this organization is a perplexing question. Naturally so long as the Grand Army exists, it will hold first place in the hearts of our countrymen. The Sons of Veterans with all their claims to public regard, will have to occupy a secondary position until the veterans of the 60's have passed away. The recommendations of the committee appointed by the Department of Massachusetts to consider the question of what the Grand Army could do to favor the Sons of Veterans, is a well thought out review of the situation, and has the full concurrence of your Commander-in-Chief. A special report on this subject will be made by Comrade W. H. Armstrong, chairman of a committee appointed on December 6th, 1899, at Chicago, at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Council of Administration. At that time Commander-in-Chief Jones of the Sons of Veterans appeared before the Executive Committee, in company with two other officers of the Order, and a full conference was held, resulting in the appointment of the above-mentioned committee to consider and report upon the questions at issue. The whole matter is submitted for action of this Encampment with the assurance that the subject is one very near the hearts of our comrades, and that all the encouragement possible at our hands is due to "our boys." A copy of the report of the Department of Massachusetts accompanies my report. Your Commander-inChief suggests the appointment of a strong committee by this Encampment to specially consider this important matter and report to the next National Encampment.

WISE ORGANIZATION.

The experience of the year now about to end leads me to impress upon our Grand Army the urgent necessity of prudent and wise organization. In union there is strength, and in harmony of effort there is victory. In division there is failure. Your administration has devotedly worked to accomplish what was possible for the interests of our Order, in the way of legislation, through a oneness of purpose, focused upon the amendments to the act of June 27, 1890. The happy passage of this most important measure was the result of the efforts put forth under conditions-which when they are fully understood

would command the liveliest gratitude and enthusiasm of every comrade. This was brought about by impressing the country and national legislators with the view that all we sought was justice and that we would not be content with anything less. President William McKinley, from the outset of our efforts, assured us of his abiding sympathy and deep interest in our behalf, and his record as a private soldier and as a commissioned officer in the Great War left no doubt as to his devoted comradeship and tender memories for all who, like himself, stood behind the guns in their youth.

There can be no doubt that the only safe and right way to approach the Congress for needed national legislation in the interests of our Grand Army, is through the regular committees and officials of our organization. Hundreds of pension bills were introduced in the last Congress, the vast majority of which failed to pass. In such confusion there is weakness, for out of the mass of these bills some are found to be so drawn as to shock the reasonable judgment of prudent people and thus our position and claims as veterans and comrades are prejudiced in the minds of many would-be friends.

Your administration was laid under deep obligations to the Congress by the unanimous passage of their "Grand Army Amendment Bill," for this action eliminated all partisan irritations, and substituted a broad patriotism in its consideration. Our thanks are due for this harmony and justice-unmixed with politics or policy, and based upon a broad view of the righteousness of our desired legislation. It should be our anxious aim to so conduct the affairs of our Grand Army in the future as to merit a continuance of the happy relations now established between the Congress and ourselves. This can be done if considerate caution is exercised and prudent counsels are followed in all questions arising over the interests of our Order, in the wide circle of our needs and worthy rights, as veterans and comrades. This view is urgently commended to your best consideration and judgment.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.

Your Commander-in-Chief gratefully acknowledges the fidelity and zeal which have been shown by the comrades of the

Nation in aid of the best interests of our Order during the past year. Department Commanders have distinguished themselves by untiring activity in the all around work they have accomplished. But it is due to the Pension Committee and the aides-de-camp in charge of National legislation, that attention should be called to the most efficient and valuable services they have rendered the Grand Army during the year. Chairman

R. B. Brown has given a great deal of time to the perplexing and often complex duties devolving upon him, as the head of the most important committee of our organization; and he has ably and resolutely met the responsibilities of his position in a way that should command the confidence and merit the warm gratitude of every member of the Grand Army. Comrade Daniel E. Sickles has been closely associated with Chairman Brown in the special work of the Pension Committee and his splendid energy, rare experience and dauntless courage, have made him as great a factor in securing the passage of our pension amendments as he was in turning back the tide of battle at historic and glorious Gettysburg. Comrade Watson W. Eldridge, special aide in charge of National legislation, although greatly pressed with his official duties in the Treasury Department, has been most valuable in his services in this important relation to the Grand Army, and a more zealous or worthy representative cannot be found. Comrade George H. Patrick, special aide to the Commander-in-Chief in charge of special legislation, has done a great amount of work in a manner worthy of the highest possible commendation. The comrades have had in him a loyal advocate of great ability and remarkable resources—and one who front faces on every line of duty as bravely in peace as he did in war. It is only just to thus speak of his invaluable services.

