Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-09-07
MANY REUNIONS GOING ON.
The Veterans Receive Their Leaders With
Great Acclaim.

The Veterans Receive Their Leaders With
Great Acclaim.
While the encampment was busy with
the matters that had called it together the
soldiers who were not delegates were max
ing up for lost time in the way of re-
unions and meetings to hear their leaders
talk. One large gathering was held at
Armstrong park, where Governor McKin-
ley spoke. A fee of 10 cents was charged
for admission, which was a surprise to the
vets, as it was the first time they had ever
paid to hear the speeches of comrades.
But they paid it and when it was an
nonnced that Mckinley had arrived there
was a scene of enthusiasm seldom wit
messed, even at Grand Army meetings.
1t seemed no longer to matter to the
congI egated people whether or not any
body else came. Shout after shout and
cheer after cheer greeted the Ohio governor
as soon as his face was seen. Several old
veterans expressed their determination to
carry Major Mckinley from the temporary
stand to larger edifice some distance
away. but Mckinley stepped down spfyly
from the creaking planks and with him
the whole gathering moved over the hill.
When the last place had been reached
three cheers were given and the major be-
gan his speech. His address was tribute
to the patriotism of those who left home in
1861 to fight for the integrity of the Union.
The business of the Grand Army was the
permanency of the Union, and it would
fight therefor il every pension were taken
away.
AT ,he conclusion of the speech the gov
ernor was caught by the crowd, who, like
a gang of school boys, buffete6 him about
with their affectionate handshaking and
holding him with them until the last min
ute. No other speeches followed and
gradually the crowd left the park. Gov
ernor Mckinley expressed indignation and
regret when he learned that an admission
had been charged and he had been made
use OF TO further private scheme.
Besides This meeting there many army
corps, brigade and regimental reunions
and campfires without number, all fairly
well attended. There were such distln-
gulshed speakers as Harrison, Mckinley,
eN-Secretary Noble ex-Secretary Rusk and
General w. H. Gibson, of Ohio.
Harrison's old regiment, the Seventieth,
with brigade associates, held forth at Ma
sonic hall in the morning The hall was
crowded to its utmost The association
elected Harrison president, and in return
ing thanks he made a brief speech, in the
course of which he said that free govern
ment was a success. "The people might
get off the line, but would wabble right
after awhile" as Lincoln had said. He
rejoiced that the flag now foated over the
school house, and now it should be brought
into every American house.
Among all these reunions there were
many touching and pathetic scenes, but
none more so than that at the gathering of
the Eleventh Indiana, General Lew Wal
lace's old regiment. The author of Ben
Hur" tried 70 make a speech, but his feel
ings got the better of him and he broke
down in tears. There were about a hun
dred of the boys there and half of them
were crying also. When the lachrymose
scene had become painful somebody pro-
posed three cheers for Wallace and they
were given in a way that raised the roof.