The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-08-26
G. 4. R. G. A. 5.
Grand oratorieal Display at
the Buffalo Veteran
Reunion.


BUFFALO, N. Y. Aug. 2s, 1ss7.-To
Music Hall, the delegates of the Grand
Army of the Republic, to the S1st National
Encampment, marched this morning.
from the Iroquois Hotel, to the music OF
bands, the cheering of their comrades,
visitors and citizens
Seated in the body of the hall the dele
gates waited patiently for the opening of
the Encampment, while the galleries re-
sounded with the hum of expectancy.
The lavish decorations of the building
were such as to appeal to patriotic
emotions A proscenium arch was
draped and festooned in the National
colors, surmounted by the coat of arms
Of the United States, tipped with asgolden
eagle crest. Beneath the arch flags OF al
nations formed brilliant cluster. Ine
sides of the arch was OF satin banners
bearing the arms of the State OF New
York. Streamers of rainbow colored silk
suspended from the boxes, set OH with
satin banners, flags and shields.
The balcony was covered with maroon
silk plush hangings. Pictures of WASH
ington, Lincoln, Grant and Garneid oc-
cupied prominent places
Guards with crossed bayonets barred
the doors to the hall. Only comrades
with the password were admitted to Inc
galleries and only delegates with creden-
tials were admitted to the main hoor.
Only the preliminary session OF the PHI E
scampment was open to llmlted huinpef
of press representatives.
The executive session was absolutely
star chamber.
General Clarkson, Commander-in-C Chief
of the Grand Army, took the platform at
$50 O'Clock and was cheered by the dele
gates and the gallery.
General Edgar B. Jewett, Mayor of
Buffalo, was among the next to come on
r. O w Gen.
eral Clarkson and cheered. Many dele
gates were late in arriving, having evil
IDENTIFY missed the main body as it march
ed to the hall. The belated ones came
in in groups and caused considerable
confusion
Grand Army politics were discussed in
stage whispers until the bugle sounded
the assembly at 1912, when hush fell
Bugler E. Fl. Rexford rendered, with
pathos, Were Tenting Tonight on the
At the last note deafening applause
rose through the hall.
At 1916 General Clarkson called the
Encampment to order. In few words
he asked the delegates TO assist him
in his desire to conduct the business of
the Encampment with celerity. As
he was speaking the Hon. Frank a
stage. The delegates rose and cheered
HIM Il introduce TO you, gentlemen,
said General Clarkson, the Governor OF
Governor Black bowed many times IN
acknowledgment of the prolonged cheer
ing, and at 1924 O'Clock began speak
When Governor Black finished speak
ing, Col A. D. Shaw. Commander of
the Department of New York, rose from
his chair and, standing, to the left Of the
flag -draped desk in the centre OF the
stage, grasped the Governor by the
hand AS the Governor and the Depart
ment Commander stood, hand in hand,
the assembiage cheered Justify.
"Gentlemen,,, said General Clarkson,
when his voice could be heard above the
clapping of hands. lit is my pleasure to-
introdaeee to you comrade Jewett' Mayor
Mayor Jewett's reception was hearty.
After his speech General Clarkson, in
troduced Col. A. D. Shaw adding a glow
ing personal tribute.
Col. Shaw said in concluding his speech
that he had expected to read poem
written by comrade, which he believed
would become part OF Grand Army It
would call upon him to read it in per-
Comrade Foster of New York was call
titled New York's Greeting to the Grand
Army"
Hon. Edward Hatch, Of Buffalo. Justice
of the Supreme Court of New York, for
the Eighth Judicial District serving as
an assigned Justice on the Bench of the
Appellate Division Of the Court at Brook
lyn, was introduced by Genefal ClaTkSOn
as a son of a veteran.
Justice Hatch spoke in a vein OF pic
turesque eloquence. 1.-THE Grand Army
he said, .sstood behind the Government
a strong moral force, In conclusion JUS
tice Hatch said
@s.Burden us with any service but give
us our share in the Inheritance. If not
now then as trustees. rendering to you
the filial regards of the Sons of Veterans,
/ thank you for this opportunity.
The President of all the United States
was refused admission to the Grand Army
at the special invitation of the veterans
and everything was in readiness to re-
ceive him The incident proved one
of great modification to the Grand
Army leaders and excited great indigna-
tion among the members Of the
first 1t was a trifling annoying, but few
minutes after the episode he was having
laugh over it. and excusing the official
who refused him entry, by saying that
the man perfectly right to obey orders no
matter who the person was who demand
ed admission.
The camp is Just across the street from
the hotel where the President has stayed
and the coachman was ordered to drive
over
At the gate horses heads We're grasped
by a uniformed orderly from an Illinois
post. One of the local committee jumped
out of the carriage and said: Don't you
know that this is the President of the
United States
The man answered quickly: II have my
orders and don't care who it is he can't
come IN here in a carriage
Some Grand Army officers stood near
and wer appealed to by the eommittHe
but lust then the President said:-'I%e
the man drive on. and the carriage
boWled to the railroad station