The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-08-13

themselves, had never accomplished any
thing that could in any sense help the
veterans in the matter of pensions.
the old soldiers did not so the report
read. desire to be classed as chronic
beggars'; they did not relish the con-
slant harping among the members of
congress which gave the public the inn
preston that they could never be salts
fled, OF the impression that had been
spread all over the country that the pen
siOns they received were in any measure
pay for the services they had performed
for their country.
Following the reading of this report.
which was of great length. a discussion
arose when a motion was made TO refer
it to the committee on resolutions. 1t was
argued that the pension committee was
permanent committee. entirely as i'm
pOrtaut as the committee on resolutions,
and that to refer the report TO the latter
committee would SAVIOR of an insult. Some
warm debate on this point followed, and
several suggested and insisted that the
report be referred to the body Of dele
gates present for approval or rejection.
Others argued that the report had rec
concentrations annexed which should
properly be acted upon by some other per
manent committee, preferably the resolu-
tons committee, and the report was fin
ally referred to the resolutions committee.
BattIefields Project.
Next in order came a report from Viii
of the permanent committee appointed
some years ago to get statistics and data
on a project for the government to buy
the ground on which was fought the two
battles of Bull Run and convert the same
into a national park. This report was re-
ferred TO a proper committee to be filed
away among the papers Of the national
organization for future reference, If
needed.
Then it was moved that as a special or
der OF business roll calls for nominations
Of national officers be taken up and that
the elections Immediately follow This
motion carried, and with little delay the
election of officers was begun II was
moved and carried that nomination
speeches should be limited 10 ten min
utes and the seconding speeches be limit
ed to three minutes.
Nominations for cOmmander-in chief
were first taken up and the roll call of de
partments for nominations commenced
At the call of Indiana Orlando ". Som
ers, department commander, rose and
presented the name of Judge William A
Ketcham Of Indianapolis. He occupied
the full allotted time in ma king the nom
nation, going into the grand record made
by his candidate IS a soldier, his career
as a citizen and declaring that Judge
Ketcham possessed all the requirements
necessary for an ideal commandment
chief He pointed out that his candidate
had always been active in Grand Army
matters had always taken a keen inter
of his comrades. had been loyal to them
in time of war and in time OF peace.
Cheers greeted the nomination and the
roll call continued.
When Minnesota was reached in the list
Past COmmandeT-in-Chief Ell Torrance
rose from his seat but before he could
speak there was tremendous applause and
cries of Van SAINT, Van SAINT came
from many parts of the room. Right then
there was little doubt but that the Min
1esofq man would be elected.
Commander Torrance made an eloquent
talk in presenting the name of Samuel
r. Van SAINT He nominated him as man
who had served all through the war. who
lad enlisted as a private in company y.
Ninth Illinois cavalry. and who came out
of the rebellion as a corporal. whose SER
vice had been faithful all through and
who. since the war, had made a record as
a civilian that had been 4 credit to him
self and his comrades Of the Grand Army
He was pres ented as man of sturdy
Dutch ancestry-honest fearless. loyal
and energetic in whatever sphere he had
been tested.
HE comes from Minnesota. the last
state taken into the Union before Fort
Sumter was fired upon. and the first
state to answer to the nations call for
troops. said the speaker. This state.
then sparssly populated, besides sending
her fun quota of sOldiers-27. 900 of them
to Quen the rebellion, afterward raised
enough men at home during their alb
sence to put down one Of the most Sc
rious Indian uprisings this country has
ever known
The speaker stated that ten former gov
errors Of the state of Minnesota had
worn the Union blue during the war and
that Van SAINT had given the state dur
ing his term as governor. one Of the best
administrations it had ever enjoyed
Following the nomination there were
seconding speeches by nearly every de-