Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1905-02-24

general public. to whom the presence OF
/ the boys who fought to maintain the in
/ tegritY of the Union was a source of pride
and inspiration. The encampment and
convention were not as largely attended
as they would have been in more CEN
| trally located town, hut probably the two
meetings brought not far from 400 visitors
! to Bratteboro. The afternoon trains
! Tuesday brought the larger number of
! delegates. and from then until the close
| Of the encampment the Brooks House,
where headquarters we're established, was
scene of unusual activity.
Following is a list of some of the prom
/ inent visitors; Commanderin-C Chief VIII
/ mon w. Blackmar OF Boston, head of the
national organization Of the Grand Army
/ Of the Republic; Adjutant General John
| r.. Gilman OF Boston. OF the staff of the
commander-in-chief; Col. Albert Clarke
| OF Boston, also member OF Commander
! Blackmar's stan: Charles J. Bell of Wal
/ den, governor of Vermont; Quartermaster
General w. II. Gilmore Of Fairlee. OF the
/ Vermont National Guard, and Depart
ment Commander J. +. Eldredge of Ran
dolph. These past department command
ers We're present: J. II. Goulding OF Will
| mington, Col II, +. Taylor of Brattle-
| boro, u. NJ Mansur of Newport, D. L.
Morgan of Rutland. Hugh Henry of Con-
cord. n. H., c. F. Branch of Amherst.
/ Mass Barney Cannon, jr OF Bellows
| Falls; f. w. Jewett OF Burlington. l.. b.
| Harris OF Lyndonvlle. +. C. Butterfield
| of Derby Line. Joel II. Lucia of Mont
| peier and Frank Kenfield of Morrisville.
! Attending the Woman's Relief corps con-
Vention We're Mrs. Fanny +. Minot Of
4 Concord. y. H., president Of the nation
al organization, Mrs Calista Robinson
Jones of Bradford. national counselor
Mrs. Edna i. Jewett OF Burlington. as
sistant national inspector Mrs. Mary Ris-
ing of Randolph, Mrs. Fanny Jones of
Burlington and Mrs. Kate d. Lee of Wells
| River, national aids, Mrs Mary B. Good
win of Wells River, department president,
and several past department presidents
and other officers past and present.
On Tuesday afternoon, as preliminary
to the convention. Sedgwick Relief corps
of Brattleboro. Mrs. Henry Miller presi-
dent, eXemplified the ritual before the Wis
! iting delegates. In the evening a recep-
| tion was rendered the visitors of both or
ganiZations in the Brooks House. the par
! lors being decorated with flags, flowers
and national emblems. Music was fur
| nished by local orchestra. A committee
| consisting of James +. Hooker. C. f. r.
! Jenne and l.. d. Taylor, introduced the
| guests to the members of the receiving
! line, which included past and present
| officers of the national, state and local or
| ganizations. Lemonade was served.
/ At 10 o'clock Wednesday morning the
/ department encampment was opened in
| Festival hall, some of the equipment of
/ Grand Army hall having been moved
| there for use, Commander Eldredge pre-
! sided. After the formal opening the roll
| of officers was called The roll call of
! delegates was dispensed WITH but there
were 134 representatives present not
| counting the visitors who were not del
| egates. Next came the reports of Of
| ficers.
Department Commander Eldredge in
his report, said concerning pensions:
| while all believe that those who fought
| from 1861 to 1855 that the Union might
| live, did as much for their country as
those who served during the war with
Mexico, and while they received a service
| pension 39 years after the war, we are
yet to be benefited by such a law We
believe We showed our patriotism In
| lS6l-lS65, and believe we are showing IT
now by waiting patiently for a service
pension law We believe it must soon
| come"
The commander urged the necessity of
getting into the ranks those veterans
| who are not now identified with the Grand
Army. He said: There are veterans out
side the G. A. r. in every town. and in
some, l am sorry to say, more than one
half are out" He recommended that
| charters be issued free of cost TO Post
Leavenworth Of Castleton and w. II.
Boynton Of Mortified, their charters hav-
ing been lost in fires, and later in the en-
campment his suggestion was adopted.
Albert A. Niles of Morrisville, senior
vice commander, urged in his report that
consideration be given the wishes of the
Woman's Relief corps that the time of
the annual encampment be placed at a
warmer season of the year.
Charles Ross of st. Johnsbury, depart
ment chaplain, noted an increased in
terest in Memorial day and the exercises
connected Herewith. This is particularly
noticeable in the public schools
Figures showing the membership of the
department were given in the report OF
b. f. Bowman Of Randolph, assistant ad-
Jutant general. He showed that on Dec.
81, 1904, there were 81 posts and 1851 mem
bers in good standing, as against 1O1
posts and 3075 members on Dec 81, 1908,
showing a loss during the year OF four
posts and 124 members. The posts sur
rendering their characters were those
In Weston, Lowell, Grafton and Whit
ingham. Grafton post held out until
there were but three members left. Since
Dec. 81 the post at West Rutland and