The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-09-29
WON'T BE BIG ENOUGH.
The Big Tent at Camp Miles
OvercrOWded
The First Night of the Soldiers
Reunion.
What Will It Be When Tens of Thous-
ands More Get Here

There were some people who thought
that the Committee Of Fifteen were a
little too sanguine when they provided
a tent at Camp Miles that would seat
5000 people. But last night at the
first campfire of the week, when only
a small portion of the visitors were in
the city. the big auditorium was
crowded to the tent walls and hundreds
stood in the aisles and around the en-
frances.
The occasion was the dedication Of
Camp Miles and it was formerly turn
ed over to Commander Whitney of the
Kansas department, G. A. r. Mar
shaIPs band was there and the Modocs
in their white uniforms also occupied
a prominent position on the platform
and re-established themselves in the
hearts of the veterans and their
friends.
Mayor Fellows was first introduced
to welcome the visiting firemen on be-
half Of the city. He said agreeable
things about the f1remen and closed
his address with the following cOmpli-
ment and welcome:
7 honor the firemen. The people OF
this country, this state and this city,
you for coming; you are indeed well
come, and you will find a whole-souled
company here in Topeka, who will give
you a. genuine, hearty fireman's well
come and everything there is in sight"
President J. P. gladden., of the State
Firemen's association, and D. S. Ell
lott Of Coffeyville, responded for the
firemen, and then J. G. Waters made
one of his characteristic speeches.
Then there was a formal address by
Mayor Fellows in delivering the camp
to Commander w. c. Whitney of the
c.. A. r.
You are welcome. A thousand times
welcome said he. Topeka is yours;
the gates and the homes are open to
you, one and all. I trust this may be
the happiest reunion ever held upon
American SOIL
Governor Morrill, then welcomed the
soldiers on behalf of the state. IF it
had not been for your sufferings, COM
rades," said he, I'VE would not be here
tonight. You made such gatherings
possible. I am proud that I enlisted as
a private soldier because there could
be no selfish motive that prompted the
private soldier to enlist. am proud I
enlisted from Kansas because the NOR
tality among Kansas soldiers was
greater than among the soldiers of any
state. Sixty per cent of our soldiers
never returned.
when 7 was in Colorado a short
time ago a man said to me the pension
business is q. - fraud
He ought to have been hung, shout
ed an oldVeteran in the audience,I say
continued Governor Morrill,, that the
government can never do too much for
the soldiers.
Remember comrades that We should
all respect the government and in the
coming election whether the choice of
the nation should fall upon that elO-
quent young orator from the Platte or
upon our cOmTade who marched with
US for three years in the ranks, (Cheers
and shouts for McKinley)I say let us be
true to this government. The man who
tries to array class against class is an
enemy of the government. The man
who says that if we can't win by bal
lots we will by bullets is as much of an
enemy to the government as was JEFF
fersOn Davis
MarshalFs band then played one of
their patriotic medleys which reused
many of the veterans to cheers.
Commander W. Q. Whitney then ac-
cepted the camp and he made a happy
speech that put everyone in good hui
NOR.
Topeka has prepared a great feast
for you" said he, IF there is anything
here you don't like kick it out and if
there is anything you want they will
buy it for you. Our eyes may be dim
med by age and we may not be as pref
ty as we used to be but I think we
know 4 good thing when we see it.
(Cheers and cries of you bet we doO.
"On behalf of the Grand Army of the
Republic I accept this gift and hope we
may all take home with US pleasant
recOllectiOns of the Topeka reunion
AS these last words left the mouth of
the speaker they were caught up by the
MOdOcs who sang the following strain:
We believe you; We believe you; We
believe you just now"
J. V. Beekman closed the camp fire
with an eloquent address,.
s. 3. Bradford of the Committee of
Fifteen was the presiding officer.