Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-08-14
G, A, R, MEMBERSHIP
D 0 " n To 65,382
1854 DEAD IN '23

Boston, Aug. 13-Turning to bust
and their parade of yesterday, vet
Grams of the civil war assembled
here In the 58th annual encampment
of the Grand Army of the Republic,
heard at their first official session a
denunciation by the commandment
chief, of the coinage of f1fty-cent
pieces concentrating the valor of
the soldiers of the south.
The report of the adjutant general
was also heard in which a member
ship of $3.50, in 1910 posts, was
shown. The adjutant. general re-
ported that death had taken a toll of
S,354 members in the year which
terminated December 81. last, and
upon which the report was based.
The Womens Relief Corps, at its
meeting voted to increase its annual
contribution to the Grand Army from
81 900 to $1,000 and this years gift
was taken to the veterans meeting
place, Symphony hall. where more
than 700 G. A. r. delegates were as
sembled.
The Sons of Veterans also met in
business session and decided to in
clude in the name of their organic
alton and of the Sons of Veterans
Auxiliary, subject to the approval OF
the G. a. r., the words Grand
Army OF the Republic"
In commenting upon the act of
congress. signed by President Coo
lidge, which authorizes the coinage
of so cent pieces in commemoration
of the commencement of the work
of carving on Stone Mountain, Ga,
monument "to the valor of. SOL
diers of the SOUTH" Commander
Gaylord M. Saltzgaber said, in his
address:
This is the first time in the his
tory of the republic that the govern
ment of the United States has been
called upon to aid in the cOnstruc-
ton of monument to those who
were leaders in the great rebellion
against 1t. The statues are those of
Jefferson Davis. Robert f.. Lee.
Stonewall Jackson and other Con-
federates.
Would it be proper to suggest to
the secretary of the treasury" he
continued, who Is to determine the
matter, that upon one side of the
coin should be the face of jefferson
Davis, surrounded by his name and
the words, The head and front of
the Great Rebellion and on the op-
posite side the words, The United
States of America thus does honor
to treason?
Undoubtedly a majority of con-
gress would have voted against the
law if they had known of it's real
purport. We do not object to the
Confederates building monuments to
their heroes but is 1t not time to
draw the line when the United
States government. which they
sought to destroy, is asked to help
build Them"
One election marked the business
sessions of the day-that of Wilfred
A. Weatherbee OF Newton, Mass,
past state department commander
TO the Office of senior vice comman-
derrrr- in chief. The remainder of
the elections are scheduled to be
held Tomorrow.
Three candidates are in the field
to succeed General Saltzgaber as
commander chief. They are John
b. Inman of Springfield. ILL.,, Louis F.
NTenapeTS OF L nlOntOWn. Ia, ana l..
+. Hawk of Los Angeles. The city
for the next encampment will be Sc
lected from among Grand Rapids.
Mich. Cincinnati, Philadelphia, San
Francisco and Pasadena.
G.. A. r. men who were not en-
gagged in business sessions visited
the Charlestown navy yard, where
many trod the decks of the old fri
gate Constitution while a band play
ed patriotic airs.
One sight seeing veteran was the
victim of two pickpockets. who rob-
bed him of $45 on the street. He
seized the pair, but one escaped
The other was rescued by the police
from a threatening crowd and placed
under arrest.
A three year fight over eligibility
was ended when L. D. Chandler was
seated as a member of the Tennessee
delegation. After he had been per-
mitted to take his seat, the Tenne-
see delegation walked out in protest
and were ruled in contempt by the
commander in chief. The delegates
later returned, however, and were
seated after apologizing. Chandler
was captured by Confederates and
imprisoned for 20 months after en-