Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-09-14
MISSOURI MAN THE
NEXT COMMANDER
Charles G. Burton Of Ne
vada, Mo-, Most Talked of
Candidate For High Of
fee - Toledo After
1908 Reunion

Saratoga, N. Y, Sept. 12.-This was
the day for business at the
annual G. A. R. encampment and the
meetings of the auxiliary organiza-
tions. The continuous round of
pleasure that the veterans and other
visitors have enjoyed since their ar
rival in Saratoga gave way to a sea-
son of work. and before the close of
the day the greater part Of the rou-
tine business will be disposed of.
The report of the Adjuant general
IO'Neall, made public at the morning
session, showing that the Member-
ship has decreased from 409.489 in
1900 to 222,74S in 1906. General
O'Neill recommended that permanent
headquarters be established by the
G. A. r.
Burton Will Be Commander.
Charles G. Burton, of Nevada, Nc.
undoubtedly will be elected command
er-in-chief. Toledo seems likely to be
the next meeting place.
In convention hall at 10 o'clock this
morning the forty-first encampment
of the Grand Army was called to or
der by the retiring commander-in-
chief, r. B. Brown of Ohio. The open
ing hour was devoted to addresses by
representatives of the state of New
York, the village of Saratoga and the
local veterans, with appropriate re-
sponses by several of the prominent
visitors. AS soon as the exchange of
greetings was over the encampment
went into executive session to hear
the addresses Of the commander-in
chief and the annual reports of the
other officers. The report of the ad-
jutant-general showed that the veter-
ans are rapidly passing away, the per
centage of loss in the membership
during the past twelve months having
been greater than during any other
similar period since the organization
Of the Grand Army.
In the First M, E. church this morn
ing the Women's Relief Corps began
its twenty-ifth national convention,
the session Of which will continue
through tomorrow A large number
of resolutions are to be presented to
the convention and the session pro-
misses to be of more than ordinary in
terest The department of Illinois
has prepared resolution asking the
convention to erect a monument to
the memory of Mrs. Elizabeth A. Tur-
ner in appreciation of her efforts for
the preservation of Andersonville
prison The Endorsement by the con-
vention of the movement to increase
the pensions Of widows Of civil war
veterans is sought by the department
of Oregon, and the department Of
New Hampshire asks that Immediate
steps be taken to secure soma legis-
lation by congress prohibiting the use
Of the American flag for commercial
purposes.
Adjutsnt Generals Report.
New York, Sept 1.-THE report
of Adjutant General Joseph w.
ONeall. of the Grand Army of the
Republic, which was made public at
the encampment here today, shows
that the membership of the Grand
Army of the Republic on June 80,
1906, was 222,74S, based on returns
from all but eight states, Georgia,
Idaho, Indian Territory, New Mexico
and North Dakota. from which no re.
turns have been received. The high
water mark of members in the army
was reached in 1890, when 409,4S9
were enrolled. Since that time death
has Aapidly depleted the ranks OF
the aged veterans and General
ONeall's report shows that 9,05a
members died in the last twelve
months The report shows that
6,506 old soldiers joined the G. A. r.
during the year. The total numbe!