Arizona republican., 1914-04-16
ARIZONA |. 4. R. kS INCREASING
Interesting Fact Becomes Known at Annual En- campment of Civil War Neterans-Getting Ready for Memorial Day

Arizona. with California and
 Arkansas enjoys the distinc7ion ol being the only state in the union where the ranks of the Grand Army
 of the Republic have increased dur ing the last year in ar other states. the Grim Reaper has cut down the membership of the men who fought for the union.
 This Interesting statement of fact was made public yesterday morning during the state eneampment of the c. A. R. of Arizona. which was held at the Knights of Pythias hall About l 90 veterans of the war of the re- l bellion attended the encampment Regular business of the meeting was
 transacted and then the old soldiers 1 enjoyed themselves in an informal | camp fire, intersperSed with numer- ous "reminiscences of the days of the evil war. At this amp-fire. the w0-
 men Of the Relief Corps were hosts. They provided a delicious luncheon i luncheon and then took part in tie 1 informal meeting, giving vivid word pictures of the sufferings of these who remained at home while hus- 1 bands and fathers went forth to fight 1 for the solidity of the union
 The following officers were elected 1 for the ensuing year:
 1 Department commander George w. ! Read. Prescott; seenior vice depart I ment commander. w M Grier, Phoe- nix; junior vice department com
 mander. James Wiley, Globe medi . cal director Dr. Charles D. Belden. 1 Phoenix; chaplain. Rev. Aj Me- ! Dole; council of administration.
 James Wisdom, ". NJ. Fickas. D. F.
 McNuty and T. J Fell, w. J Mur- ] iphy.
 1 The new officers Were installed by Capt P P. Parker. Delegates to the , national encampment were next
 chosen and it was decided that the ; following should represent Arizona:
 Andrew Downing of Phoenix and J. T.. Price of Tempe These veterans will go to Detroit. Mich. next An gust to be at the City of the Straits when the encampment opens early in September
 The veterans decided that the next encampment of the state veterans should be held in Phoenix. on the third Wednesday of April in 1915 The encampment opened at 10 o'clock in the morning. Acting De- partment Commander Read of Pres colt was unable to attend on account of the illness of his son. capt Read. L. <. A, who returned recently from the Philippines. Junior Vice Depart
 ment Commander Grier of Phoenix acted as commander.
 The report of the department com mander was read by Assistant Ad-
 jutant General Sampson. who also presented the report of his own of flee, showing that Arizona was among the three states of the union which showed an increase in C. A. R. membership during the last year
 General Sampson touched upon the death of the late department com mander. John j. Hill of Tucson Re solutions expressing the sympathy of
 the state encampment were drawn and ordered presented to the mem bers of the Hill family and to the newspapers Of the state. Resolutions
 were also adopted expressing regret for the illness of MT Reads son That the veterans of the state are already preparing for Memorial Day is indicated by the action taken by the encampment yesterday. Resolu- tions were adopted asking the Span ish- American war veterans to join in the observation of Memorial Day. The
 cadets of the normal school are also invited to participate. Where 1t is convenient, the national guard will
 be asked to send q representation to 1 the Decoration Day observances