The National tribune., 1902-10-16
PHOTOGRAPHS OF PAST OFFICERS.

lOi eAHSNtNaHla, HiS beeH coilectlnS pHoto
graphs of all the Past National Officers
who have served since the foundation OF
the Grand Army of the Republic. This
work has entailed limitless patience and
research, and no end of correspondence
but it has been unusually successful. He
has gathered these pictures into fine large
albums. and presented them to the Ma
tional Encampment. Senior Vice Com
lnander-in-Chief John McElrOy accepted
them, and in the name of the comrades
thanked Col. Beath for the valuable gift.
In presenting the albums Comrade
Beath said:
Commander-in-Chief and Comrades: As
this is my :'3d consecutive attendance ut
the Annual Sessions of this National En-
campment l have considered it an appro-
pirate time to carry out Il subject formed
i'll my mind long ago.
| Since and inc,lding 1SI0-not counting
the Special Session held in New York in
October, 1863, which ! attended with
Comrade Wagner, from Pennsylvania,
have been present at each opening service,
and have witnessed the closing installation
of officers without 4 single break in the
record. This record is closely approached
! by but one comrade-Louis Wagner, who
was detained from but one Encampment
by domestic bereavement and from two
others by unavoidab BILE circumstances.
| In writing the History of the Grand
Army of the Republic. ISS7-1SSS, / col
lected photographs of the officers of the
| National Encampnlent to that time, but /
have kept up the work of collection to the
present.
| In presenting to TIE National Encamp-
meGt these portraits of its officers, dating
F-x.,. ~. Al
hope that they will be carefully preserved
and will be added to from year. to year
until our Grand Army has completed its
record: then these portraits should so to a
National Library.
| Seven portraits are missing. but these.
with tie aid of comrades. l hope yet to
| secure.
The total number Of pictures in these al
buns is 211.
The portraits of the Commanders in
Chief (31), Senior Vice Commanders-in-
Chief (25l, Junior Vice Comma aHders-in-
Chief (25j, and Quartermasters-General
13l are complete.
Surgeons-General, % portraits, one miss
ing: DIR. John w. Foye. elected from
Massachusetts. bat who died a number of
gears since in San Francisco.
| Chaplains- 20 portraits. and four
missing, Rev. W. II. Childers. Kentucky;
Rev. L. G. Lift, Utah: Rev. Frank c. Bru-
ner, Illinois, and Rev. Daniel Lucas, In
diana.
Inspectors General, "A portraits: one
missing, Conlrade l.. +. Griffith, of Troy,
! y. v.
Judge Advocates General. 16 portraits:
one missing. Comrade George Z. Squires,
of New York. now in Utah.
Total, as stated, 2ll, with seven miss
ing.
Except in few instances where / had
duplicates on hand, the portraits of officers
promoted or serving in more than one po-
sition, are placed with the highest grade
held, but in the album the fact of service
in another position is recorded and refer
ence is made to where the portraits will be
found.
! / need hardly say that. with so many of
these comrades dead-1G alone of the 81
who served as Commanders-in-Ch Chief-tbis
| collection will become more precious as the
years pass. and this thought alone. with
the work of the Grand Army which these
comrades so directly represent. will be
sufficient incentive to their careful preser-
yatioD.
| Added to these portraits. which mean so
much to myself through long but happy
Years of actual contact with the dead and
the living. l had intended to also present
many relics OF great historical value to our
organization, proving facts which have
/ been at times disputed-as to the work of
the early years of our Grand Army
l find, however, that l need more time
TO have them arranged to my satisfaction,
but it is understood in the event of my
death before they are transferred they be-
long TO this National Encampment as part
of its official records.
ask you, then, COmmander-in-C Chief to
now accept these portraits as the property
of the National Encampment
REPORT OF THE PENSION COMMITTEE.
Comrade r. 3. Beath Pa.), Chairman
of the Committee on Pensions, presented
the report of that committee which was
read by Comrade Chas. G. Burton (AIo1.
This report apears in full on eighth page. I
The nomination and election of National
| Officers WAS made the special order for
8 y. M. and the Encampment took Il recess
for lunch.
AFTER RECESS.
| The Commander-in-C Chiefs voice trOub-
| ling him. Junior Vice Commander-in-Ch Chief
lO'Donnell took the gavel.
| Comrade Patrick (Ala.), in a ringing.
eloquent speech nominated Gen. u. r.
Sickles for Commander-in-C He
spoke of Gen. Sickles's splendid war SER
vices from Yorktown to Gettysburg, and
| from Gettysburg to Resaca. His record
as 6. A. X. man was long, arduous and
effective.
He fought for the right of the line for
his veteran comrades, at the last Inaugu-
ration, and it was given him: he fought
for change in the Pension Bureau. and
it was made. A vote for Gen. Sickles
would be vote for veteran preference in
public employment. He was comrade
with sincere friendship for every man who
wore the blue.
Past COmmander-in-Ch Chief Lawler 0lll,
SAID that when the comrade praised the
record OF Gen. Sickles, Illinois had to say
that they had a candidate whose record
as soldier and G. A. X. man was sec
ond to none. He proceeded to give a bril-
liant description of Gen. j. c. Blacks mil
itnry record, which ran from the beginning
OF tile war to the close, always OH the fir
ing line, repeatedly wounded, and every
time that he was promoted, his blood
sealed his commission. He had been n
Grand Army man since 1866, and aIways
at the service of his comrades. He was
ready at any time to rise from q bed of
pain, and lift his voice for them at n
Campfire, a Reunion, or wherever he could
be of service for them. He had made one
of the best Pension Commissioners we
ever had, and had fought for his comrades
even against his Ofica! superior.
Comrade Carnahan Qnd.) seconded Gen
Black
Comrade John Day Smith AIinn.) sec.
onded Gen. Black.
Comrade Sample Pa.) placed in nomi-
nation Comrade j. T. Stewart, by saving
that they wanted comrade who would
keep the q. A. X. up to the high place II
had always occuDied and nreSs ;f On "a