The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-09-07
BIC FIGHT ON.
Five Candidates for Presidency
of the w. X. C.
Mrs. Belle C. Harris of Emporia
Is in the Race.
LEGISLATIVE RODY
LEGISLATIVE BODY
Of the Grand Army Encampment
Hold First Session.
Diamond Badge Presented to
Commander-fn-C Chief King.

ing political fight of any of the conven-
lions connected with the G. A. R. en-
campment is on in this body. There
are five candidates for the office of
president and three for that of treas
urer. The latter office has a five year
tenure and the incumbent, besides CON-
trolling the finances of the organization,
| is a power in the politics of the body.
AS one prominent leader in the relief
corps expressed it. any one aspiring to
either office must line up openly in
choosing their favorite for the other
office and consequently some very pc
culiar combinations are the result.
For the office of president, Mrs, Kate
Jones of New York; Mrs. Carrie E.
! Sparklin of St. Louis;s Mrs. Belle G.
Harris of Emporia, Kan; Mrs. Abbie a.
Adams of Superior, Neb., and MIS-.
| Geraldine E. Frisbie of San Francisco
are entered in the race.
| Each has her following and even the
men of the Grand Army have been
pressed into the campaign and are
working hard for their faVoriteS. Mrs.
Charlotte E. Wright of Hartford, Conn.,,
Mrs. Emily E. White of Indiana, and
Mrs. Emily Milham aspire to the office
of treasurer.
The first business transacted by the
! Woman's Relief Corps this morning
was the formal welcome to the city and
state and responses. Then fraternal
greetings were received from the aux
iliary bodies and the Grand Army en-
| campment.
The first meeting of the legislative
body of the seth annual encampment of
! the G. A. r. began at 10 o'clock today
at the Broadway theater. With the
| exception of a few minutes, during
which state and city officials welcomed
the old soldiers, and responding speech
es were made by Chief
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 dia-
mond badge to Chief
King. indicative of his past commander
ship was made. At the same time 1t
was announced that the aides to former
Chief Wilmon w. Black
mar, who died before the expiration OF
his term of office, would present a
| loving cup to the widow OF General
1 Blackmar.
4 General Kings Address. az
The session was opened with an inn
! pressive prayer by Chaplain in Chief
]. H. Bradford of Washington, ID. e.
| Welcoming addresses were made by
Governor Jesse F. McDonald, mayor
| Speer and General George w Cook,
chairman of the Denver executive COM
mittee in charge of the encampment.
At General Kings suggestion three
| cheers were given the speakers.
General King then delivered his adj
| DRESS When he came to that part re-
| ferring to the Daughters of Veterans
| association, the memory of the loss OF
his daughters recently, all members of
| the above association, Overcame him,
and he sat down with tears streaming
down his cheeks. The paragraph was
read by Past Commander in Chief
Wagner.
The address covered the record of
ar liT1ic rat of
mander in Chief Wilmon w. Blackmar,
whose service covered eleven months
of the term for which he was elected.
From the very beginning of his term,
| Commander in Chief Blackmar's pur-
pose was to do all that man could do
| to encourage the several departments,
, particularly those that were weakest
| or most remote, and, so far as lay in
his power, infuse new life and energy
and health to their ranks, and give to
them added inspiration to continue
bravely and manfuIly in the work they
were carrying on for God and country
and humanity.
The work of the committee on pen
sions has been mainly devoted to urg-
ing the passage of a service pension
bill. The number of certificates issued
in 1905 was 182.2O7-more than 3O,-
600 in exces sof the year before and
still more in excess of former years
The large number was due to the
operation of order No. IS, the bureau
| granting 12,436 original pensions and
"a, 549 increased pensions under the
order. Since the order was issued
April IS, 1904, the total number of
allowances under it was 65.612 most
OF them, however. having been for in
crease. The pension roll now contains
| the names of 6S4.608 survivors of tn
| cival war against 69O792 at the
close of 1904. The deaths in 1905 of
survivors of the civil war were 3O.324
| Vigilance must not be relaxed to pre-
! vent action
ONCE holding comrades of their we'll
earned means of livelihood.
| The observance of the exercises of
Memorial day has become so. wide
spread that at the present time scarce
~ a city, town or village can be found
| IN this great republic that does not in
some manner pay tribute to the ma
tons hOnored dead.
The Daughters of Veterans nv conn
| blning their influence in such an or
gan1zation as the National AlIia nce
Daughters of Veterans can accornnlisl,
much in the way of intoxicating in the
minds of children a love for xae coun-
try and loyal devotion to the flag as
the emblem of national unity and the
rights of man.
The report of John r. King as senior
vice commander-in-chief contained the
following: 1.-The time is passing when
we can hope for material increase in
our mebership, yet there are many very
many survivors of the Union armies of
| CHc civil WdT VINO sui mold aiOOf and
fail to avail themselves of their eligi-
bihty to join the Grand Army of the
Republic.
I'm view of the great benefit the in
fiuence of our order has been to them
in the way of influencing legislation
along the line of pension enactments
it is surprisingly astonishing why there
are so many who are willing to reap
the benefits of our organized efforts and
yet remain outside of our ranks, leav-
ing a relatively few the burden OF fight
ing for the rights of the old soldiers
Patterns Report.
The report of G. w Patten Junior
vice commander-in-chef referred to the
enthusiastically cordial greeting extend
ed to hi min the south during his visit