Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-31
C. A. R. ENCAMPMENT
Department of Potomac to
Elect Officers.
MEETS NEXT TUESDAY
BANQUET WEDNESDAY NIGHT IN
GEN. BLACKMAR's HONOR.
Much Interest in Fight for Office OF
Vice Department Commander
The Candidates.
MEETS NEXT TUESDAY

The -th1rty-SeNenlH ANNUAL eHS1"pAAiShS
of the Department of the Potomac, G' A.
r., will be called to order next TUESDAY
night at G. A. R. hall and will continue
for two evenings, Wednesday evening be-
ing devoted to the annual banquet in
honor of the commander-in-chief,a and ad-
iournment will be taken until Thursday
evening to wind up the business of the
encampment. The meeting of the veter-
ans this year promises to be one of the
most exciting in the history of the local
posts Seldom before has there been such
a fierce contest over the election of Off
GERS and seldom have the lines between
the camps of the adherents of the various
candidates been tightly drawn. The
fight this year hinges on the election of
the senior vice commander, and the cam
pagn that has been made by at least one
of the candidates is one of the most per-
sistent and vigorous that has occurred in
local G. A r. circles for many years. In
the usual order of things the senior vice
department commander succeeds to the
office of department commander, the
junior vice to the senior vice, and so on.
Usually the fight is over the election of
the junior vice commander, but circum-
stances place it this year in the Office
next higher. The present senior vice
commander, Capt Hiram Buckingham,
has declined the election to the office of
commander and has also declined cleo
ton as senior vice commander again.
This puts Col A. P. Tasker the present
Junior vice commander, the logical candf-
date for the commandership and it is
said he will be elected.
The moving up of Col. Tasker leaves
vacant both the offices of junior vice
commander and senior vice commander,
and as the senior vice commander will be
commander in 1906. according to the rules
of precedent, the fight for office is being
put up for this position.
Several Promising Candidates.
When the campaign for election was
first started there were several promising
candidates in the field, but the contest
waxed so fiercely that all have with
drawn but two. The friends of the two
remaining candidates have worked hard
for their man, and each party feels that
its candidate will win
Captain Buckingham. the retiring senior
vice commander, is a member of John A
RaWllns Post, No. l, and that post is very
jealous OF It's representation among the de-
partment officers. Two years ago its repre-
sentative was chosen to the junior vice COM
membership, and in this was promised a rep
resentatIVe as commander in the present
election, In the regular order of promotion
The retirement of Captain Buckingham
from the position deprives Post No / of its
representation, and it has put forward q
calm Tor the position in the shape of the
senior vice commander this year The other
candidate is Mr.. B. +. Chase former adiu-
tant general of the department and a mem
Der of Lincoln Post, No. 3. General Estes
declined the nomination when it was first
offered him, on the ground that his duties
as commander of the Medal of Honor Lee
slon and IN numerous other organizations
OF veterans precluded his taking up any
more responsibilities. Representation was
made, however, that If he did not run Post
NO. would lose its present high represent
taton In the department government and
would lose the department commandership
next year. On the strength of these facts
General Estes consented to enter his name
as "a candidate, and although he has done
absolutely nothing to accomplish his cleo
t1on his friends have worked early and late
in his interest.
Candidacy of Mr.. Chase.
Mr.. Chase was put up as candidate by
the members of his post, and has entered
actively into the campaign. Charges and
recriminations have flown backward and
forward from side to side during the past
two months, and some of the electioneers
have been kept busy explaining things to
members of the department council on
whom they depend to elect their candidates.
The candidates for the other positions are
not concerned in the fight to any great ex-
tent. although each of the parties inter-
ested in the senior vice commandership have
named a. ticket, and pledges to support Gem
eral Estes and Mr.. Chase are taken as
pledges for the entire ticket. Messrs B. P.
Entrikin and c. F. Benjamin are the eandi-
dates for the position of junior vice com
mander.
Next Tuesday Evening.
The first meeting of the encampment will
be held at G. A. r. Hall next Tuesday
evening. The members of the department
commanders staff and the representatives
TO the oil
ious posts will meet in regular assembIage
Department Commander Abram Hart will
preside. The annual address of the DEPART
ment commander will be read and the re-
ports OF the committees submitted 1t Is
expected that on this occasion also the ma
t1onal commander-in-chief Gen. Wilmer w.
Blackmar of Boston. Will be present and
will make an address Gen. Blackmar has
been invited to attend the opening session
of the encampment, and he has notified
friends here that he will be in Washington
next Monday. when he will attend meet
Ing of the pension committee of the ma
tional encampment which will be held in
this city on that day.
The nominations of officers will be made
Immediately after the reading of the ad-
dress of the commander. One second is al
lowed for each nomination, and nominating
and seconding speeches are limited to three
minutes. When the nominations are all in
the department commander appoints teIlers
to receive the ballots. When the business
OF tIs nfSt session IS concluded adjourn
ment will be taken until Thursday,
Banquet Wednesday Night.
On Wednesday night the annual banquet
OF the department In honor Of the national
commander-in-chief will be given. The
banquet will be held at the New willard.
and invitations have been issued to several
hundred guests. It is expected the banquet
will be attended by one of the most distin-.
guished gatherings Of the year. Prominent
members of Congress, army and navy OIL
GERS and distinguished civilians will have
seats at the table. Gen. s. s. Burdette,
who is chairman OF the banquet committee.
VIII be the POSTMASTER, and speeches will
be made by Gen. Blackmar Gen. John C.
Black and others Of equal distinction On
Thursday evening the encampment will re-
assemble for the winding up of business
Immediately after the assemblage is called
to order the balloting for officers will begin.
After the election the off1cers-elecr will
make speeches Of acceptance and the nm
finished business of the department will be
taken up. The meeting OF the encampmeut
will conclude Thursday evening unless there
is more business than present indications
suggest.
Attended by Staff.
During his visit to this city the comman-