The Saint Paul globe., 1897-08-31
MORE, but NO MERRIER.
BuffalO's Encampment Was Larger,
But Not Finer.

from Buffalo. Asked how the G. A. R. en-
campment of '97 impressed him In compari-
son with that of 1896 the mayor answered:
''It was a bigger encampment in point of
numbers as was to be expected of a gather
ing held practically at the intersection of
New York PENNSYLVANIA and Ohio,
three of the most popuious states in the
country. But while there were more people
in Buffalo, and while the camp excelled ours
in point of convenience, size and comfort, l
can truthfully say that St. Paul excelled Buff
falo in the elaborate character of street dec
orations. The great parade did not move
along so smoothly and steadily as it did in
this city year ago.
The mayor reports that the enterprising
burglar did extensive and effective work in
Buffalo during the encampment, particularly
on the day of the parade.
Speaking Of the newly elected commander
in-chief Goblin, the mayor remarked that he
enjoyed the rare distinction of being vet
eran son of veteran and grandson of
Col W. B. McCord. of Minneapolis, one of
the veterans just back from the Buffalo G. A.
R. encampment. gives it as his opinion that
everything about the encampment was sue
cessful with the exception of the part taken
in it by the official part of the Minnesota
contingent
said the colonel this morning. 1.-The official
train did not arrive until the middle of Tues
day afternoon the day before the parade No
one was sent ahead to open the Minnesota
headquarters. There was no indication that
Minnesota would be represented till the Off
cial train came in. Those of US who got
there before had to sit on the doorstep and
tell callers that we didn't know anything.
Reporters were unable to get any information
The day before the parade is always the great
day for reunions, and there were the Min
nesota quarters closed till the middle of the
afternoon. After they were open the officials
didn't propose to give non-official train
veterans a chance to wear badges until
Wednesday morning. Minnesota and North
Dakota were not mentioned in the list of
states represented in the parade in the Buff
falo papers Tuesday. There was no mention
after the parade either though we had 300
men and North Dakota $50. l think that was
because of another bungle
In the parade itself the officers gave us little
toy flags to carry, which made other dele
cations inquire: What Sunday school is
that?' Then there no one in charge of
headquarters, and the prevailing atmosphere
was that If you didn't come on the official
| train you had better have stayed at home.
"The general encampment was a great
| success Buffalo treated us we'll. The pro-
Paul. but the decorations were not finer In
place of the living flag of year ago they
had living national shield.
ITO be perfectly fair to our staff I ought
to say that it did one good thing: 1t sup
piled each comrade of the delegation with a
bunch of wheat stalks bound with yellow
ribbon. Everybody caught the Significance
of it. and as we marched along we were re-
ceived with the shout of dollar wheat"
Thirty days ago, before things were looking
o bright we would probably have had not
core than 100 in the Minnesota division in
jtead of 2AA,''