To the members of my staff, with the efficient and deservedly popular comrade, J. Cory Winans at the head-I am under great obligations for the loyal services they have rendered, in their important relations to the Grand Army. The Council of Administration-and especially the members of the Executive Committee-has promptly and wisely upheld my hands in all fraternity, and the year's record is one of cordial.

comradeship and concord. To Judge Advocate-General Ell
Torrance, and Inspector-General M. J. Cummings, great
credit is due for their valuable services. Nathan P. Pond who
was appointed Inspector General and who most efficiently per-
formed the duties of the office for several months was elected
Department Commander of the Department of New York and
resigned to devote himself to his new and important office.
His zeal and faithful work as Inspector General were
worthy of all praise. Quartermaster-General E. J. Atkinson
and Adjutant-General Thomas J. Stewart have been a
"tower of strength" in their laborious and most important
positions. Both are comrades of rare girth and grain,
and the duties of their respective offices have never been
better performed than during the past year.
To the Adjutant
General especially, I am indebted for wise counsel, devoted
Comradeship and unfailing courtesies. He is the right comrade
in the right place and "four square to all the winds that blow."
It is a surprise in a way to know how much of valuable
time and recognized great ability are devotedly given to the
interests of the Grand Army by comrades of National fame
without money and without price. This is proof of how pre-
cious the memories of the war days are, and illustrates the
poet's picture of

"How mournfully sweet are the echoes that start,
When memory plays an old tune on the heart.”

IN MEMORIAM.

According to the report of the Adjutant General, the membership on June 30th, 1900 was 276,662. The net loss for the year from all causes is 11,319. In this is included 7,790 comrades who have died since our last Encampment. Among the number who have died during the year are many who in days past were trusted leaders in our great organization. The most conspicuous names upon the roll of our honored dead are those of Past Commanders-in-Chief GEORGE SARGENT MERRILL OF MASSACHUSETTS, who died at Lawrence, Massachusetts, February 17, 1900, and JOHN PATTERSON REA OF MINNESOTA who died at Nicollet Island, Minnesota, May 28th, 1900. Each

of these comrades enjoyed the highest honors this great patriotic organization could bestow, and brought to the discharge of their duties that earnestness and comradeship that won for them the reverence and love of the Grand Army of the Republic. The members of this Encampment knew them, loved them. They were wise in counsel, grand in leadership, devoted in comradeship. We place for them in tribute the vacant chair, and for every member of the Grand Army I voice the sentiment to their memory honor; to their ashes peace.

CONCLUSION.

COMRADES: It is with mingled feelings of pride and pain that I speak these final words, as I am about to lay down the trust you placed in my hands one year ago. Coming to this great office, a private soldier of the 60's, without military rank or fame won on fields of battle, I felt that my best services were demanded to prove myself worthy of the high honor thus conferred upon me. I have done what I could to merit the confidence of comrades and to meet the demands of my position in as acceptable a way as possible. My ambition has been to win your approval of my record at its close as "well done," and to this end I have devoted my whole energies. The year has been both the sweetest and saddest of my life, and the delight of my election as your Commander-in-Chief was later chastened by the death of my devoted and noble wife. In the valley of sorrows, I have proved the meaning of the words "one taken and the other left," and the Lamp of the Lord has been my consolation in the presence of the majesty and mystery of what we call death. In my affliction, comrades, the Woman's Relief Corps, the Ladies of the Grand Army and other kindred orders of the Nation have shown a sympathy and tenderness that has touched me to tears again and again.

We are all nearing the final sunset of our lives and our work is mainly done. Let us so live as to inspire our youth with safe ideals of patriotic love of country; and thus secure the culture of a citizenship worthy of our age, and one that