Omaha daily bee., 1896-02-12
ARE MARCHING UPON OMAHA
Grand Army Veterans Rapidly Pouring
Into the City.
SEVERAL HUNDRED ALREADY HERE
Business Houses Trimming Up I'm Tri-
color In Honor of the Guests
Council of Administrn-
tion Meets.

or every train means additions to the num-
bers that will join in the annual encampment
of the Department of Nebraska and sit
around the campfire entertaining each other
with stories Of valor and patriotism. The
ranks of the Grand Army of the Republic
are growing less each year, and each sue
ceeding encampment must necessarily miss
many of those who have been accustomed
to meet with their comrades The financial
depression will also keep many away this
year. those, too, who most highly prize the
privilege of attending the annual encamp-
ments. Still. there will be left several hun
dred Nebraskans who responded to Presi-
dent Lincon's call to arms who will attend
the nineteenth annual encampment here to-
day and tomorrow.
While the encampment proper does not
convene until today at o'clock, yesterday
several hundred of the delegates were on
the ground. number of the members of
the Woman's Relief corps are also here.
and some of the Ladies of the Grand Army
Of the Republic, although the latter are not
so numerous. The morning trains all brought
in some of the veterans, and the late
afternoon trains landed many more.
Some of the women delegates reported at
their headquarters as early as Z o'clock
in the morning, and astonished the reception
committee, which was not expected to well
come any Of the sisters until today.
However, everyone is welcome, and the local
committees are making the visitors feel
at home in most thorough manner.
AT HEADQUARTERS.
The Millard hotel has been selected as the
headquarters of all three organizations which
are to convene here, and rooms have been
set aside for the various orders. The recep-
tion room of the Grand Army is on the first
floor in the rear of the main Office and Is
appropriately decorated with flags and the
national colors in other forms. There are
desks and stationery an efficient reception
committee is on hand, and no veteran need
hesitate about going in and introducing him
self. hearty greeting is assured him. The
committee rooms of the Woman's Relief
corps and Of the Ladies of the Grand Army
of the Republic are on the upper floors of the
hotel. Representatives of the local branches
OF these societies are in waiting to welcome
their sister delegates.
Among the officers of the department
noticed in the hotel corridor Yesterday,
were Commander c. e. Adams Senior Vice
Commander j. III. Culver, Junior Vice Com
mander John H. Erhardt Adjutant General
j. ID. Gage and Quartermaster General |. A.
Arnold. Some of these veterans may be
found during the day on duty at the head
quarters ready to attend to the wants of the
visitors.
At 2 o'clock in the afternoon there was
meeting CT the council Of administration of
the department. Routine business was trans
acted. This consisted of an examination of
/ the accounts Of the department for the year
just closed. These were audited, and the
proceedings of the department for the year
carefully gone over, preparatory to the an
nuai report of the council
At 4 o'clock the committee on credentials
consisting of Comrades J. D. Gage, Perry A.
Lyons and James w. Doron met at the
headquarters. Credentials of delegates were
presented to the committee at this time.
LADIES OF THE GRAND ARMY.
The Ladies of the Grand Army of the Re-
public is an organization comparatively new,
and yet it has twenty-three circles in Ne
bra;'ka, with a membership of 400. OF this
membership 100 delegates are present at
the annual session, which will continue
through today and tomorrow. The council
Of administration is called fer o'clock this
morning at Myrtle hall, in the Continental
block, corner of Douglas and Fifteenth
streets, and the convention proper will meet
at the same place an hour later The pres
ent officers of the society are:
Mrs. Sarah A. Mason of Ord, PRESIDENT
Mrs Agnes Haze of Fort Omaha, senior vice
Mrs e. l.. Barber of Benedict, Junior vice;
Mrs r. d. Carleton Of Grand Island, chap
lain; Mrs, Lou Holcomb of Loup City, treas
urer; Mrs. e. F. Foster Of Ord secretary.
New officers for the ensuing year are to
be chosen tomorrow.
The membership Of the Ladies of the
Grand Army of the Republic includes the
mothers. wives, sisters and daughters of
the members of the Grand Army of the Re-
public. While the purpose of the association
is of a social nature, its main object is
to perpetuate the memory Of the old SOL
der. For this reason the daughters and
grand d-daughters Of the veterans are eligible
to membership. Members of the association
express the kindlest sentiments of friendship
for the Women's Relief corps. its mem
bership and objects, and feel the deepest
and best interest in the work carried on
by the latter organization.
The members of Omaha circle rendered
an informal reception to the visiting la
dies last evening at Metropolitan hall, Four
teenth and Dodge streets. Introductory to
the social features of the evening came
brief addresses by the president, Mrs. Mason
of Ord, Mrs, Hunter, the past president,
Captain Henry of Fairmont and others, A
collation. added much to the zest Of the
enjoyment, and the evening was a pleasant
prelude to the routine work of the conven-
tion, which commences today.
RELIEF CORPS RECEPTION.
The parlors of the Commercial club pre-
sented an animated appearance last night,
being filled t. overlooking with members of
the Womeno Relief corpn and veterans Of
the Grand Army OF the Republic. The occa
sion was reception to visiting delegates to
the state encampment Of the relief corps, |
rendered by the local bodies of the organiza- |
ton. The ent re upper floor Of the building
was thrown open and was prettily decorated |
with the national colors and insignia Of the |
venient point and one of the rooms was
prepared for those who cared to dance.
The guests commenced to arrive early in |
me evening and by o'clock the rooms were |
crowded, nearly all of those present being |
delegates f.om outside the city. A reception |
committee OF ample proportions was on hand |
to care for the guests, among whom were |
nearly all Of the officers Of the state en- |
campment. A large number of the delegates |
to the Grand Army Of the Republic en- |
campment were also present and the ar |
was filled with hearty greetings, very few |
inttoductions being required among either the |
relief corps members or the veterans
The veterans gradually withdrew them |
selves from the throng and assembled in |
little knots in the smaller rooms. where |
miniature camp fires were started and old |
experiences Iehearsed with an unction which |
only a veteran can appreciate.
As fast af the women delegates reported |
to the secretary of the reception COMMITTEES
they were assigned to quarters for their stay |
in the city. There were fully $50 delegat es
reported last night and az least so more are
expec. ed to arrive this morning This viii |
make a convention OF the relief corps OF eve?
400 delegates.
The committee having in charge the re-
ception last night consisted # Mrs. Omar
Whitney, ch ef OF staff; Meal mes McC y,
Remington, Sheeler, Askwith, Hull, Green,
l