The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-03-14

rade Collins, as he is called in G. A. R.
circles, had the idea that history could
be made to repeat itself.
It has been the unwritten law Of the
organization that the senior vice COM
mander should be made commander, the
junior vice commander promoted to
senior vice commander, and that new
man be chosen for the office of junior
vice commander.
Naturally when the attempt was
made by the friends of Comrade Col
Inns to place him in a position in the
organization, where next year he could
step into the chair of commander, there
was a ruction.
Comrade Mcdonald, of st. Cloud,
nominated L. w. Collins for senior vice
commander in brief speech, and DR..
A. L. Foster, of Litchfeld, made the
nominating speech for Harrison White,
who for the past year held the office
of junior vice commander. DR.. Foster
alluded to the unwritten law of the or
ganization, which had been maintained
for years, as to the promotion of the
junior vice commander to the higher
office, and then went into details as to
the war record Of Col White.
Attention was called to the fact that
White entered the army as a private
and came out a brigade commander,
having been promoted on the field of
battle by Gen. Sheridan for valor.
Judge Collins Must Take His Turn.
The speech of DR.. Foster and the
sentiment of the delegates that if Com
rade Collins wanted to enter in the list
of officers, he should commence at the
bottom round, had its effect and the
vote showed 230 for White and 120 for
Collins.
Comrade Collins, when the VOTE was
announced, at once moved to make the
nomination unanimous, and this was
done. The friends of Comrade Collins
were kept busy the rest of the session
impressing the fact on the delegates
that he did not favor the presentation
Of his name, but that resolutions of
John M. McKelvey post, of st. Cloud,
Of which he was a member, urged that
he be nominated for the office.
For the position of junior vice COM
mander there was also contest. w. H.
Harries nominated L. o. Merriam, Of
Minneapolis, and c. T. Trowbridge
placed in nomination G. H. Taylor, of
Long Prairie. The ballot gave Taylor
the Office by vote of 161 to 123.
Capt. Mahan Elected Commander.
Capt. Isaac L. Mahan, of st. Paul,
was unanimously elected commander,
and as Commander Starkweather turn-
ed over the gavel to his successor, he
was surprised by being presented with
past department commanders badge
by Judge Collins, who made a neat
speech. The badge was of gold, set
with seven diamonds, a ruby and a
sapphire.
The question of the repeal of the law
providing that all but 81 Ut the month
ly pension money received by inmates
OF the soldiers home should be retain
ed by trustees of the home, took up
nearly the entire afternoon session.
The report of the committee on res
olutions was to the effect that the law,
as it now stands, be retained.
The discussion was prolonged and
heated, and those favoring a change
which would allow the inmates to keep
all of their pension money, made some
very pointed and radical speeches.
The session was an executive one.
but some Of those favoring a repeal
of the present law were not bit slow
In reclting afterWard the position thew
took on the question.
Il told them,' said one of the veter-
ans, that the state that could spend
$S,O0O0OO for capitol building con-
structed from marble imported from
Georgia, should not eXtort from the old
soldiers in the home the paltry sum
received by them as pensions for saw
ing the country
Il tell you you are wrong" said an
other Of the veterans. ''The home