The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-09-08
OLD SOLDIERS
MADE WELCOME
Denver and Colorado Extend Greet.
ings to Grand Army.
FIRST BUSINESS SESSION
SERVICE PENSION BILL AGAIN
ENDORSED.

Denver Colo, Sept The first
meeting of the legislative body Of the
thirty-ninth annual national encamp-
ment of the Grand Army of the Repub-
lie began at 10 o'clock today at the
Broadway theatre. With the exception
of few minutes, during which state
and city officials welcomed the old sol
diers TO the city formally and respond
ing reports were made by Commander
m-Chief John r. King and others, the
sessions today were secret.
IL did not take long for the encamp-
ment delegates to get down to business.
After accepting the roll which had been
prepared and printed i'm advance, for
mai presentation Of diamond badge
10 Communicated King indica-
tive OF his past cOmmandership. was
made. Al the same time It was an
nounced that the aides 10 former Cons
nder-in-Chief Wilmon ". Biackmar,
who died before the expiration of his
term of office, would present a loving
cup 10 the widow of General Blackmar
Addresses of Welcome.
The session was opened with an i'm
pressiVe prayer by Chaplain-in-Chief
j. II. Bradford. Washington, d. G.
W CitbllliI6 addresses were Aldut bg
Governor Jesse +. Mcdonald, Mayor
Speer and General George W. Cook,
chairman of the Denver executive COM
mittee in charge of the eucampment
AT General Kings suggestion three
cheers were given the speakers. Gen
eral King then delivered his address
When he came TO that part referring 20
the Daughters of Veterans association,
the memory OF the loss of his daughter
2
citation, oVeTcame him and ne sat down
With tears streaming down his checks.
The paragraph was read by Past Com
handkerchief Wagner.
\ telegram of sympathy was sent 30
Thomas II. Sample of Allegheny, Pa.
member of the council of administra-
ton, who is lying at the point Of death
at his home.
Pension Question.
y Charles e. Burton of Nevada, Mo.
chairman Of the committee on pen
siOns, reported recommendations con-
corning the policy of the national en-
cdmpment on the pension question His
committee favored reiteration of the
action taken at the last two national
encampments, which is that a general
service pension bill be passed by con
gress giving every man who served
and received an honorable discharge a
pension of Sl2 per month after he has
arrived at the age of 81 years, and a
like amount TO widows who had mar
rled the soldier prior TO the passage of
the act of June p. 1880. This recon-
mendatlon was unanimously endorsed.
Memorial Fund.
Great interest was displayed in the
Faf NJ d -.Nra
Philadelphia, chairman of the Steven
son memorial fund. He said that S15.-
600 had been raised but that he in
tended 20 call for further contributions
~ this point Zalmon q. Simmons OF
kenOSha, Wis, who. though not d
member of the Grand Army. has al
ways been a warm friend of the organi-
zauon, was admitted 10 the hall and
formally introduced Announcement
was made that Mr.. Simmons had
caused to be struck off a beautiful
the Grand Army. This evidence of
friendship caused d remarkable demon
stration of appreciation on the part of
the delegates.
Simmons Headed the List
General Wagner, at the conclusion of
the cheering, arose and asked the dele
gates TO pledge themselves TO con-
tribute To the Stevenson memorial tuna
what they thought they could afford
A he was taking his seat Mr. Sim
mons asked i'm a whisper what it would
take to place Wisconsin at the mead IF
the lISt2 Twenty hundred dol
lars, replied General Wagner in un-
restrained tones. Depend upon me
for that amount" responded Mr.. sim
mons. General Wagner again arose
and told the delegates of Mr. Simmons
generous contribution and great
cheer arose. Others made pledges.
some as high as zoe and at the end
II MAS stated that the fund had
reached nearly So 600,
Resolutions Referred.
All resolutions today were referred
without reading 10 the resolutions
committee. except the one on the death
OF COmmander-m-Chief BlaCkmar.
which was adopted by rising vote, he
members standing with bowed heads
George h. Henry of Massachusetts was
chosen assistant adjutant general to
succeed Mr.. Sitting, elected junior
vice commander. The encampment
then made the election Of officers a
special order for 10 O'Clock tomorrow
morning and adjourned until that time
- -