The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-22
AN OVATION TO LAWLER,
Grand Rally Around the Chief
of the Grand Army of the
Republic.
General Barnes Makes a Witty
Speech of Welcome to the
Commander.

Colonel Thomas G. Lawler, commander
in-chief of the Grand Army OF the Repub-
lie, was accorded a reception last night
which amounted almost to an ovation in
its nature. The commander-in-chief was
met at the Occidental Hotel by the Vet
eran Guard and the different local posts
and escorted to the Metropolitan Temple,
where the reception was rendered him.
The big auditorium was decorated with
flags and banners and the platform was
strewn with sweet smelling flowers woven
into National emblems. The hall was
packed with Grand Army men, members
of the Women's Relief Corps and others.
c. Mason Kline was chairman for the
evening, and after stating the object
of the meeting, he introduced
Charles E. Wilson, department COM
mander OF California and Nevada.
The latter spoke of the organization
and the causes which led up to it. The
Roman soldier" he said, when he re-
turned from the glory of battle received
the plaudltS of the people, but he fought to
enslaye his fellow-man not to free him
He was soldier of fortune. Not so with
our soldiers. They fought for a principle
and at the end of the war went back to the
pedCGlul puTSullS vi ClNlI Lie. new were
scattered far and wide, and it was well to
form and perpetuate bond of sympathy
| between them. and it was this feeling
which led to the organization of the
| Grand Army of the Republic" The
speaker then introduced Commander-in-
| Chief Lawler who was greeted with
cheers. The old soldier said:
| accept the words spoken by your department
commander and this demonstration not for
myself personally, but for that organization
| which / have the honor TO represent as its
| present commander. / have been prevailed on
| the other, and am sorry that | could not get
! here during your encampments. But l
thought to come and visit you anyhow. l
| know you, comrades we all know you for
| your charity and your Loyalty.
| The Grand Army OF the Republic NAV have
| reached the limit of its membership, but it
never will reach the limit of patriotism
know the history OF this great State during
! the trying times OF the late war. Though not
! comparing with other States in point Of popu-
! lation she sent 10 900 gallant men to the war
| Thousands of our comrades when the war
closed, if they had 800 left started for the
| West to help build up this glorious State, and
a man who was q, good soldier naturally meant
| a good settler and good citizen.
But, comrades, this organization, which was
! formed TO keep alive the associations of that
great struggle, is stronger to-day in the bond
! of friendship than ever. AS one by one the
members drop out to answer the eternal roll
call we press nearer together to close up the
| gap. There is and ever will be but one Grand
| Army, and while it lives let us all stick to-
! gether While life is left 10 us.
am pleased TO see Old Glory flying over the
schools OF this country, without regard to
! Atlanta and other Southern towns, Old Glory is
| flying over the schools of black and white
The speaker denounced the attempt to
/ lower the pensions as un-American, I'M
warranted and in conflict with the law.
! General W. II. l.. Barnes followed
| Colonel Lawlec in a masterful effort and
was continually interrupted by applause.
| laughter and cheers. He began:
1 wonder if there were ever gathered tn.
gether so many men who had Travelled SO far
and thought of so much as the soldiers here
| who had heard the war songs played by this
band; over battleheIds under stormy skies
your band marched. You have been in South
ern prisons and suffered untold fortunes while
waiting for the tramp, tramp Of the boys who
were coming to free you.
The speaker dwelt on some of the Incl
| dents of the war and said that he had
heard of the reconstructed rebel, but tnat
he was Union American. He said that
the struggle for the perpetuity of this
| great Republic was not over and touched
/ on the labor troubles, which, he predicted
would yet cause dissenslon and strife
| throughout the land. The trouble with US,
| he said, was that we did not love our coun-
/ try half enough. He continued:
But have been asked to welcome YOU. sir.
/ on behalf of California. There are 165. 600
I square miles in California. That is more terri
| tory than there is in New York, and the New
! England States thrown in. But we have less
| population TO the square mile than any DINER
| State in the Union. But we are waking up sir
| We are having festas. l don't suppose that
| you know what fiestas are. 1t is not ANYTHING
| good to drink. 1t is scheme to draw foreign
| capital to a town away from the city We have
! more queens OF beauty than ever appeared on
| the thrones OF Europe.
/ We arc having boom. You have seen our
! filthy streets. Well, sir we are going to have
| clean streets. We are going to have honesl
| officials. Think OF that! We are going to have
a government for poor people. We sre goine
| to have more taxes, may be. But our rich
| people don't care for that-as long as they
don't have to pay them. We propose to make
San francisco the center of culture, education
| and refinement OF the Union We have
| two universities and a trade school, and
we are going TO have general and
! popular education. You are here in our in
fancy, and let US hope you viii come in our
maturity, and when You come TO our new Cali
| torpia let us hope that you will come from
! Chicago over boulevard 400 feet wide on an
electric bicycle.
| Having welcomed the gentleman to Califor
| MIA, viii next proceed-to my seat.
The programme was interspersed with
songs, music and rotations, and concluded
with America" being sung by the entire
audience.