Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-06-13
\, A. NILES new COMMANDER
Membership of 2,271 Is Less Than
Half What It Was 20 Years
Ago-Posts Now Num-
Der Eighty-Nine.

Of the Department of Vermont, Grand
Army Of the Republic, without a contest.
The name of Governor John A. Mead had
led a following of considerable size. but
all opposition to the choice of Com
nander Niles had practically vanished
late Wednesday evening. and his cleo
ton Thursday was unanimous Together
with such others of the new officers as
were present. he was installed in office
by General W. w Henry OF this city.
at the close of the afternoon session.
Il am pleased said Commander
Niles, "over the fact that the business
OF the day passed off SO har1noniously.
The friends who We're supporting me
came to Burlington expecting to meet
with some opposition. but that disap-
peared. 1t is we'll 80. for this outcome
gives promise of united support for the
candidate who shall he in the field a year
hence
Commander Niles has a record of
nearly three years of service in the civil
War. He enlisted June |. 1852 In Company
n. Ninth Vermont regiment, and was
mustered into service July following.
He was made corporal Jan. q. 1863,
and sergeant February /, 1884, being
mustered out June 90. 1865.
NILES Is 4 WORKER.
He Is quiet, modest and unassumng,
said the retiring commander. DIR. c. NJ
Ferrin of Essex Junction, but he Is a
worker" DR.. Ferrin was elected medical
director of the department. and other
officers were chosen as follows: Senior
vice commander, John j. Jarvis of St
Adams; Junior vice-commander. Walter
w. Fisk of Ludlow; department chap
lain. l.. r. Barber of Rutland.
The council of administration is as
follows: z. G. Hagar of Haysvile
George l.. Mcbride OF Burlington, f. Fl
Webster of Rutland. a. r. Franklin of
rownshend and C. E. Beach OF Bur.
Nngton. Representatives to the national
.ncampment are w. II. II. Slack OF
Springfeld. L. +. Bowman of South
koyalton. C. F. Hogan Of St. Adams
II. w. Allen OF Burlington. d. w. Davis
Of Chester and W. II. Flint Of Brandon
The representatives will choose theil
OWL alternates.
AT the sessions Thursday there was
an attendance of l60 delegates. Will
about 100 other members of the Granc
Army. Rutland was selected as the
place of the next annual encampment OF
the department.
COMMANDER PERKINS, REPORT.
Retiring Commander Ferrn, in his re-
port. said in part:
ITO do the best work for the organiZa
ton the commander should have more
time at his disposal than your presen,
commander has had. have visited severa
posts and some county associations and
have answered every call that has conc
TO me except when it would conflict with
other duties. To represent the department
/ have sent members Of the staff tc
places where | could not go. | visited by
invitation the Massa chusetts State en-
campment held In Boston April . ant
g. and was most cordially received. At g
banquet at the American House where
over COO veterans and invited guests were
present Governor Foss Mayor Fitzgerald
Comma nder-in-c Trimhle and Others
responded to toasts. They reported l2oo
members, 200 posts loss by death $40, ex.
penses and charities $4,000
LET INTEREST KEEP tP.
The high water mark in the member.
In 1890. when there were 400 mem
bers and JOS posts, Our number,
have been decreasing year by year unit
at present We have only 2,7l. and 50 posts
This decline is inevitable and cannot b,
otherwise. We have lost no post durin,
the year. although there are several small
ones which In the near future will b.
compelled to surrender their charter
- 4
members. wish to recommend Il
the comrades OF such posts to keel
together as long AS possible, but II 70,
must disband, take "A transfer to SOM
'ther post. Do not lose your interest IL
" connection with our noble order. Their
Is a large number of veterans who do no
belong to the G. A. r. and these comrade
should be told the advantages of joininl
our ranks. If the excuse Is a financial on
promise to remit their dues. If for othe
reasons they do not care TO belong to OH
organization do not urge them"
The commander praised highly IN
Womans Relief Corps. Ladies of tn
q. A. r.. Sons of Veterans and Daugh
ters of Veterans. fle also spoke Of tn
good work being done at the Soldiers
Home al Bennington
DR.. Ferrin went on record as hen
much gratfied at tho passage by Con
gress of the dollar-a-day pension law
In conclusion he thanked Assistant Ad
jutant Williams, Chief STAFF c.
Beach, Judge Advocate c. y. Hogan, Ger
j. II. Lucia and others for their loya
support.
DEPARTMENT HAS 2,27l 4AEMBERS.
Assistant Adjutant- General c. d. WI
liams of this city reported that there ar
now so posts in good standing with
total membership of 2.21l The net los
for the year is IS. The loss by death wa
10, by honorable discharge. 2; by transfe
and by suspension &c. total rs. The gal
OF 81 included 20 by muster in, by trans
fer. 10 by reinstatement and by erro
Of last report II H. Vaughn Post No. 7.
OF DANNY has surrendered its charter.
Among those present at the encamp
mont was Harry NJ. Sherman of Dux
bury, who is totally blind. Born a
Richmond. he enlisted in Stowe. the
went to Burlington. and finally to Fol
Hamilton, In New York harbor. Fror
1861 to 1864 he served in the 18th Unite
States infantry, and except when in tn
service his entire life has been spent
this State
There was some little discussion owe
the disposition which should he made c