and
Colonel John McElroy. of this city.
The name of General Daniel Sickles, of
New York city was presented to the
convention. but he withdrew from the
race.
The vote was: Stewart 467; Black 272;
McElroy SO.
William NJ. Olin. OF Massachusetts.
was e.ecIeu wee commander-in-chief.
by a vote of 421 to 326 for J. L. Smith,
of Ohio, and James NJ. Averill, Of Geor-
g1a, Junior vice commander-in-chief.
Averill received sol votes and L. c..
Way, Of Florida, 81.
Aside from the election of these Off
ONAS NAC lOS dlu VI Tie
e-ncampment was the report of the pen
sion committee of the Grand Army of
the Republic. This committee severely
scored the medical division of the pen
sion bureau, declaring that it was Il
dead line where were executed the
claims Of veterans seeking pensions.
The wOman's relief corps, the Daugh-
tiers OF Veterans and the ladies of the
Grand Army of the Republic also met
in annual convention today.
Thousands of veterans and their
wives, not delegates to either of the
organizations attended army corps re-
unions in the big tents on the White
House lot or spent the beautiful Octo-
Der day in sightseeing. \ feature of
the late afternoon was the dedication
of the corner stone Of the proposed
memorial bridge to connect Washing
ton to the National cemetery at Airing
ton. Secretary Root was the orator of
the occasion.
Report on Pension Office.
Washington, October 9.-Among the
official documents presented to the en-
campment of the Grand Army of he
Republic. which met here today, was
the report Of the committee appointed
last year to investigate the administra-
ton of the pension office by the then
pension commissioner, Hon. II. Clay
Evans. Speaking of the results of their
inquiry into special complaints, they
say that many of these complaints,
were without merit, but that on the
other han many meritorious claims mad
been thrown out. From a personal
investigation" they say, I've are con-
WINGED that scores of claims are re-
jected every day that should be allow
ed"
The responsibility for these reflections
is laid principally at the door or the
medical division of the pension bureau,
Tho ran0rt which &c dated March 2Zn0
last. concludes:
I'VE deem it our duty in making the
report to declare that among the sur
viVors of the war of the rebellion there
is an irremovable belief and conVlc-
ton that the present commissioner OF
pensions is not disposed to administer
the duties Of his office in that spirit Of
equity and justice to applicants Tor pen
sions which they have a right to ex-
pect. and while We are actuated by no
feeling Of unkindness toward the honor
able commissioner of pensions, we are
convinced that justice to the soldier IS
impossible of attainment under the
present administration of the pension
bureau
To Aid ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS i'm Building
Homes.
Washington, October 9.-At the ses-
sion OF the Grand Army of the Republic
ampme today a resolution intro
uGC Ol A@Noo- $4,000
ginia, was adopted, expressing the gr1ef
of the encampment over the death OF
President Mckinley and its regret over
President Roosevelt's i~ndisrosition.
Commander-in-Chief Torrance read
his annual address and reports OF OFF,
GERS were read. In his address General
Torrance devoted considerable space to
consideration of the status OF the eN-
Confederate soldiers, repeating in spirit
his plea of a month ago, for the mani
festation of good Will and Drotherly
kindness toward the late adversaries Oh
the Grand Army. He said he had been
prompted in making that appeal bv the
belief that such action would tend TO
bring still closer together all parts OF
the country in the n of a common
citizenship. and there were already ne
added. evidences in the responses re-
ceiyed from the southern states that ne
had not miscalculated. Indeed he said,
with but two exceptions, the entire press
of the country had commended the
shirt of the letter. Continuing on this
point he said:
ARMY OF the Republic as an organiza,
ton will embark in the BUILDING o.
homes for soldiers, north or SOUTH pu'
in no possible way can the greatest =
ternal organization in the World Hort
becomingly crown it's labors OF love II
behalf Of it's own membership, imam pS
extending the hand of helpfulneSs I
their fellow countrymen, against Wnon
they were once arrayed in deadiy slrIe
The most disastrous results OF a clvl
war are the animosities and bitter feel
ings engendered thereby. and / am CON
WINGED that one of the most patriotlC
services We can render our country Il
TO earnestly aid in removing every bar
rier hat separates or estranges the
peopie. The victory at AppomattoN
. will yield imperfect fruit, if we do moi
win the hearts as well as the hags OF
the men who wore the grey. A union OF
hearts as we'll as Of hands, is indispen'