The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-09-03
STATE OF THE G. A. R.
1t Is Set Forth in Reports of General
Officers.

Toledo, o., Sept. 3.-With the parade
and other features of the F'orty-second
encampment over. delegates to the en-
campment of the Grand Army of the
Republic today took up .the business of
the order. Business meetings were held
also by the Womens Relief corps, the
Daughters of Veterans and the Ladies
of the C. A r.
The meeting of the G. A. r. was held
in the Valentine theater and the re-
port of the commander-in-chief, the
quartermaster general, other officers
and several committees were received
Commander Burton, after congratu-
lating the members of the organization
upon the success of the encampment,
said;
Mindful of the fact that this en-
campment has assembled for the trans
action of business I shall not tax your
time of INDUCING in an encomium upon
the Grand Army of the Republic. or
upon its accomplishments. but shall
content myself with directing your at
tention to the objects for which it was
created and the purposes for which it
exists. coupled with the admonition
that we can not too often dedicate our
selves to the achievements of those OBJ
jects and the fulfillment of those pur-
poses.
THE consolidated reports of the as
sistant adjutant general for the term
ending June 80, are never received in
time 10 enable the adJuIant general TO
tabulate them for the benefit of the
next succeeding national encampment
and it is impossible to state our num-
ericaI strength on June 30, 1908.
ION December 81, 1906. the members
in good standing numbered 229,932. On
December 81, 1907, the members in good
standing numbered 225,157, net loss in
membership during the year 1907, ATS.
During the year 1907, our loss by
death was 10,242, which was partly off
set by 5,467 members who were added
to our roll by muster in and reinstate-
ment."
Commander-in-chi Burton declared
that the suspended list" is very large
and suggested that whenever it is ap-
parent that a comrade can not pay his
dues without detriment to himself or
family, his post should promptly re-
NIT them.
The commander-in-chief congratula-
ted the members of the Grand Army
upon the passage of the SulloWay Dill
in April 1908, which grants a pension
to every honorably discharged soldier
of the war of the rebellion, who had
served 80 days or more, and who had
reached the age of 81 years, a pension
of $12 per month and to the widow OF
such soldiers a pension of like sum.
Eloquent tributes were paid by Com
mander Burton to Thomas G. LAWYER,
of Rockford. ILL.,, past commander-in-
chief of the Grand Army and to Daniel
r. Lucas, the past chaplain of the or
ganization who died last November in
Indianapolis.
General Burrows in presenting his
report said:
"By unanimous action of the forty
first national encampment, a perman-
ent investment fund was created, and
three trustees elected to have charge
of said fund. In accordance with this
action $4,000 in United States bonds
owned by the Grand Army of the Re
public was transferred to these trus-
tees. The only money received dur
ing the year aside from the regular
source of per capita tax and supplies
was a gift of 81, 900 from Mrs. Helen r.
BIackmar, widow of our honored COM
rade and late in-chief, w.
w. Blackmar. In her letter enclosing
the gift, Mrs. Blackmar stated that the
money is to be used as the officers
deem best I informed the comman-
der-in-chief that if it should not be
needed for current expenses it would be
paid over to the permanent investment
fund The commander-in-chtef approx
ed of my actions and finding that we
have sufficient funds overland above TINS
81. 900, L have sent to the board of trus-
tees of the permanent fund, check
for $10,01 recommend that the com
mander-in-chief appoint committee
to draft suitable resolutions to be sent
Mrs. Blackmar acknowledging her very
generous gift"