The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-20
GARDNER HEADS
c. A. R. VETERANS
Final Business Session Held
at Chattanooga
MANY VISITORS LEAVE
Believed That North and South Will
Be Drawn Closer Together as Re-
suit of Encampment-Many
Friendships Cemented
MANY VISITORS LEAVE

Chattanooga. September 19.-Former
United States Congressman Washington
Gardner of Albion, Mich, today was
elected commander-n-chief of the Grand
Army of the Republic at the final busi-
ness session of the forty seventh annual
encampment. Detroit, earlier in the day.
was selected as the meeting place for
the 1914 encampment.
Other officers elected by the national
organization were: Thomas II. Sowayd
Guthrie, Okla, senior vice commander
William l.. Rose, Pittsheld. Me-. junior
vice commander; j. X Weaver, Morris
town, Pa, surgeon general and Horace
NJ Carr, Carsons, Kan, chaplain gen
eral.
Immediately after the election OF Of
foers was completed the new conmand.r-
irf-chief announced the appointment of
Oscar A. James. Detroit, as adjurant gem
eral, and Col. d. r. Stowitz bf Buffalo
as auartermaster general of the Grand
Army of the Republic.
Commander-n Chief Gardner was born
in Morrow county, O., in February 1875
At the age of 16 he enlisted in the ranks
Of Company d, Sixty-fifth Ohio Volunteer
infantry. He was on duty continuously
from 1861 under Buell. in the army of
OEio. under Rosecrans in the army of the
Cumberland. and under fh )plas and Sher-
man in the campaign against Atlanta un-
til disabled by a gunshot wound during
the battle of Resaca May, 1864
For several years after the war Com
mander Gardner attended college and
later was a professor in Albion coll age
Michigan. He served for Ave Years as
secretary OF state for Michigan and for
u years he represented the Third Mich
igan district in the United States Con-
gress Since his retirement from Congress
ne has been chiefly engaged in educa-
tiona work for a Chicago publishing
firm.
Spirited speeches, extracts of which
could be heard outside he auditorium
marked the final session of the Grand
Army of the Republic encampmenl The
nominating speeches We're begun shortly
after 2 o'clock in the Afternoon. Adiutant
General Seeley cast the deciding vote Of
the eneampment for the successful candi-
date for commander in-chief more than
two hours later Election of the remain
ms officers lasted nearly three hours
Only delegates We're admitted to any Of
tlle Olllcldl sessions OF tle enSdmpmeit,
but it is understood that Commander
Gardner's nearest opponent during the
balloting was Col c. r. Adams of Su-
perior, Neb.
\ general exodus OF veterans and dele
gates attending sessions of allied organ
zations began tonight. Some who were
prevented from visiting historic scenes in
this vicinity by rainy weather are plan
ming to remain Through tomorrow. which
is listed ON the encampment programme
as sightseeing day" Fair wea ather pre-
vailed today for the first time during the
encampment
In bidding their hosts and hostesses
farewell at the railroad stations tonight,
both veterans and visitors predicted a
closer relationship between the north and
south a result of the encampment
Many warm friendships were eemented
during encampment week between the two
sections. The most significant of these
are believed to have resulted from the
reception rendered last night to the rank
a nd file of the Union veterans by Forrest
camp, United Confederate Veterans.