Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-09
WINS LIVELY CONTEST
Shannon Reelected Union
Veteran Legion Commander.
MAJORITY OF FOUR VOTES
Mrs. Stafford Chosen President of
the Ladies Legion.
RINGING MAINE RESOLUTIONS
Raising Of Battleship Wreck and
Honorable Burial Of Dead
Sailors Demanded.
RINGING MAINE RESOLUTIONS

Sailors Demanded.
After spirited contest at the fore
noon session of the encampment of the
Union Veteran Legion today Thomas J..
Shannon of this city was reelected ma
tional commander.
His only opponent was Nathan Num-
chauer. who served in Company II, SD
Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, in the
civil war. The result of the ballot was
Shannon, "a votes; Munchauer. 80 votes.
The other officers elected are:
John G. Norris of Pennsylvania, senior
vice national commander; no choice yet
for junior vice national commander; Ben
D. Miner of Indiana, Quartermaster gen.
eral; C. III. Gardner of Pennsylvania.
surgeon general; Rev. N. II. Holmes OF
Pennsylvania, chaplain-in-chief. Execu-
tive committee-Robert McKeown of New
York, Thomas H. Carter of Maryland,
Frank L. Blair of Pennsylvania, c. G.
Stewart of New Jersey and James Lynn
Of Delaware.
Two ballots were taken for the election
of Junior vice national commander with
out result. The election was deferred
until tomorrow's session. The candidates
fifth, Joseph McCabe and Robert c. Hayes.
Mrs. Louisa Stafford Of jamestown,
N. Y, was today elected president OF the
Ladies' Union Veteran Legion. defeating
Mrs. Ada H. Weiss OF this city and Mrs.
Mary Flanagan of Reading, Pa.
Main. Resolution Adopted.
One Of the notable accomplishments OF
todays session was the adoption by unan-
imous vote of the encampment Of Cor
poral James Tanners Maine Memorial res
olution after it had been favorably re-
ported by unanimous vote Of the resolu-
tons committee. The resolution, which
was received with much applause, r6c1tes
''that the Union Veteran Legion is In full
sympathy with the desire of those citizens
comp rising the Maine Monument Associa-
ton in their efforts to have monument
erected in our National Capital to- the
memory of our sailors who went to their
death in the waters of the harbor of Ha-
vana consequent upon the wreck Of the
Maine.
THAT we contemplate with unqualified
shame, humiliation and horror the fact
that for more than eleven years the
wreck Of the Maine has been permitted
to remain partially submerged In the
mud Of Havana harbor. Its shattered
hulk the only coffin afforded the remains
of sixty-eight gallant defenders of the
flag of our nation, q continual reproach
to every citizen of the republic, exposing
the American character to the scorn and
contempt of the civilized world.
Let Truth Be Known,
THAT we express these, our sentiments.
fully aware Of the fact that 1t Is whis-
pered in certain circles that we had bet
ter not raise the wreck OF the Maine
for fear that such action might develop
the fact that the explosion which de-
stroyed her came from within. and thus
relieve the Spanish character from the
heavy indictment now resting against it.
based upon an opposite belief. and thus
demonstrating to the minds Of some that
we had not sufficient warrant for our
declaration OF war against Spain in 1898.
To this we respond. Let the truth be
known!
IF the fact shall be thus proven that
the explosion came from within, then an
other fact stands, forth in the knowledge
Of the world at large that in Gods high
court of justice 1t had been fully estab-
lished that by Spanish misrule in Cuba
most inherent rights Of men, through long
years Of rapine and depauchery, and by
reason Of thousands upon thousands Of
murders, Spain had piled the reasons
mountain high warranting us in wiping
them from the face of the earth.
That we ask the press of the country,
the mightiest engine within our borders
for the redress Of existing wrongs, to
rouse the public conscience on this matter
to the end that our just demands may be
brought to a successful termination, un-
hesitatingly declaring that in our opinion
any nation which does not afford honor
able burial, wherever feasible, to those of
its sons who go to death under its flag
it is In peril.
Honor for the Dead.
I'VE demand that the wreck of the
Maine be removed from Havana harbor and
the bones Of our boys who went to death
with her brought back and given honor
able interment in American soil beneath
the flag they died under.
That copies of these resolutions be fur
nished the press at once and that copies
properly attested by the national COM
mander and the adjutant general be adj
dressed to the President and to each MEM
Der Of the cabinet
When the encampment was called to
order this forenoon a telegram of fra
ternal greetings from the fourteenth an.
nual encampment of the Army and Navy
Union. U. s. A.. now in session at Erie,
Pa, was read by Adjt. Gen. Hallam. 1t
was signed by ]. Edwin Browne, national
commander. A committee Of the Ladies'
Union Veteran Legion brought greetings
to the veterans from that association.
Against Purchasing Mount Vernon.
A resolution favoring the purchase OF
Mount Vernon by the government. SO
that visitors can be admitted without
charge to the tomb Of Washington, was
rejected by unanimous vote Of the COM
mittee on resolutions and by the encamp-
ment.
To save from defeat the resolution ad-
uniting Sons of Veterans to active men,
bership in the Union Veteran Legion the
matter was referred to a special commit
tee, which will report at the 1910 encamp-
ment. In a lengthy discussion over the
resolution strenuous opposition to the
measure was developed. Some of the
speakers declared that the fighting men
of the civil war can have no successors,
especially men who were not soldiers or
sailors.
A resolution was adopted favoring an
appropriation Of $4,000 by Congress to
be applied to the fund for the erection
OF q monument in this city in honor Of
the late Gen. Rosecrans.
The encampment also adopted q reso-
luton favoring the setting aside Of plot
of ground In the Arlington National GEM
etery for government clerks and other
employees who are veteran soldiers or SAIL
ors. without regard to their military rank.
After some discussion a resolution pre-
vailed favoring an appropriation by Con-
gress for printing the names of all SOL
diers and sailors who served in the Union
and Confederate armies in the civil war.
Excursion This Afternoon.
The delegates and their ladies are en-
joying trip down the historic Potomac
river this afternoon as guests of the
members of Encampments 50 and Ill Of
this city.
The campfire at the Arlington this