Omaha daily bee., 1905-09-08
JommSnder-in-O Chief King in His Address
Favors Service Pensions
POLITICS IN THE RELIEF CORPS
Auxiliary to Grand Army of the Republic
Presents Interesting Situation.
NEBRASKA WOMAN IS IN THE CONTEST
Mrs. Abbie Adams of Superior In
Race for once of President
with Four other
Asptrnnts.

DENVER, Colo, Sept. 1--(Special Tele-
gram. AN interesting feature of the visit
OF the Nebraska department to the ma
tonal encampment at the Albany hotel
last night was the presentation to Past
Department Commander Harmon Bross OF
Lincoln OF a past department command
er's badge. The presentation address was
delivered by C. e. Adams Of Superior.
The badge is of gold and is studded with
seven diamonds The emblem bears a cross
and a sword.
The cross denotes that Mr. Bross was de-
partment commander OF Nebraska for
three years and the sword signifies that
he was commissioned officer in the union
army.
Business session of Encampment.
The first meeting of the executive
body of the thirty-ninth annual ma
| tional encsmpment OF the Grand Army
of the Republic began today at the
| Broadway theater. with the exception of a
| few minutes, during which city and state
| officials welcomed the old soldiers to the
| city formally and responding speeches were
| made by Commander-in-ChefJ John r. King
| and others, the sessions today were secret.
1t did not take long for the encampment
| delegates to get down to business After
| accepting the roll. which had been prepared
and printed in advance formal presentation
/ of a diamond badge to Commander-in-C Chief
| King, indicative OF his past commandership,
was made. AT the same time 1t was an
| nounced that the aides to former Com
mander-in-C Chief Wilmon w. Blackmar, who
died before the expiration OF his term OF
Office. would present a loving cup to the
widow of General Blackmar.
COmmRnders' Address,
General King then delivered his address
When he came to that part referring to the
| Daughters of Veterans association, the
| memory of the loss of his daughters ro-
| Gently. all members of the above associa-
| tion overcame him and he sat down with
| tears streaming down his cheeks. The par
agraph was read by Past Commander-in-
Chief Wagner. General King said:
From the very beginning OF his term
Commander-in-Chief BlackmaT's purpose
was to do all that man could do to en-
larry those that were weakest or most re-
mote, and, so far as lay In his power In
their ranks. and give to them added in
spiration to continue bravely and manfully
in the great work they were carrying on
for God and country and humanity.
The work OF the committee on pensions
Of ae no S ha
Der of certificates issuer in 1906 was 1872
before, and still more in excess of former
years. The large number was due to the
SPPsntns R @ o5dsf original ss' and
increased pensions under the order. Since
the order was issued April 10, 1901, the
total number of allowances under II was
65612, most of them, however, having been
for increase The PPsensiSon PPsI sdS roll now con on
civil war, as against $50, 1872 at the close of
1904. The deaths In 1905 of survivors OF the
Vigilance must not be relaxed to prevent
action by congress depriving our office
holding comrades of their well earned
means of livelihood.
Some Things Desired.
The observance of the exercises Of
! Memorial day has become so widespread
that at the present time scarcely city:
| town or village can be found In this great
republic that does not in some manner pay
tribute to the nations honored dead.
| If properly requested so to do by the en-
eampment, there was little doubt that the
clude in its estimates for the next fiscal
year an appropriation sufhcient tor the
erection of an amphitheater In Arlington
cemetery; and also an appropriation TO put
Lincolns Gettysburg address on tablets In
With an active committee at work to this
end. It is safe to assume that, the govern
ment will soon establish an additional SOL
diers' home in California.
The Woman's Relief corps still maintains
) its position the right hand Of the Grand
Army OF the Republic Very few enter
prises are undertaken by posts that these
patriotic women are not called upon for
assistance, and right royalty they give II.
I Badges as ordered by the last national
hsSS Srcsses 9esg SS we're fSrnished
; but one thing more needs 70 be done Tor
I these noble women. They have been en-
deavoring for some time to secure an In
crease OF pension. II the encampment could
r contribute TO the success of the measure IL
q the debt OF gratitude that comrades owe
TO the army nurses
Z numbers and influence and Is unquestiona-
bly, destined to play an important part IN
the future history Of the land their fathers
A The daughters Of veterans by combining
their influence in such an organization as
the National Alliance Daughters OF Veter-
ans can accomplish much In the way or
4 inculcating In the minds OF childTen loye
for the country and loyal devotion 70 the
!, flag as the emblem OF national unity ana
i the rights of man.
n senior vice Commanders Report.
A I The report OF John r. King. senior
vice commsnder-in-chief contained the fol-
lowing.
The time is passing when we can hope
for a materi' Increase in our membership,
yet there ar 1aPy very mSIGy aIt snryiy9TS ar TSS
| still hole aloof and fail TO avail themselves
OF their eligibility to Join the Grand Army
In view of the great benefit the influence
OF our order has been 70 them IN the way
! OF influencing legislation along the line OF
. pension enactments. Il Is surprisingly as
. tonishing why there are so many who are
willing 20 reap the BENEFITS of our organized
T. efforts and vet remain outside of our ranks.
e leaving to relatively few the burden OF
n hghtlng for the rights OF the old soldiers.
. Report of Junior vice Comr4ander.
: The report Of @. W. Patten, junior
+. vice comma nder-in-c chief. referred to the
enthusia stically cordial greeting extended
= to him In the south during his visit 10
y the posts there. Veterans are employed
in the parks at Vicksourg and Shiloh.
hut at Chattanooga. Gettysburg and An
iietam the positions occupied by the veter-
. ans were taken from under the civil serv-
: ice rules, after which the veterans were
:. discharged one after another, until all
were gone that any excuse could be found
. for suspending. United States deputy
marshal occasionally rides over the fields
and the memorial and other property Is
. left at the mercy Of vandals and thieves
who visit the fields for plunder
Adiutant General j. r. Gilman stated
" IN his report that the membership Juns
90. 1905. was 42,155. The deaths durins