Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-16
The Commander Of the Knights
Expects Many Thousands.
LAST NIGHTS CONFERENCE

Mr.. Richard Goodhart, chairman OF the
executive committee called the conference
to order, and In a few words introduced
Gen. Carnahan who said that he had re-
quested this conference because there were
certain matters which he wanted to get to
work at tomorrow. and which he did not
desire to defer till Monday, the time for
the next regular meeting Of the executive
committee. He wanted a statement from
the committee to the progress of the
work, and the plans for the encampment
and the general condition of AFFAIRS. so
that they might all know precisely where
they stood. For the benefit Of the citizens
who were unacquainted with the uniform
rank, but who might want to Know some
of the details. he stated the uniform rank
was composed of twenty brigades Of from
two to ten regiments each; that Ohio and
Indiana are the states having the largest
membership and from which the en-
campment would receive the largest
attendance. Then in numerical strength
follow Illinois. Missouri. Kansas and Texas
in the order named. and from these states
would also come strong commands OF
knights. provided appropriate concessions
from the railroads could be obtained All
the knights asked was the same conces-
sions which the railroads have made for
various organizations. and which they are
now making for the Grand Army Of the Re
public.
The Expected Attendance.
lie stated anu ne SalQ tnat ne desired u
make a careful, safe and conservative es-
innate that there would be a hundred thou
sand knights and other strangers in Wash
ington on the occasion Of the convention Of
the Supreme Lodge and the encampment
Of the uniform rank.
He was convinced that this estimate was
not too high. He thought II 1t erred at all.
1t was in the direction of modesty. He be-
lieved the number Of visitors might reach
10000 or 10000 To give an idea to the
citizens Of what an encampment of the
Uniform Rank meant he stated that after
the Kansas City affair he was driving with
the president of one of the cable car lines.
He asked that dignitary how he was salts
fled, and he answered: "Our company is
pleased" In response to question to
how many people his line had carried. he
was answered that on the day Of the parade
that one company transported 10000 peo-
pie. That was only one line. There were
two other lines connecting the camp with
the city, and these presumably did a big
business also. The cable officer Informed
him that the railroad made as much money
on the second day as on the first. Gen. Car
Eahan stated that he was aware that 1t
was more difficult to raise money this year
than 1t was two years ago. This fact had
been demonstrated to him In various ways.
and yet there never was u time in the his
tory of the order that the men Of the Uni
form Rank were making such strenuous eff
forts to attend the encampment Of that or
der. Were the encapment not to be held at
Washington, the knights might as well
abandon II. Washington was the attrac-
ton. They had a manifold purpose In
making extraordinary sacrifices to reach
here. Washington itself was an attractive
Goal for the ambitious American tourist.
and the making a grand display in the
capital Of the country meant an increase
in the prestige Of the order. Gen. Carna-
nan made several other observations along
this line, and concluded by saying that
MIC fms Un 70
business at once. He did not pro-
lose TO go into anything that required the
expenditure Of single dollar without first
consulting and securing the assent Of the
committee.
Judges of the Drills.
He then read from notes about the things
which would come to the consideration Of
the conference. First. it was necessary that
they should arrange for judges for the COM
petitive drills. There were three classes Of
drills. namely, infantry companies. infantry
battalions and cavalry troops. This will re-
quire three sets OF judges, or nine officers
1t was necessary that the judges should be
officers of the regular army. who were edu-
Gated men, versed on every tactical point.
devoid Of personal preferences In this mat
ter, and whose decision would be accepted as
unprejudiced and just. Only regular army
officers would render a decision. of this kind
which would be above dispute. He did not
know whether the army officers could be Sc
cured here. but were 1t possible to do So
that Is, IL the Secretary OF War permitted
tit would be done. This would save the
expense of travel which had been incurred
by the executive committees at Milwaukee
and Kansas City In bringing the officers from
distant military posts. The only expense
which the committee would incur would be
the hotel bills of the officers, q waiting man.
tent and incidentals. Itfwas perfectly
wise to curtail the expenses of the encamp-
ment wherever practicable. but 1t could not
be judiciousIy done in the matter of the
judges. AS long as they had set apart
$500 for prizes the expense for the judges
in determining to whom those prizes should
be awarded ought not to be curtailed. The
War Department had been universally kind
to the order of the knights Of Pythias. 1t
was the only Organization, other than The
National Guard. to which the regular 81 my
had extended the right hand of fello yship.
The tactics of the Uniform Rank were the
tactics of the regular army, and this was
another reason why the regular army off,
GERS should = preferred.
A member of the committee suggested at
this point that even II the regular army
officers could not be secured at Washington
this town boosted of many expert tactfcians
who would make capable Judges, but this
objection was met by the statement that
there could be no competitive drill without
the officers of the regular army. Remarks
were made upon this subject by Chairman
Goodhart, Secretary Medford. Mr.. Motley
Anderson. Gen. John E. Smith. John NJ.
l.
Col Harry Coggins. Mr.. George Heisley,
Mr. j. b. ConnOr and Gen. Brand Of Chi
cago, Gen. Carnahans chief Of staff On
motion of Mr.. Doyle. Gen. Carnahan was
authorized to see the War Department Off
GERS for the purpose OF securing the neces-
sary judges. Gen. Carnahan stated that
there were now entered for the drill fifty
Companies of infantry, four battalons OF
iT fantry and five troops Of cavalry. He did
not know where this would have ended had
he not announced in his order. issued last
March. that entries for the drill would close
on June /. Since the latter date he had re-
celved. about a dozen applications for ad-
mission to the lists. The duty Of judging
all this would keep the judges busy, very
busy, for probably four days. Chairman
Goodhart stated that they had engaged
Capital Base Bali Park for three days only,
and Gen. Canadian stated that 1t Would be
probably necessary to utilize a part Of the
days set aside for the parade, inspection
and review for the drilling competition.
Gen. Carnahan asked how many tents
had been contracted for. and Secretary
Medford answered that they had contracted
for 3.322 tents. with the option of decreas-
ing or increasing this number by notifying
the contractors by July /.
The Route of the Parade.
The subject of the route of the parade
was the next question. and this resulted in
a division of opinion. The original plan Of
parade, as agreed on by Gen. Carnahan
and staff, Was that the column should form
at the camp. march up fifth street. down
ha