The National tribune., 1904-08-25
SECOND DAY.

Reports - Committees Election OF oMcers.
Denver the Next Meetings P1ace-Rssslu-
tions Adopted-Installatton Of oMcers. and
Adjournment.
Cooks famous Denver Band favored the
Encampment with a selection of airs adj
mirably rendered
The Commander Chief called the En-
campment to order, and the Chaplain-in-
Chief invoked the Divine blessing.
Junior Vice. COMMANDMENTS Chief Kessler
took the gavel.
Past Comma Chief johnson call
ed attention to the hardships of the COM
rades and their wives imposed in valida-
ting tickets.
FREDERICKSBURG BATTLEFIELD PARK.
Edgar Allen Va.) read the report of the
Committee on the Fredericksburg Battle
| field Park. A bill. after passing the Sen
ate. failed to receive attention by the
House. The Committee had hopes of sue
cess in the future, when less meritorious
schemes were out Of the way. The Com
| mittee reported a resolution continuing the
Committee and work. Adopted.
COmrade Allen said that three times the
| temper of Congress was decidedly in favor
Of the bill, but the Speaker had blocked
| its passage. He wanted all Posts and De-
partments to interest themselves in bring
ing pressure to secure the passage.
Gen: Dodge reported, strongly commend
ing the Commander-in-Chief's Address,
and making the following recommends
| tions, which were adopted:
That if any modification of the fran
| chise for voting should ever be necessary,
| such modification should be along the lines
| of intelligence and fitness, and not along
the lines of race or color
That the equality before the law OF all
| Americans be recognized, and especially
the right OF every man to contract his la
Dor and to keep his contract without inter-
ference.
The Convention was considerably
thinned ont about D. m by the starting
| only. and about half of them left the hall.
The question of admission of Sons of
Veterans was taken up for consideration
| late in the afternoon.
VALIDATING TICKETS.
Comrade Sample reported that he had
secured important concessions from the
| railroad with regard to validating tickets.
The Commander-in-C announced the
| arrival of the hour set for election Of off,
GERS.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
Comrade Gilman (Mass) said that it
| was 10 years since the New England
States had had a Commanders in Chief He
presented the name of typical volunteer
soldier. who had enlisted as a private in
the ranks. and fought his way mp, receiv-
| ing every promotion on the battlefield, un-
| til he came home d Captain with a Con-
gressional Medal of Honor
He had worked hard for the Grand
Army ever since its formation and in the
ranks.
He had begun life as a poor boy. gained
his own education, and by dint Of honesty,
perseverance, tact and ability had become
| one of the leading lawyers. and retired
| some years ago on competence.
Comrade Hopkins said that Michigan
| seconded the nomination OF one OF Gus
| ter's gallant soldiers.
Past Commander-in-Chief Torrance Sec
onded Blackmar's nomination for the
Trans Mississippi country.
| Past Commander-in-Chief Rassieur Sec
| Onded Blackmar.
| There were seconds from Montana, New
Hampshire, New Jersey, Nebraska, and
| Oregon.
CorpI Tanner was recognized and re-
eeived with applause, and nominated as the
unanimous choice of the Great Depart
ment Of New York Comrade John G.
Shotts, who started in the ranks, and
never got above the ranks of that splendid
regiment-the 18th N. Y. He was never
absent from roIl-call Of the regiment He
had been honored in New York to the high
est degree possible, and he had always
4 u.
| though Massachusetts had the rear of the
column yesterday, she seemed to have the
head of the column to-day, he would with
| draw COmrade Shotts's name and move
| that Comrade Blackmar's election be made
| unanimous.
Comrade Montfort (Ohio) seconded
| Blackmar
nomination of that splendid Pennsylvania
| soldier Comra do Rlackmar
Seconds came from all the Departments.
| Past Commander-in-Chief Wagner
moved that Comrade Blackmar be elected
by acclamation.
| Carried, and Comrade Blackmar was de-
| clared elected.
pointed to escort Comrade Blackmar to
the platform. He was received with en-
thusiastic cheers, and was presented by
| COmrade Shots.
THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE HONOR.
When quiet was restored, the Com
mander-in-C Chief elect said:
81 accept the great honor which has to-
day been conferred upon me by my COM
rades here assembled in the 3Sth National
Encampment of the Grand Army of the
Republic, and, God helping me. 1 will per-
| form its great duties to the best of my
ability.
"Forty-one years ago to-day I was in
the midst of great body of men, as am
to-day; but they were young, mere boys
most of them, all clad in the uniform of
our country, that uniform torn, soiled and
quite threadbare.
Under the gallant Rosecrans we were
toiling over the Cumberland Mountains,
the men dragging cannon and ammunition
wagons by ropes over painless sleeps and
| precipices, where horses could not find
| foothold. We scaled the seemingly inn
| passable mountains and captured Chatta-
nooga-the stronghold of the enemy
then marched to the bloody field Of Chick
| amauga.
MANY of those dear old boys, my COM
rades, are here to-day, gray and wrinkIed,
| but young and strong Of heart, gathered
as then from distant States and true to the
old comradeship, they have joined their
| comrades in the East and stood loyalty by
me- and, overcoming all difficulties, have
| won a victory over, not our enemies, but
| our dear friends and comrades-placing
| upon my breast that invaluable prize the
| insignia of COmmander-in-Chief
"What contrast, my comrades, be-
tween Aug. Is, 1863. and Aug 18. 1904.
Thank God, SO many OF us have been
cd fhaco 10 xroo 70 A.