The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-05-05
FOR COMMANDER.IN.CHIEF.
Lafayette Post dominates Past Department
Commander Allen c. BakeWell.

- IL.
Allan c. Blackwell, Past Commander Of
the Department of New York, prominent
candidate for the office of Commander in
Chief, Grand Army Of the Republic, who
will be recognized by the cut herein, is a
Pennsylvania by birth, who served with
Battery A, LIST Pa. Art. Battalion, in
which he enlisted when 16 years of age.
His record has been most conspicuous
in the Grand Army for his devotion to the
Flag and to the principles it represents.
For years he has been an efficient and
loyal comrade of the Order
AS member of the wel-knOwn Lafay-
cite Post, 40. New York. his merits and
recognition Of the sublimity of the Order
were recognized. and he became its Junior
Vice Commander, rising by grade to Sc
niOr Vice Commander and later to be De-
partment Commander Of the Empire State,
the largest Department in the Grand
Army. None can be found who do not
speak with unbounded praise of his admin
istratiOn as Department Commander. BY
his influence of magnetism, practical abil-
ty, and fraternal regard the State of New
York preserved through his administra-
ton its full numerical strength, notwith-
large number.
COmrade Blackwell has been induced to
be candidate for the high office by La
fayette Post because of his fitness, his 10y
atty, and because his business interests
though large-permit him to give, almost
exclusively, his time to the interests of
the Order. Lafayette Post makes no
claim, yet it will be conceded by all who
have followed its history and its endeavor
that an expressed desire for recognition
of service should have some weight and
consideration among those who have the
best interests of the Order at heart.
A Post which has considered no limit Of
territory in it's distribution of assistance;
which by its influence and example has
been so largely instrumental in encourag-
ing regard for the Flag in schools where
the children OF foreign parents attend !;
which sent several hundred large flags un-
der Government permission to the islands
which have become possessions of the
United States; which enrolled thousands of
recruits for the Spanish American War
and enlisted them i'm the Army and Navy
brought from foreign soil the bodies of
comrades to bury them at Arlington,
makes strong appeal for the recognition
of its loyalty by even an expressed desire.
To all the important measures and sue
cesses of this Post Comrade Blackwell has
been a foremost and active worker. His
generous hand and warm heart have been
the closest allies in the work accom-
plished. He went personally to Porto
and, following in the wake of Gen. Miles.
hosted them as tokens Of American re-
sponsiblity for liberty.
Comrade Blackwell is a Trustee of the
Western University of Pennsylvania;
member of the Board of Managers of the
]. Hood Wright Memorial Hospital of
New York; member of the New York
Union League Club member of the Amer
lean Scenic and Historic Preservation So
ciety; member of the American Flag Asso
citation of New York, devoted to the proven
ton of the Dissertation of the Flag; Presi
| dent of the Sprague Electric Company
| and has just been appointed by President
Roosevelt member of the Board of EiSi-
tors to the United States Military Acad,
envy at West Point.
1t is gratifying TO be able to report that
after six years of almost constant effort
Comrade Blackwell can give notice of the
passage of the act placing free schools on
| par with universities in receiving assist
ance from the Government in permitting
military instruction by retired commits
stoned and non-cOmmissoned officers upon
application by school authorities. Six sue
cessive Commanders in Chief of the G.. A
II. have appointed Comrade Blackwell Aid
in Charge of Patriotic Education in
Schools. Through his exertion and prac-
teal methods the Flag now flies over
nearly all the schools of the continent and
the islands: June II is recognized as the
birthday of the Flag and the laws are on
the statute books of most of the States
compelling schools to teach the principles
the Flag represents and preserving it from
being an advertising medium.