New-York tribune., 1904-08-18
PRESIDENT TO 6. A. r.
n PATRIOTIC LETTER.
NezU-Y York Veterans TnGorse HIM
Encampmemt,s First Session.
tsY rzLxozArH TO The TRIBUNE. ]


well remember tie Grand Army encamp1lent of
1903, which he could not review. In the body
f.eelf there IS no politics but the 5th New-York
Artillery to-day indorsed him FOR reelection.
The resolutions mention the qualities which they
recognize. as follows:
By reason of his great ability. energy, honesty
and undyng patriotisIns his efforts TO secure the
equal rights Of all citizens before the law,
his love Of the people who thrive by honest Work
and not by plundeT. his earnest advocacy OF
protection TO American labor and industries ana
his devotion 10 The welfare OF and justice que
The veterans Of the Y5aLr Tor the Union IN tneir
declining years.
General B!aek.nar has gained Kentucky ana
iowa 10 his support al Tie contest for the COM
membership but lost II the first skirinsh of the
encampuent to-day. when q motion TO set the
election Of commander IA chief for o'clock TINS
afternoon was lost through the opposition of
seven DELEGATES from New-YoTk. who are sup
porting Colonel Shots The Shotts men are
highly elated over the postponement Of the cleo
lion unlii tomorrow, asserting that the delay
win elect their man. Colonel Mitchell says
eEotts has the entire New-York delegation be-
hind him now, and has 40 intention to with
draw. Illinois has declared for Shotts.
The DANDY 9th" held a reunion to-day. with
CAPTAIN Joseph H Barker presiding He gave
p talk on the Siege and Surrender OF harper ;
Ferry. Va. September II 10 10, -1S62 one OF
the members present was Sergeant J. A NC
GinIey. of Springfield the first man 70 enter
AndersonviIIe Prison, after having been confined
in Libby and Belle Isle. Other reunions heiu
,o-6av were those Of the G4th New-York and the
14tb New-York Heavy Artillery associations
A large marty OF New-Yorkers was taken on a
,-,,o,,lieht sail down the harbor tonight the
.tear,er making a circuit Of the illuminated
mRrsh!ps.
THE PRESIDENTS LETTER
.-,,,,,,,,en+ began
today with the conventions OF the oisaii'A'
and affiliated orders and societies.
rletUeen thirteen hundred and fourteen nun
drea delegates we're present when the annual
convention Of the Grand Army of the Repuoilc
was called to order in Symphony Hall at Io
O'Clock this morning. The feature of the pro-
oeedings was the reading OF the following letter
from President Roosevelt:
Ny Dear General BlackInar: have most care,
fully considered the invitation which received
through you and your associates OF the coInnlt
4ea 10 attend this year the annual encampment
of the Grand Army of the Republic al Boston;
IT Is with the most genuine regret that i'i'
that It is impossible for me TO accept.
one Of the memories which L shall always
cherish is the occasion two years ago, wheh II
was my good fortune to drive along me !le OF
yhe Grand Army and afterWard from the stand
30 greet it as il passed III review. IL IS no ols @
respect to any other body OF our cltlzehs 70 ssy
that the who fought Tor the Union IN te
great Civil War have a claim upon all Amerl-
cans such as no other men in the country can
have. II is TO you we owe the tact mat We
have p country al all. and every American to-
CAV is under debt Of personal oonsaIoh Co
you and your comrades, who IN their youth anu
early manhood, in the supreme hour Of the ma
tioais need rallied to the call OF Abraham LIN
coin. ana after four weary years saw the trl-
unaph OF the armies commanded by ulysses :.
Grant There have been other crises in the his
tory OF this government. but not since its
foundation has there been any other IN Wnlch
the existence of the government itself was at
stake Therefore il fell 10 the lot Of you and
Of those who stood with you from 1861 to 1860
70 render the one service which was vital. not
only to the welIbeing, but to The very life. Of
Four Years ago when your former comrade,
my revered predecessor, President Mckinley,
being unable TO attend your encarnpnent, sent
his greetings, he used these words:
''Your patriotic spirit still inspires the people.
It LED the volunteer armies which enlisted IN the
Spanish TO valiant service in Cuba, Porto
Rico and the Philippines, and impelled the brave
men who under your conrade, Macarthur, are
now maintaining American authority in the
philippines. and those under your other COM
rade, Chzffee, who have carried to lega-
ton ana 10 our citizens in China the protection
az the flag
What President Mckinley wrote then is true
row. Under the lead Of your comrades the Phil
tppine Islands were won for the cause of civil
station, Of civil liberty and Of peace and JUS
dce. At this time il is only under the Ameri-
can haS that the people of the islands pre-
serve the public order, the individual freedom
and the material wellbeing which have come to
them as the direct consequence OF the deeds OF
your brothers in arms OF q younger generation.
The work which has thus been done viii not be
nndone for the nation remains true TO the mem
ory of your own great deeds.
As The representative Of ali our people I bid
you Gods2eed, and send you this expression of
she hopor and esteem in which the nation holds
the members OF the encampment and their COM
fades throughout the country. Sincerely yours,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
GENERAL BLACKS ADDRESS
General John c. Black delivered the annual
address Of the commander in chief, and the re-
ports Of the adjutant general and quarternaster
general we're circulated General Black de-
clared that the Grand Army Of the Republic
owed it TO those who hocked TO the shores of
America 10 let them know how high should be
fhe character and how ample the preparation
OF those who seek the privileges OF citizenship.
On the subject of pensions he urged that further
attempts be made to. crystalline into statute law
the provisions OF the executive order pronul-
gated by the Commissioner OF Pensions IN March
OF this year
Ad5utant Partridge's report showed that the
members OF the Grand Army Of the Republic
N good standing on June go 1904. numbered
sS45szol, a net loss in the year OF I0,24e.
4 sound financial condition was reported b,,
t9uartermaster General Burrows. in spite Of
cecIease IN receipts from per capita tax and
profits on supplies
The majority OF tho former wcarers Of tba
due who are not accredited delegates 10 the
convention spent the Gay and evening ip re-
neWlng their army friendships, fighting their
DAtuee over again. and enjoying the many at
slactlosis of-ered for their entertainment In
the afternoon thousands OF them toilrnavaa 70
re navy YARD ct ChaTlesloHn. to Uyitnese tba
ssuncning OK the training ship Cumberland
StNe4s sPeEt the day IN visiting Fancuil Hall
tSnEer Hi. the Old South and Ola Nartb
CEsErCIEE