Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-09-27
NO STAND TAKEN
ON lee STATUE
NATIONAL ENcAtlPMENT OF G. A..
r., REFUSE 70 STIR UP SEC
TloNAL FEELING.

/ Atlantic City, N. j.. Sept. 24.-After
warm debate Of more than three
hours the national encampment of the
G. A. r.. at its final session on the
steel pier yesterday afternoon indefi-
nitely postponed action on the contro-
versary over the placing of the statute
of Robert E. Lee in Stetuary hall OF
the capitol at Washington. The vote
was 1873 to 102.
The encampment rejected the propo-
sition recommending that congress be
asked to grant each Union veteran Of
the Civil war pension of 81 day for
life, but Endorsed the McComber bill
no-r in congress relating to pensions
of widows 1t was recommended that
the pensions for veterans 66 years of
age be increased from $12 to SIG a
month; 70 years of age. from $12 to
$40, and rs years sof age, from $40 to.
$25 month.
virginia's Act Held Legal.
The question of the Grand Army's
attitude on the Lee statue was one OF
the mos, important the encampme t
has had to deal with in year,. The
conservative element controlled the
argument that the bitterness engel-
dered in the civil w;sr was disappearing
and that sectional hatred should not
be revived; that action awe Sc to the
Lee statue would Go more harm than
good, especially to the G. A. R., and
last, that the state of Virginia, under
the act Of congress in 1864, had the
right to place in statuary hall the i'm
age of any man from that state whose
memory it chose to perpetuate.
Some Of the most prominent man
inethe G. A. r. participated in the dis
cussion and spoke with intense feeling.
Feeling Runs High.
Among those who spoke for the
majority report which opposed in
reference in virginias choice, were
former Commander-in-Chief Van SAINT,
Chairman Torrance, General Burdett
of Washington, Congressman Gardner
of Michigan and Corporal James
Tanner
w. A. Ketchum of Indiana led the
opposition ant was ably assisted in
the debate by P. Coney of Kansas,
senior vice commander-in-chief-el
Charles Burrows Of New Jersey, for
mer Judge l.. E. Griffith of Troy, N. Y.
and others. Feeling ran high and at
one tin the commander-in-chief was
forced to direct the officer Of the day to
compel comrade to take his seat.
The arguments were along the same
lines as advanced by each side In the
recent discussion throughout the
{ country until Corporal Tanner declared
that under federal act of 1864 Vir-
ginia had right to place tt, Lee
& atue in the national capitol. In re-
plying Judge Griffith stated that in
that act the intent of the
lawmakers should be considered. He
believed chat the members of con-
gress who voted for the law in the heat
of the civil war did not contemplate
that a southern state would attempt
to place in statuary hall the statue of
one of its generals who was trying to
wreck the Union.
Officers Are Installed.
Following the deoate the encamp-
ment installed the newly elected Of
fieers Before taps" was sounded,
bringing tie encampment to a close,
Commanderin-Ch John E. Gilman
of Boston announced the following ap-
Adjutant general, Eph-
RAM B. Stillings, post No. 113, Mas!
sachuetts. quarter master general,
Cola D. r. Stowitz. post No. 9, New
York; assistant quartermaster general
and custodian Of records, j. Henry Hol-
comb, post No. 81, Pennsylvania;
senior aid and chief or staff, William |
M. DIN. post No. rs. Massachusetts.
The headquarters of the G. A. r. |
for the next year will be at the state
house. Boston.