The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-04
Q. s. AND G. s. A.
The Projected National Encampment in Fair
mount Park, Philadelphia.

PHILADELPHIA, June 3.-Everybody who has
taken any interest in the subject has known that
the project of national encampment in Fair
mount Park, beginning June 20, has been coolly
received by the National Guardsmen of this city
and the local brigade declined to participate.
The reason given was that successful camp
could not be held in 80 large a city because the
grounds would be oyerrun with visitors. The
reason was no doubt valid in the minds Of the
local military, but developments made within
the last day or two prove that it was not the
only reason. The project to have the encamp-
ment originated with Lieutenantgovernor
Underwood, of Kentucky, and is being man
aged by him, with the assistance of his cousin,
Col. Fl. L. Underwood, whose headquarters are at
the Continental Hotel. Within five days Col.
zens written guarantee that the money to
make the encampment success should be pro-
vided. Within day two Col. Underwood
has posted, In conspicuous places about the city,
given great offense to some people. A prominent
Third street banker who was one of the guaran-
tees, on going to his place Of business yesterday
morning, saw one of these Autographs in
Chestnutstree window, and at once sent word
to Col. Underwood to strike off his name from
the guarantee. COL Underwood Immediately
called on the banker, who, in polite but emphat-
ic language, told the distinguished Kentuckan
that whoever had issued the Autographs repre-
senting the proposed encampment had greatly
mistaken the sentiment of Philadelphia The
Autograph represents Union and confederate
soldiers drawn up in the same line and saluting
Union and confederate general, who are riding
side by side. The letters &c. S. A. rare on the
belts of the confederates.
81 am glad, said the banker to Colonel Under
wood, ''to do my part in welcoming men of the
South to Philadelphia as members of the
National Guard of the United States but will
have no part In welcoming men with the badge
of the rebellion upon their breasts. They might
as well come carrying the rebel flag We hate
rebellion now just as much as we hated it twenty
years ago. We cordially forgive all penitents,
but those who have not repented we have not
forgiven"
Colonel Underwood expressed his regret that
the Autographs had been posted, and said that
he would stop their further issue at once but
the financier insisted that his name should be
stricken from the guaran zee. The facts of the
interview soon spread through the city and
created good deal of talk. Many conceded
with the views of the banker, while others
thought he was over sensitive A promi-
nent member of General Hartranft's staff
said, guardedly, that he thought it would be
very wise thing for the Southern miltiamen to
adopt the uniform of the United States army.
Gen. George r. Snowden, the commander of the
First Brigade National Guards of Pennsylvania.
said that the national encampment was very
commendable affair, and that he did not believe
that the gray uniforms were placed on the ajver-
Using posters with any dsioyal motive. Colonel
Theodore 4. Weidersheim, commanding the First
Regiment, N g. p, said: II do not approve of
that circus poster. One OF them was put up at
the armory, and I saw ii there. Of CO urse our
brigade will not be in the show, so it will not
make much difference to us, but think it was
mistake to print the poster with the C. s. A. on
it. heard that the Southern militia carried
nothing but State flags in the Inauguration pro-
cession, and that they had not carried the
national colors at all. If that was so, tits par
ticularly bad thing to do to parade the C. S. A
on the advertising poster of the reunion"
Colonel Underwoods room at the Continental
is stocked with Autographs, ready to be sent all
over the country. He was busy yesterday after
noon aud evening with pen blotting out the
letters &c. S. A." wherever they appeared on
the Autographs Lieutenant governor Under
wood who has been absent from this city for
some days, returned last evening He expressed
great surprise that any objection had been made
to the Autographs. The picture, he said, was
merely allegorical, and intended to represent
harmony and unity among those who had
been enemies, and he pointed out the fact that
all the troops in the picture were represented as
carrying the United States flag. He said the
idea that the Southern troops were to come here
in confederate uniforms absurd, and that
there was not serviceable confederate uniform
or belt in existence at this time