The San Francisco call., 1909-08-13
S. R. VAN SAINT is
COMMANDER INCRIEF
Grand Army Elects as Head of
Order Former Governor
of Minnesota

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Aug. "a
Samuel r. Van SAINT, former Governor
OF Minnesota. became commander in
chief of the Grand Army of the Republic
today. He won over Judge William A.
Ketcham of Indiana by a vote of 587
to I5s.
Mrs. Jennie I. Berry of Des Moines.
Ia. won in fight for the national
presidency OF the womans Relief Corps
After three ballots she was elected
over Mrs. Belle Harris of Kansas by
vote OF 21S-to 80.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS
In addition to Commander Van SAINT
the following officers were elected:
Senior vice commander-W. NJ. Bos-
taph, Ogden, Utah.
Junior vice commander-Judge Alfred
Beers. Bristol, Conn.
Surgeon general-W. H. Lemon. Law
renee, Kan.
The election of chaplain and the de-
cision as to the next meeting place
went over until tomorrow morning A
poll taken today indicates that the
chances of ST Louis for the forty
fourth encampment are much brighter
COMMANDER IN CHIEFS ADDRESS
In his address to the eneampment
Commander in Chief Nevius said in
part:
l was treated with great cordiality upon my
visit In the southern departments and In Atlanta
Ca, with the Grand Army OF the Republic held
joint meeting with II. Clay Evans, commander
In chief of the United Confederate Veterans and
his organization. The stars and stripes were con-
spicuous, while the stars and bars were not in
evidence.
The consolidated reports of the assistant adju-
tants general ending June 30 have not all been
received, hence it is impossible to state nu-
1907, the members in good standing OF the Grand
Army of the Republic numbered 225, ,157. The
date was By the consoIdated ST report pe no Of
the adjutant general for this encampment there
1905. 22O, sis. The humber remaining SUSPENDED
on the same date $3.50. The number OF
comrades reported as having died between De-
eember 81, 1907, and December 81, 190S, was
1O,124. Our gains during the year have been:
BY muster In. ,434; by transfer. ,94S; by rein
statement, .146; by gain from delinquent re-
CIVIL WAR SURVIVORS
The number of survivors of the civil war at
the close of the last fiscal year. as shown by the
report Of the commissioner Of pensions, was 620-
May 81, 1903. was 5s6, All. The amount %sspro.
priated for pensions during the year was $162.-
The amount appropriated and spent during the
year ending June 80, 1908, in the national and
state homes for the support Of the old and needy
soldiers was 81. 1S7, 361.
THE CALIFORNIA HOME
received anonymous communications in re-
gard to the home In California. and visited the
home, in company with the officers of the de-
partment Of California. and Investigated it very
carefully. / found in this home that all the Off
cials were Grand Army men, and in addition to
their pensions were receiving compensation for
such labor as they could perform; that the sur
geons and some of the nurses were not Grand
Army men for the reason that the Grand Army
men in the home would not or could not perform
the duties required OF them.
SCORES CERTAIN RAILROADS
The transcontinental lines operating between
the Pacific coast and Salt Lake promptly granted
me rate OF one fare for the round trip All
roads west Of Chicago have given us a rate Of
one fare for the round trip, and all east OK Chi-
cago have stubbornly resisted and refused to do
better than give us a rate of-one and half fare
rate as these associations are giving to summer
tourists for the Alaska-Yukon- Pacific exposition.
but we not avail ourselves of the summer
tourist rate unless we purchase tickets through
to Seattle.
You win observe. comrades. that I have la
bored earnestly and zealously with the great rail-
road corporations in the interest of the Grand
Army Of the Republic for a reasonable rate to
and from our encampment, for the men who
from 1851 to 1885 bore the brunt OF battle and
saved the union-one and indiyisible-and that
the great railroad corporations which girdle it
with their tracks have no feeling OF pstriotism
and make concessions. to the comrades of the
Grand Army OF the Republic.
The WomanS Keller Corps elected
Mrs Jennie L Berry of Des Moines. Ia,
for presiding officer for the coming
year.
The flying squadron, Naval Veterans
association, elected all of its new off,
GERS by acclamation. They are:
Commander, John Black, reelected
Lieutenant commander, Il. N. Rounds, Rock
Island, Ill.
Secretary, w. R. Zammart, Wichita, Kan.
Paymaster, W. H. Comstock, Denver.
Judge advocate, A. L. Grow, Tombstone, Ariz.
Chief of staff, W. T. Palmer, South Dakota.
Chairman legislative committee, T. G.. Rude
lett Lowell, Mass.
The Army Nurses. composed of sur
wivors of the nurses who labored DUR
ing the civil war, today elected:
President, Mrs. Mary T. Lacey. Salt Lake City
Senior vice president, Mrs. Catherine Taylor,
New York city.
Reno, New.
Chaplain Miss Maxon, Ohio
Conductor, Mrs. Mary Esquire, Wisconsin.
Guard, Mrs. Elizabeth Chapman, Illinois.
Surgeon, Miss Nancy Kill, Iowa.