The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-04-12
VETERANS Hear
CHIEF DISCUSS
WAR OF TODAY
Grand Army Commander
Compares Civil War to Big
European Struggle.

GuiIford, Conn.,, April members
of the Grand Army of the Republic,
representing the various posts about
the state, gathered here today for the
annual two days encampment of the
department of Connecticut. Most of
today's session was given up to the
preliminary work of the gathering
and the preservation of reports. To-
night will come the big event-the
camp fire. and tomorrow the cleo
ton of officers.
Interest in the election has been
increased by the fact that a contest is
commander, the candidates being
John L. SAKE, of Waterbury, and
Henry J. Seeley, of Bridgeport.
Department Commander Charles
Grisw in presenting his report, re-
ferred to the National Encampment
at Washington, saying that Connecti-s
cut may feel justly proud of the fact
that nearly 800 of her veterans took
part, in the parade there. He con-
tinued:
s'As time goes on the veterans of
the Civil War are held in greater es-
TEEN and their services for their
country more appreciated by the loyal
people of the land. cannot refrain
from some al1usion to the great con-
fict now raging in nearly every coun-
try in Europe.
i'Far different from our Civil War;
larger armies and the modern en-
gines of war much superior to those
of our day; yet I doubt very much if
lit requires as much bravery or cour-
/ age to fight an enemy five miles away
! as it did for US to face and fight our
/ opponents at close range with the
/ muzzIe 1oadwing muskets and can
non. What this great conflict may
/ bring to us is yet probIematical.'
! Referring to the Soldiers Home, he
said:
'.Many complaints were received
from the inmates of the home during
| the year, principally relating to the
food and dornnitories. These COM
plants were called to the attention
of the soldiers. hospital board which
| has taken the matter in hand and has
made satisfactory improvements. In
my recent visits to the home found
everything satisfactory and was una
BILE to obtain a single complaint from
any of the inmates
| Speaking of his visit to Cromwell
home he said he found the location
/ ideal, the dwelling first class, the
! rooms airy and light and 27 inmates,
| "a women and three men, all of whom
/ seemed to be contented and salts
| fed"
! The department commander praised
| the Sons of Veterans and auxiliary
| organizations as being of great assist
ance, to the veterans in carrying on
their work.
| Among the recommendations was
one that the state encampnent be
| held either in May or June hereafter
as the weather is likely to be more
| congenia1 than earlier in the year.
He also urged that some action should
be taken by the national organization
whereby members of disbanded posts
| could be enrolled in some other post
land retain their standing as members
/ of the order so that they might con-
! tinue to wear the button.
The report of the assistant adjutant
/ general, Albert A. May, showed a
m ennbership at the close of the year
( of 2.181 with a loss by death since
| the last state. encampment of 238. The
receipts for the year were $924.75,
which with the balance on hand April
49, 1915, of $2,8O6.73, gave a, total of
I $9.731.4s. The expenditures were
| $1,182.49.
| Other reports presented included
! those of Horatio M. Brown of Ans
| sonia, senior vice-commander, Fran
/ els Williams, of Bristol, junior vice
/ commander, William f. Hilton. of
Hartford, department chaplain, John
L. Sake, Of Waterbury patriotic in
! structor The latter report that the
| partment are paying more attention
country. He also says that Memoir
| iaI Day is coming more and more to
the front each year in public observ-
|