Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-06-05
UNJUST INTERFERENCE

Cot. mcCreIIis' Assumption In Chang
Ing the Illinois sons OF Veterans
Encampment from Rock island
BeardsI-y Camps Pluck.
The telegram received by Capt Eek
hart OF BeardsleY camp yesterday after
noon, removing the encampment from
Rock Island. is the result OF the trouble
which has been brewing for some time
between Col McCrellis and the local
committee of arrangements. Col, Nc
Crellis ordered the committee to have the
encampment ut Sylvan island in the first
place, but the committee refused to &C
knowledge his authority in the matter
but subsequently on hisappeal acceded to
the request made by him and Gen. Abbott,
the commander in chief, that it be held
there if the citizens of Rock Island looked
upon the matter favorably. Finding that
suoh arrangement was displeasing to the
representative business men of Rock ISL
and the committee promptly notified Col.
McCrellis that the location had been
changed to what IS known as the hop
field grounds, just east of the Milan
street car track. the arrangement being to
have the camp there and the dress parades
aud the competitive drill at the base ball
park. The result was II letter of inquiry
followed by a telegram TO the committee
saying that the encampment must be at
Sylvan island. and asking if the commit
tee would handle it, Secretary Bowman
replied for the committee that the com
mittee proposed TO run the encampment
to suit itself and the people of Rock Isl
and and that while it would continue to
advise with him about such matters as
properly required his consideration, it
would emphatically decline to tolerate
any interference whatever from him or
any outside source. The result was the
telegram to Capt Eckhart yesterday re-
lieving the camp and committee from the
management of the encampmcnt.
While Col. McCrelis undoubtedly
his authority IN thus setting
aside the will of the last encampment
there is no remedy in the minds of |
camp except to hold him re-
sponsibe for his illegal and arbitrary ac>
ton TO the coming encampment and oh,
tain redress there, and this will be done. |
McCrillis will probably now order the
to Moline and the Moline
camp will locate it at Sylvan island. but
camp will have nothing what>
ever to do with it. The loss of this i'm
oOrtaut convention to Rock Island is
,ouI ce of much regret and 10 no one more
han those comprising the committee of
who have worked hard and
Effectively for its success, Fourteen
hundred circulars of Invitations have
een issued throughout the state and the
has been well advertised and ,
,tters of acceptance having been re
eived from many distinguished men.
1t is thought that McCrillis. who says I
e is the "most popular colonel the divi- .
on ever had, end is working night anu A
iy for reelection, has been making Il \
ade with the Moline delegation by Sc J.
citing Sylvan island and no doubt now =
i'll secure their support. q
Among other features the committee d
I'd arranged for, was the presentation .
a grand war song concert under the "
rection OF Prof. Whitmore, at Harpers
eatre the first night of the encampment G
a benefit to the affair, with a compli~ A
sntary presentation to delegates and Ell
sitors on another night. 1t is under q,
BOD that the concert will be given any r
~, now that the arrangements have
ne so far, and the people may expect a
a nd musical entertainment some time
ring that week. m
The citizens of Rock Island should and -,
doubtedly will stand by the Sons of v.
ardsley camp in their determination to sl
sent and reject the into lernnt interior bi
ce on the part of the CO mmander of the he
inois division. .,