The Minneapolis journal., 1906-08-15
UNION VETERANS
UNION IN SESSION |
Body Independent of G. A. r. Is,
Interested in Politics
Women's Auxiliary.

lle OranQ AImy OF Cne hepuDllc- eS- |
chews politics in all it's forms, and no |
question Of a political nature are ever
considered at it's encampments, state
or national. At the same time, the
average Grand Army man is, for OBJ /
vious reason, interested in politics, and
SO, that he may ,divulge his natural
propensity and st still retain clear con
for the political energies Of the vete-
rams and, since its organization in
Massachusetts about ten year ago, it
has had much to do with, Congressional
and presidential elections and with the
distribution Of the spoils Of office aft
terwards. '.a. Z. H..
strong east Of the Alleghanies, more
especially in Massachusetts and in the
District Of Columbia. In the latter
place, from the time of it's organization
down to the present moment. it has ex-
erted influence with republican Presi-
dents, secured appointments for worthy
members and tried in general way to
uphold republican principles.
Preliminary Business Transacted.
The national convention Of this or
ganization Is now being held in Mime
apolis at A. O. U. W. hall, II Seventh
street S. About one hundred delegates
were in attendance yesterday forenoon
and afternoon. The principal business
yesterday was Of a preliminary and
routine characteristic appointment of
first order of business after the formal
call to order. This committee, COM
posed of John S. Varley of Chicago,
General Butterfeld of Iowa, and Gen
eral w. B. Stetson of Massachusetts,
made a apartial report. at yesterdays
afternoon session, and quorum having
been disclosed some of the routine
business matters were taken up.
There will be no session of the con-
vention today, owing to the Grand Ar
my parade, but the sessions will begin
again on Thursday morning and may
continue until Friday evening.
One of the ORDERS Troubles.
Altho the Union Veterans Union, Of
has been quite successful during it's
short career, it has, like all human or
ganiza tions, had its success tempered
with opposition. So popular did the
order become in the east, especially in
Washington, under the leadership Of
General R, St. George Dryenforthh of
that there was strong pressure from
veterans generally to be admitted to
membership, that they might share in
the rewards.
Now there was no objection to this
50 long as the veterans applying for
membership could qualify. The strict
est qualification was this, that all mem,
bers of the organization must have par
actual fire. As a large percentage of
veterans were not in battle, the Union
Veterans Union was compelled to re.
! iect great many applicants for mem
bership., So numerousY did these rejec-
tions become, and so bitter was. the
feeling that was stirred up on account
of them, that the rejected comrades
focked together and formed an organl-
zation very similar to the Union Vete-
rams Union, and actually took its
name.
+ Then the fur began to fly. The courts
were appealed to by the original body,
and it is said the matter hN~ Lot yet
been settled satisfactorily srd perma-
nently.
schism Will Be Considered.
All this history is given in order tc
pave the way to the statement that this
schism is one Of the principal matters
coming before the convention this year
It was considered yesterday at some
length, but no action will be
taken until further discussion at
the sessions of Thursday and Fri
day. The body now meeting II
Minneapolis believes that it has a mis-
sion, and that it is to achieve such 6
triumph in it's contest with those who
have undertaken to appropriate its
thunder as will for long time to come
be lesson for men inclined to. engage
in such practices. -~.t
) General H. L. DEAN Of Washington
D. c., is the president of the ,organi
cation this wear, and is presiding ovel
it's deliberations The other Officers
present are G.. R. Tucker. chief of staff
Chicago; Americus Whedon, Louisville
Omaha, inspector general; c. A. Rose
: St. Paul, second deputy commander
!, 1t was Mr.. Rose who arranged for tn
handsome badges the delegates, ar
wearing. By today it is expected tina
others Of the officers Ia and delegates vi vi
perhaps 30 per cent. T. ...'.. !. + =,
=. Woman's Veteran Relief Union.
While the Union Veterans union wa
holding it's sessions in one lodgeroo1
!. at II Seventh street S, it's ladies' aux
:. iliary. known as the Women s Vetera
T. Relief rlnion, was meeting in anothe
/ lodgeroom It's sessions also will b
!, carried over today, and will run durin
5, Thursday and perhaps Friday. Abou
r fifty delegates were present yesterday
y The principal business Of yesterda
,- was the work of the committee on Gre
dentials. Many delegates from Oman
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