The National tribune., 1911-04-27
THE s e y u RS@l
CAMPFIRET:lIsE3Sf{glee$Szz e$z1|
DEPARTMENT OF MARYLAND.
1t Holds Its 33d Annual Encampmcnt
at Baltimore.

Inc @5th Annual Encampment OF
the Department of Maryland, G. a r.,
was held in Odd Fellows Hall. Balti-
more, April 10 and II. Comrade Will
liam j. Fannort, Department Com
mander, presided. His annua! address
shows the Department to be in four
ishing condition, and Notwithstanding
the large death loss the membership
shows slight net increase.
Comrade John L. Gilman, Com
naHder-in-Chief. was present, and de-
liVered spirited address.
The first day of the Eucampmcnt
was taken up with routine business,
receiving reports of Department Off
GERS and referring The same to appro-
pirate committees.
The second day the Encampment
got down to reat hard work. Reports
of committees We're received and act
ed upon. The following resolutions
We're received:
Resolutions.
The 35th Annual Encampment of
the Department of Maryland, g. A.
r., again goes on record as favoring
Comrade John McElroy for Com
mander-inChief, il he is again can
didate- This action is taken as a
slight token. of our esteem and graft
tude for the great services rendered
the survivors of the civil war by Com
rade McElroy in leading the fight for
increased pensions, especially for his
efforts to promote the passage of the
Sulloway bill at the last session of
Congress.
We further record indignant protest
against the action of Senator Lodge,
OF assachusetts, whose objection de-
feated the passage of the SulIoway
bill. His soiicitude for the revenues
OF the Government hardly square with
his action in promoting the passage
of a bill granting a life pension of
$500 per year for the very brief SER
vices of member of the Supreme
Court
This resolution was unanimously
passed without reference by stand
ing vote.
The following resolution was also
passed unanimously:
Bitter and mendacious opposition
To pension legislation is always a fruit
ful subject for pension hating news
papers and nuckrakiug magazines. No
charge, however false, no assertion,
however scandalous, is too base for
the use of these publications i'll their
efforts to prejudice the public mind
against any patriotic effort to improve
the living conditions of the survivors
of those great armies which saved the
Union The fact that these survivors
are answering the last roll call at the
rate of more than 100 a day does not
prompt those vile detractors 10 cease
for a. time at least their unjust char
acterization OF these defenders of the
Republic as frauds and 'burmers.'
-NipdicafiuS the Pension Roll.
Recently, by order of the honorable
Commissioner of Pensions, every pen
sioner, male and female, residing in
the State of Maryland has been per-
Sonauy visited by experienced Special
Examiners of the Pension Bureau, de-
tHlte for that purpose, and il is
matter. of congratulation that of the
more than 1900 thus visited not u
single case was found involving The
least suspicion of fraud, thus yindicat-
ing in the highest degree the integrity
OF the Pension Bureau and the hon
csty of the pensioner. This splendid
record lustifies the Department OF
Maryland, G. a. r., in branding the
enemies OF the pensioners of the Unit
ed States as base slanderers, utterly
wanting in patriotism and destitute of
gratitude toward those who stood for
the. Flag and a united country in the
fatefrl days of 1876.
The following letter was read from
Comrade James /. Davenport:
Department of the Interior, Pension
Bureau. April 10, 1911.
john h. King, Past CommandeT-in-
Chief. G. A. r, Baltimore, Nd.
Dear Sir and Comrades I have
Sreat pleasure in informing you that
a complete checking up of the pen
sioners residing in the State of Mary
land, by experienced Special Examir-
ers. fails to disclose in the more than
1000 pensioners a single case. of
doubtful legality. Respectfully yours
J. I. Davenport, Commissioner"
A committee from the Convention
OF the Woman's Relief Corps, accom-
panied by National President Belle c.
Harris, of Kansas, was received with
appropriate hogors. A return visit
was made by Chief
Gilman and Past Chief
John r. King.
Election of Officers.
The following officers for the ensu-
ing year were elected and installed By
Commander-in-Chi Gilman:
Commander, John T. Holmes.
Senior Vice Commander, Charles +.
Junior Vice Commander, John B.
Black.
Medical Director. C. Marion Dod-
son.
Chaplain. B. F. Clarkson, d. D.
Assistant Adjutant- General, Robert
c. Sunstrom.
ASSISTANT luarterlnaStcr-Gen
John G. Erdman.
Delegate -at-Ldrge TO the National
Encampment. ]. Wynne Jones, d. D.
Delegates, Thomas VI. Magncs, w
Drach. George W. Fisher, Reuben
v. CONWAY.
pleasing feature OF Comrade Gil
mans sojourn in Baltimore was u
visit to His Eminence Cardinal Glib
hons, arranged by Comrade John r.
King. Comrade Gilman was accom-
panied by Comrades John @. TayIor
and King. who made the introduction
The Cardinal was very gracious and
cordial. and spoke OF his experience
as Chaplain for four years without
pay at Fort bIcHenry and Fort Mar
shall. Baltimore. lie also referred to
his visit TO Salt Lake City during the
Encampment.
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