Albuquerque citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1907-1909, 1909-08-12
COMMANDER NEVIU S
REVIEWS RECORD
OF G. A. R.
Gain In Membership Reported
Though Many Have Died
and Others Sus-
pended.
VAN SAINT TO Be
CHOSEN TOMORROW
Position Is Conceded to Minnesota
Man and Atlantic City VIII
Probably be Chosen
Next Meeting
Place.

the delegates of the G. A. r. encamp-
ment is over and the real business OF
the session began this morning when
the delegates met in executive ses-
sion in the armory. The days bus
mess included the report of the COM
mlttee on credentials, reading reports
OF officials, nomination of officers. ex-
emplitication of the ritual and the
address of the commander in -chief.
1t is now generally conceded that
Ex-Governor Van SAINT of Minnesota
VIII be chosen commander-in-chief to-
morrow and that Atlantic CITY will
be selected as the meeting place in
1910.
Cordial Relations.
After reviewing the promises he
made at the time of his election. Com
mander-in-Chief Nevius said:
Il have received a warm and cor
dial greeting wherever | have gone
and found the Grand Army posts en-
thusiastic and doing the best they
could under the circumstances pre-
Nailing in their respective localities.
Il was treated with great cordalty
upon my visit in the southern depart
ments and in Atlanta, Ca, when the
Grand Army of the Republic held a
joint meeting with H. Clay Evans.
communicative chief of the unaSu
Confederate veterans and his organiza-
ton. The stars and stripes were con-
spicuous while the stars and bars were
not in evidence. Our open and public
discussion upon the family trouble eX-
isting between the northern and south
crn states and between the men who
had stood upon the firing line on both
sides was most pleasant | met the
Confederate veterans again in Deni-
son. Texas, and at public meeting
there / divided the time with them
Upon the platform, l met them also
at Birmingham, Ala. and | am salts
fed from all l could see and hear and
learn that the men who stood upon
the firing lines in the southern Con-
federacy had had enough Of the war
and were anxious and willing To sup
port the government of the United
states under its flag and that were it
not for others who did not participate
in that great struggle, but who are
still laboring to keep alive the lost
cause, there would be no difficulty in
cementing the bonds of union between
the north and south.
Ten Thousand Deaths.
THE consolidated reports of the as
sistant adjutant general, ending July
4, have not all been received. hence IT,
is not possible to state our numerical
strength on June 80, 1903. on De-
cember. 1907, the members in good
standing of the grand army of the
republic numbered 225,157. The num-
he GuenHndn1
at that date numbered 13,4S9 BY the
consolidated report of the adjutant
general of this encampment there
were remaining in good standing on
December 81. 1908, 220,616. The num-
ber of comrades reported as having
died between December 81, 1907 and
December 81, 1908, was lO,l24. our
gains during the fiscal year have been:
BY muster, in 7,434; by transfer
2.94S; by reinstatement, 7,146; by
gain from delinquent reports, 1925.
Total gains. 21,154.
"The number Of comrades suspend
ed has been greatly reduced during the
past year, but the number remaining
suspended h entirely too large. When
comrades who are on the suspended
list cannot. without prejudice to them
selves and thelr tanlneS, pay tnelI
dues, the posts should promptly remit
them in order that they may again be
placed in good standing and have an
other chance.
Many -siIls for Relief.
Investigation will show that there
have been many bills introduced in
the national conventions and congress
asking for relief for the veterans upon
different lines and no prospect of any
of them becoming a law. The Grand
Army Of the Republic, standing united
has in the past years secured and
placed upon the statute books such
pension laws as are in force and will
continue to ask for such relief as shall
seem to lie equitable and just. And
it does not stand in the way Of our
veterans securing such legislation
from the national congress as they
may by their influence.
~ am informed several departments
have passed resolutions along diner-
ent lines and favoring different laws
from those which have received the
sanction Of the Grand Army Of the