The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-12
Town ThrOnged with Indiana Veter-
ans for the Eighteenth An
nuaI Encampment.
FIGHT FOR THE COMMANDER
SEVEN CANDIDATES ELECTIoNEER-
ING FOR THE HIGH HONOR.
SheIbyviIIe Mayor and Republican
Council Arrested for Refusing to
obey the Courts Order.
,ecial to the indianapolis Journal.

Special to the indianapolis Journal.
RICHMOND, Ind, May I.-This city was
crowded to-day with the Grand Army boys
to attend the eighteenth annual encamp-
ment. They have taken the town, and for
the next few days nothing will be too good
for the visitors. Every train arriving was
| crowded, and many extra coaches were
carried. The headquarters train arrived
this afternoon from Indianapolis. 1t was
met at the depot by the members of Sci
Meredith Post, and the visitors were
escorted to the headquarters at the Hotel
Westcott.
The plentiful decoration of bunting re-
ceived d soaking this afternoon, and much
Of it looked badly ''frazzled." Everything
was thoroughly soaked, and the whole was
great disappointment to the people of the
city, who had set their hearts on outdoing
any city in the State that had ever enter
tanned the encampment. The rain also
caused trouble at the depot, where the peo-
pie who came in were compelled to stand
and wait until they could be cared for This
resulted in a jam, but the reception and
transportation committees did their work
well, and the depot was emptied soon after
the trains had pulled out.
The official programme began this even
ing with a meeting of the council of adj
ministration. At the Pythan Temple the
ladies of the G.. A. X. had some degree
work. This was previous to public recep-
tion given at the Westcott by the local
members of the w. r. &. and the ladies CT
the G.. A. r. There was no programme
carried out at this event, but it was simply
for the renewing of old acquaintances and
the making of new ones. AT the Phillips
Opera House, where the business sessions
of the G. A. II. are to be held, George H.
Thomas Post, of indianapolis, conferred de-
grees on Il Richmond candidate. This was
witnessed by large number of members
of the organization visitors from various
parts of the State being especially anxious
to see it on account of the reputation the
post has for excellent work.
The contest for the position of depart
ment commander is on, and it promises to
be a pretty struggle. Three Of the cam
didates arrived Monday afternoon, and all
day to-day they have been looking after
their fences.
CANDIDATES FOR COMMANDER
The three who were first to arrive were
James S. Dodge, Of Elkhart; Captain B. B.
Campbell, of Anderson, and John A. Swove-,
land of Upton. The four yet to come are
Major Irwin Robbins of indianapolis; w.
d. Mccullough, of Brazil; Colonel John A
Headington, of Portland, and j. IL. Cisney,
OF Warsaw. Last year there were but three
candidates for the place, and the situation
this year is much more interesting than for
a long time.
The department. officers of the w. z. G.
and the ladies of the q. A. r. arrived to-
day and were received in good style The
former organization will hold its business
sessions at the First NJ. E. Church. In the
on for president. There are two well-de-
fined cliques of leaders, both of which con-
tain able and ambitious leaders. The con-
test over the presidency seems 10 be un-
usually earnest not to say bitter. The
canvass has been going on Tor weeks, and
Zinn, of Indianapolis, and Mrs. Travis, OF
Charlottesville, have been vigorously at
work. Both the candidates are capable
women, so that the department Is sure OF a
frst-clasS president whenever shal De
elected.
spicuous III the best room in the Westcott
They are small in numbers but they are
always to the front, ana, whenever they
can, they steal a march at on the odqalaS WomaalSs
| auxiliary of the Grand Army. Whether the
| Ladies of the Grand Army desire to sup
plant the Womans Relief Corps does not
| appear, but their flirting with the encamp-
| ment rather annoys the women who are
| recognized. An effort has been made 70
| consolidate the two organizations which
| should be done, but 1T IS doubtful II IT can
| be accomplished. The headquarters of the
! larger organization are modest rooms on
| the third floor of the Westcott, but those
| of the Ladies of the Grand Army are In
! the most conspicuous ana most expensive
| room on the parlor floor. At the two last
| encampments the latter paid the hrst Visit
| TO the encampment, which has not pleased
! the recognized auxiliary OF the Grand
Mayor Clarkson commander-in-chief ar
! rived tonight from Cincinnati ana ATTENDED
| the reception He was not expected until
| Tomorrow. To-nights reception was q
| great success. The hotel was thronged
| with people for two hours Snort speecnes
! were to have been made by General wall
| lace and CommandeF-in-C Chief Clarkson, but
| there was no opportunity. The attendance
| is unusually large, thanks 10 Colonel bord,
| of the Pennsylvania, for the one-cent-a-
M TIE state encampment is the event Of
the wear in the life Of hundreds of old sol-
diers For weeks they talk of 1t and
take the earliest train to the city where the
meeting is held. This year is no exception,
or, if an exception, 1t Is that the interest
is greater The streets are already thrcnged
with hundreds Of old men wearing some
military emblem but always the Dadge or
button Of the c. a. X. Many wear corps
badges OF these there are thirty odd- 10
the nresent generation they have no sig
nifcance But the veteran who sees the
acorn over the heart of comrade knows
that the wearer belonged to Thomas Old
CORPS the Fourteenth, ana was at ChlekA-
manga If the insignia be a diamond with
a cartridge box in the center he knows
that the Weafer belonged 10 tue FlltetHlu
CORPS If the insignia be the uefoil the
veteran knows that the wearer was with
Hancock in the Second Corps, ana that the
Nineteenth and Twentieth Indiana wore II.
During the war every man knew tndJ mis-
CORPS did the most lighting; now the old
man is certain that his corps put down the
rebellion The old men are as excited and
gleeful as boys tonight. They tell OF the
nasI live in it, revise its history. II iS
the past but then il Is q heroic past,
worthy of living in. But how the years are
telling on themi This man who SAID lhat
"a ono of them in Indiana would go 10 nsht
for Cuba should see them and take note or
the effect of years. They will try TO march
10 the absurdIy hurried quick5teps or the
tune.
Kentucky G.. n. II.
LEXINGTON. KY May 1.-THE feature
Of the state Encampment G.. A. r., next
to the fraternizing OF Confederate ana
Union veterans. has been the spirited con-
test for department commander. Judge A.
I Tharp. OF Irvine, won by a decisive
nurality the closest contendtng candidate
baing Hon Charles w. Erdman, of Louis
vile. consul at Stockholm under President
Harrison.
The Governors Stan.
The members of Governor Mounts stan
stan who live out of the city met at the
-