Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-30
ANNUAL ENCAMPMENT
Spanish War Veterans of the
District.
G 0 M [ N G Ell CTION
CONTEST FOR SENIOR VICE DE-
PARTMENT COMMANDER
John Lewis Smith Said to Be in the
Lead for Highest Office
Other Business.

Arrangements for the annual encamp-
| ment Of the Department of the District Of
Columbia, United Spanish War Veterans
were practically completed last night. Ths
session VIII be held next Tuesday evening
| at headquarters, 719 Sth street northwest.
when department officers will be elected to
serve one year
The present department commander is
DR.. S. Clifford Cox OF Henry w. LawtoD
Camp, and the outlook is that he will be
| succeeded by Mr.. John Lewis Smith. the
present judge advocate of this department.
Mr.. Smith is also adjutant of Gen. Nelson
A. Miles Camp. No. 1. the first camp OF
Spanish War Veterans to be organized In
the United States. Its formation dates
back to May 20. 1899. when handful OF
Spanish war soldiers gathered at SIS 10th
street northwest and gave the camp shape
This camp has never yet had the honor
OF supplying the corps or department COM
membership. and 1t Is said the seven camps
in this jurisdiction will be almost, IL not
entirely, unanimous for the election Of
Judge Advocate Smith to the position.
Fight for Second Place.
A lively contest is promised at the en-
campment Tuesday night over the next
highest office In the department, that OF
senior vice commander. There are two cam
didates in the field for this honor and some
spirited electioneering is being done by the
supporters OF each. The candidates are
Capt. J. Lyon King, the present command
er of Henry w. Lawton Camp. and Capt
Fred W. Alexander, a member OF the 4th
Immune Camp, and the present junior vice
commander OF the Department OF the Dis
trict of Columbia.
1t is said this contest will be nip and
tuck" and the adherents of both men are
predicting the success of their fayorite.
The third highest office--Junior vice com
mander-haS not as yet developed any open
90, 4 hot h.ra h.. al
veterans now under cover, who will do the
dark horse act when the proper time
rives. and enter the race for third place
honorS.
The other officers to be elected Tuesday
evening are: Department inspector. now
held by Capt. E. l.. Cogan Of Richard J.
Harden Camp who may be reelected. it is
said; surgeon. now held by DIR. Charles l..
G. Anderson; Judge advocate the in
cumbent being Mr.. John Lewis Smith,
candidate for department commander;
chaplain, held by Rev. Charles c.
Pierce who is also chaplain in the United
States army, stationed at Fort Myer. Va.
and mastering officer, the incumbent being
Mr.. Richard b. Leach.
In addition to these officers the new de-
partment commander will appoint adj
jutant to succeed Lieut. Rufus W. Pear
son. late of Roosevelts Rough Riders and
a member of Miles Camp, and a quarter
master to succeed Mr.. William r. Stone.
For the Milwaukee Convention.
Delegates to the national encampment to
be held at Milwaukee. and a!ternates, will
be chosen and eight veterans elected to
succeed the following members of the dis
trict council of administration: Capt. Sher-
idan Ferree Albert J. Hawkins. Maj. Her
bert w. Myers. Lewis w. De Bevoise, H.
J. Zimmerman. Capt. Robert H. Wood.
William T. Irving and g. w Gwynne.
Several innovations are promised at the
forthcoming encampment of the Depart
ment of the District of Columbia. and the
outlook is that business OF great impor-
lance to the department Will be transacted.
: Among the past comma nders of this jur-
isdiction who. are expected to be present
and take an active part In the proceedings
are Col NJ. Emmett Urell, who was also
comma nder- chief of the National Army
and Navy Spanish War Veterans; Maj.
Fred S. Hodgson and Capt. Lee NJ Lips
comb.
1t is said a resolution viii he offered in
dorsing the proposition now before Con-
eress for the purchase by the government
of the old Scheutzen club house. the
Brightwood road and its transformation
into a temporary soldiers home, to be SUBJ
stituted for the rented building on Sd
street near Missouri avenue, which is said
to be entirely inadequate for the purposes
for which II is used Action viii also be
taken looking to the building up of the
relief funds of the several camps in the
District.
A prominent member of the department
stated to Star reporter last night that ii
is the purpose of the officers of the organ
ization to enter actively into the work Of
recruiting members for the several camps,
with the expectation that on New Yeor
day from i've hundred to six hundred men
viii be In line to call on PreaidenS Roose-
welt at the White House.