Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-05-30
THOMPSON.
SMITH.
DANIEL.
DOW.
STEWART.
% L. Doh ~
RUSSELL.
BLACK.

| ~NS''t-@"
talked of yesterday among the Prohibition,
lists than this action of Assistant Adjt. Gen.
| Walker What is called the blue and the
Gray" is a sub-organzaton of the national
| Prohibition party, composed of Union and
| exC Confederate veterans. Brought into ex-
| istence at the Ohio state convention some two
years ago, its membership is now reaching
| out over the entire country. A week or so
ngo X. f. Hudson, of Alliance, Ohio, grand
commander of the organization, addressed a
| letter to the local committee having charge
| of the Decoration Day services TO the effect
| that as a large number of exsoldiers would
| be in the city Decoration Day they would be
glad to unite in the ceremonies of the day as
individuals, but not as an organization. To
this Col Black, chairman of the local commit
tee, returned a courteous reply, in which he
intimated that they would be glad to have the
members of sthe "Blue and the Gray" march
with their old comrades as individuals, but
not as an organization of a political character.
This was satisfactory to everybody con-
cerned, and the local "Blues and Grays" made
preparations to participate in the ceremonies
But Walkers general order has put another
face on the matter, and the joint participa-
ton is not only declared off, but the "Blue
and the Gray" with all the delegates and
non accredited visitors behind them, will
have n parade OF their own ON Thursday
night.
Hudson said that the proceeding was very
discourteous. They had only desired to join
the exercises as private soldiers and old cti-
zens IF were south on Decoration Day."
he said, land was asked by an ex-Confeder
ate to go out and witness the ceremony of
decorating the graves of even the Confeder-
ate dead / would be glad to do it, although
am "A Union soldier, and a member of the
Grand Army"
Rev. DR.. Jutkins, of Chicago, secretary of
the national committee, was highly indig-
nant when Walkers order was brought to
his attention, II can not trust myself to
speak," he said "for fear that l should go
beyond bounds. The fact is that the Grand
Army has degenerated into political ma
chine. 1t was originated as a patriotic or
ganization to keep alive the sentiment of
patriotism; instead of that it keeps alive sec
tionalism and hatred | am astounded at
this action
Samuel Dickie of Albion, Mich, chairman
of the national committee, was equally
wroth. 81 regret this action on the part of
Walker, whoever he may be, he said at
is an exhibition of partisanship and n wav-
ing of the bloody shirt that is absolutely dis
graceful. 1t will hurt nobody but himself.
1t is certainly not in the interest of harmony,
petuating sectional spirit
These expressions of opinion indicate the
general feeling among the Prohibitionists last
night. On the other hand, what local Grand
Army men it has been possible to see uphold
Walkers action on the ground that the Pro-
hibitiOn affiliations of the BLUE and the
Gray" tend to make it more or less of polit-
zeal organization.
Delegates to the convention. of both sexes,
have been pouring In on every train, and the
streets were crowded with them last night.
The special train with the eastern contingent
was delayed and did not get in until last
evening. 1t was gaily decorated and carried
as portion of its equipment big wooden
crank with hand-organ in its interior. At
every way station of any account the train
was stopped, the crank deposited on the plat
form, and a Prohibition tune or two ground
out for the edification of the astonished ma
tives.
Ex-Governor st. John arrived in escort of
the California delegation, and found band
of music awaiting him The streets were so
muddy that the delegation took the sidewalk
while the band and single carriage con-
tanning the governor went through the prin- |
cipal streets of the town, leaving the escort |
so far in the rear that the crowd wondered |
what it all meant Sam Small slipped in I'M |
observed, and so did Mother Stewart, of |
Ohio: Frances E. Willard, and other leading |
lights of the party.
All Of the delegates were supplied with |
badges before their departure from home, 1
but they found that plenteous supply, in all |
the colors of the rainbow and more and Of a |
iozen designs, had been laid in by the local /
and they quickly preempted the /
hospitality. Some of them are wearing six