Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-05-26
LOSE ENCAMP MEN1
Meeting of Spanish War Veterans
of State in Rock Island
Given Up.
wRANGLE AMONG OFFICERS
Have Failed to Reach an Agreement
Over Consolidation OF the
Societies.

Veterans Of the Spanish-American
war will not hold their encampment
for Illinois in Rock Island next month.
| The probabilities are they will not
| hold it this summer here or anywhere
else.
After all arrangements had been
completed by the local committee and
a large part of a fund of $4,000 raised
| by the citizens who had been appoint
ed to attend to this part. events en-
tirely beyond the control of the de-
partment encampment committee and
Siboney Bay camp, of this city, have
taken a turn rendering it inadvisable
to proceed further.
| The trouble has sprung from the
| consolidation of the three societies of
veterans who took part in the war of
90. As is generally known, the Span
ish-American War Veterans. the Span
ish War Veterans and the Service Men
| of the Spanish War recently united
under the name of United Spanish
| War Veterans. The first named or
| ganiZatiOn was strongest in Illinois, |
and this is the one that has held two
encampments and that made arrange
ments to hold the third in Rock ISL
and June 10, II and Is. The Service
Men were not represented in the state
and the Spanish War Veterans were
only established in Chicago. This be-
| ing the case and no other state en-
| campment having been arranged for. |
| IT, seemed that there would have been
| no difficulty in having the encamp
ment called for this city recognized
as the official one of the new society |
and securing the cooperation of all to |
make il a success. Nevertheless, when |
the department officers of the two old !
societies in this state endeavored to |
get together they disagreed and it be-
came evident to Col. +. y. Ramser, of |
this city. chairman of the encamp |
ment committee for the department |
of Illinois. Spanish-American War Vet |
Grams. that it was doubtful if a sue |
cessful encampment could be held |
here under the circums tances. Even |
though Il gathering of the veterans |
might be held no business could be |
transacted.
Writes Letter.
After visiting Chicago and confer
ring with the department officers of
both the old societies he returned !
home and today mailed the following |
letter setting forth his decision in the !
matter and the reasons that have led |
to the action:
Rock Island. H., May 20, 1904.
Commander Davis, Department of IL |
linois. s. \. W. V:
IT is with regret and disappointment !
that | have to report it Will be impos-
-; hA1 h. II 4
War Veterans encampment and CON
vention at Rock Island June Is, II and |
IS, as designated by the department
of Illinois. Owing to the present |
chaotic condition of the department |
resulting from the consolidation of
the various orders of the veterans of |
the Spanish war. as it now appears, il |
will take some time for the perfection |
of the state departments and the hold |
ing of the convention of the late s. A. |
w. V. would he unconstitutional and |
not recognized by the national com |
mander of the consolidated orders.
Or the other hand, it would he impos
Srble to hold the convention under the |
new organization as there are now no
officers at it's head in this state. Also |
from the fact that the new bylaws |
and constitution have not yet been |
published. we would have nothing to |
govern us.
Therefore, as these facts are being |
more and more known by the camps |
of the state. it would have tendency |
| to cut down the attendance to the |
encampment very much. and we could |
not afford to have the citizens of Rock |
Island pay out a large amount of
money for the entertainment of the |
veterans and run the risk of the en-
compliment being a failure. When the |
consolidation is perfected Rock Island |
will be pleased to renew its invitation
to entertain the department of Illinois |
United Spanish War Veterans.
COL. +. V. RAMSER,
Chairman Department Encampment
Committee.
May Meet Later
II is evident that some sort of con-
vention of the veterans Will be neces-
sary this year to approve of the con-
Solidation and to elect department Of
| ficers. 1t is not impossible that there
| may be a meeting here, though it is
not likely that the features of an en-
campment Will be had in connection.
Had Commander McGrew. of the
national department, United Spanish
War Veterans. acted with more celeTi- |
/ ~ in appointing temporary depart
ment officers for the state and pub
| fishing and distributing the cOnstitu-
ton and bylaws that have already
/ been adopted. the encampment might
have been held here as planned. 1t is
| presumed that the conditions prevail
/ ing in Illinois viii hold in other states
/ as well.
| The loss of the encampmont To Rock
| Island viii cause much disappoint
! -.,n1,. fnr - Enl hon eHnnctnL thnt