The National tribune., 1907-09-26

The Annual Encampment of the
United Spanish War Veterans was held
at Cedar Point, near Sandusky, O., be-
ginning Sept 9, Commander-in-Chief
Hamilton Ward, of Buffalo, N. Y, pre-
siding. The attendance was not as
large, it is said, as that of the preceding
Encampment at Washington, D. c., and
the parade feature was omitted. At the
Washington Convention in October,
1906, the parade of the soldiers of the
War with Spain, the Regulars, National
Guardsmen, Department of the Poto-
mac, G. A. r., and other patriotic or
ganizations was the feature of the gath
ering.
The new National officers elected
were: Walter Scott Hale, of California,
Commander-in-Chief Henry w. Busch.
of Michigan, Senior Vice Commander
in-Chief; John j. Cairns, of Illinois,
Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief John
McGrath of Massachusetts, Judge-Ad-
vocate- General: Rev. w. H l. Reaney,
Chaplain; DIR. John H. Grant, of Buffa-
To- y. Y, Surgeon-General; j. Walter
Mitchell, of Washington, d. c., National
Historian; Frank C. Jones, of Pennsyl-
vania, PaNmaster-General; Calvin Well
vim. of Washington State, Commissary-
General; Elmer Laymon of Indiana,
Chief of Engineers; Henry BaaSs. or
Kentucky, Chief Signal officer; William
A Ashman, of Wisconsin, Chief of Ord
nance; Solomon Cannon of New York,
Chief of Artillery; William H. Lyons, of
Kentucky, Chief Mastering Officer. A
Council of Administration was elected
comprising one member from each
State Territory and the District of CO.
iumbia.
The Years History.
The report of the retiring Command
er-in-Chief stated that on Jan. l, 1907,
when he was inducted into office, he
found 20 Camps in good standing; that
the Adjutant-General now reports 3S2
b Camps in good standing
THE last administration turned over
to me S1,310.96,' continues the re-
port. Il am ready to turn over to my
successor $4,500. This has been due to
the natural growth of the organization.
The organization was put on Its feet,
from business standpoint, by my sue
cessor Past Commander-in-Ch Chas.
r. Miller, of Cleveland, o., whose ex-
ample has been an inspiration to me-
There has been added during my
administration IS new Camps, together
with So Camps brought in from the
Legion of the Spanish War, whose
amalgamation with the United Spanish
War Veterans was brought about at
the 1906 National Encampment, and
thru the efforts of Maj. Chas. r. Mil
ler."
The Commander further stated that
he had visited Camps and Departments
In many States, and found the organ
y ization vigorous and growing.
~ upon the recommendation of the
Commander-in-Chi $4,000 of the
funds of the organization will be in
In hnniS hp3 ring
interest, under the advice and direction
Of Board of Trustees.
Members at Large.
He also recommended that the new
Commander-in-Chief be authorized to
contract with some supply depot for
the supplies for the ensuing year. An
other recommendation was that a class
of members be created, to be known
as members at large" to pay an initia-
ton fee of IS, which will entitle them
to certificate of membership to be Is
sued by the Adjutant-General, with
dues at 50 year.
49, Marksmnnship.
The matter Of craftsmanship was
also given consideration, and the Ma
tionai Committee on Legislation viii
(. urge the passage by Congress of a bill
authorizing the Secretary of War to is
sue discarded arms to Camps of Span.
fish War Veterans; that ammunition bt
issued to such Camps for target prac
tice.
THE adoption of this measure" say:
. ! the rCommander-in-Chief, would be {
i, good, thing for the country. 1t woult
keep available for military use a larg'
body of trained soldiers. upon who's
military education the Government ha
already expended millions of dollars"
Relations With the G. A. r..
=. Under the heading of Grand Army o
the Republic, the report states:
- "The education of the people in thi
country in patriotism has been in tn
hands of the Grand Army of the Re
public, and the results of the Spanisl
War show what splendid work the.
accomplished. The years are pressing
heavily upon them. Their active worl
is nearly over, and We must take vi
the burdens as they lay them down
treasured relics valuable buildings; tn
PUBLIC good will is theirs, to which w
kfe the natural heirs.
II therefore fecommend that tn
closest relations possible be sought witt
the Grand Army of the Republic, an
that every comrade show them indi
vidualIy and collectively the continues
Difference which is their due
II is recommended that steps be TAX
en- TO bring about tine amalgamation O
= ali the soldier societies that grew ou
of the War with Spain and the insur
rection in the Philippines with tn
United Spanish War Veterans.
The Commander-in-Chief urged tina
all Camps that are more than one yea
in arrears of dues should lose thei
charters
Report of the Acknowledgement.
The report of the Adjutant-Geners
showed the number of Camps in goo
standing, Jan. /, 1907, TO be 290;
bad standing at the same date, 16
Total Camps. 451.
-- The~number OF Camps in good stant
ing, June 80. 1907, were 33S; CAM
chartered by outgoing Administrative
81 Total, 3S9. The total number
Camps in the organization at the da
ofithe Encampment was 523, showing
net gain of rs.
There are 2S State Departments ar
19 States in which Camps exist. inclu
ing the Hawaiian and Philippine
lands
The total receipts by the outgoir
administration was Sl2,035.35 and II
disbursements $7,323.31. leaving a bs
ance on hand of S4,7l2.04.
The report of the National Historic