The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1902-10-16
NEW COMMANDER Of GA R.
General T. J. Stewart, Of Pennsyl-
yania, Elected Commander in-Chiet.
RECEPTION FORVETERANS' WIVES

Mira. Roosevelt Held Court in Corcoran
Art Gallery-Woman's Relief Corps
Expended $4,000 During the Year
~ -MedicaI Division of tho Pension Blu.
reau Scored by Special Committee.
Washington, D. C.-The new Com
mander-in-Chief of the Grand Army
Of the Republic is General T. J. Stew
art, of NorristowD, Pa, who was a
leading candidate for the honor a year
ago.
His competitors at the election Of
officers We're General John G. Black,
Of Illinois, 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 first ballot resulted in the cleo
ton of General Stewart who was NOM
mated by Thomas Sample of Pennsyl-
vania. the vote being as follows: Stew
ART. 467; Black, 272; McElroy. So.
William NJ. Olin, of Massachusetts,,
was elected vice commander-in-chief,
and James NJ. Averill, of Georgia, jun
ior vice commander-in-chief.
Aside from the election Of these Off
GERS, the most interesting feature OF
the encampment was the report Of the
Pension Committee of the G. A. r.
This committee severely scored the
medical division OF the Pension Blu
reau, declaring that it was a dead line.
where were executed the claims Of
veterans seeking pensions. 1t accused
the personnel of this division Of ap-
preaching representatives Of examin-
ing surgeons throughout the country
with suspicion and distrust, and as
made in bad faith. It denounced the
reports that extensive frauds were
practiced In pension claims as ALSO
lutely baseless.
A resolution was adopted expressing
the grief Of the convention over the
death Of President Mckinley and its
regret v e President Rooseyelt's in
disposition.
A collection Of photographs of. most
Of the past national officers Of the or
der was presented to the convention
by Delegate Beath, Of Pennsylvania,
with the condition that they are to be
preserved in the Congressional Ii
brary.
The twentieth annual convention OF
the Women's Relief Corps, which was
held at the Church of Our Father, was
n Of the largest in the history Of the
organization. Mrs. Calista ". Jones,
Of Vermont. the national president.
presided, and was the recipient Of e v
eral historic gavels.
The order was shown to be In q
flourishing condition. Over $4,000
was expended during the year. leaving
a fund Of over S11, 900 on hand.
Mrs. Clara Barton, of the NATIONAL
Red Cross. the only surviving honor
airy member of the organization, was
escorted to the platform. Her feeble
health would not permit her to more
than murmur her thanks.
Amid classic setting, surrounded by
the, masterpieces Of Michael Angelo
and Donatelli, standing between 1uted
marble columns with ornate CORN
THAN capitals, Mrs. Roosevelt and the
ladies of the Cabinet received the la
dies OF the Grand Army Of the Repub-
lie at the Corcoran Art Gallery. The
reception lasted for two hours, from
i to 6 o'clock, and was attended by
1000 of the G. A. r. ladies. The Ma
rine Band played at the reception to-
day, and as the afternoon advanced
the place was brilliantly Illuminated
with electricity.
Prominent among the callers were
Mrs. John A. Logan, Miss Clara Bar
ton and Mrs. John c. Black.