The times., 1897-09-16
AROUND THE CAMP FIRE
Veterans Recall the Days That
Tried Mems Souls.
PRESIDENT SENDS A LETTER
The Old Soldiers. Meet nt National
Rifles Hall and Plea sanity E--
tertaio Their Friends Remarks
by Secretary Wilson, Gen. street,
Senator Eawiey and others.

A camp fire in honor of Gen. II. l..
Street, conmanderin-chief OF the Union
Veterans Union, was held at National
Rifles Han last night. Representatives
from various fraternal soldiers organi-
zations were present.
IN the midst of the platform decorations
was the hat which held the tallots that
elected Gen. street. 1t was labeled The
Lucky Fox. Springfield, o., 1897"
Colnldde John Irvine called the meet
ing to order and introduced Rev. DR..
Drummer, who rendered prayer. He thanked
God for the plenty that was III the land
ana Tor the blessings of ,'ivil liberty.
Col. samuel r. Stratton chief Of staff
OF the commander -in-chief, was theu in
trodaced as marshal OF ceremonies. He
said he recognized the fact that it was
warm and would not talk much. He told
of how inc Union Veterans Union differed
from other soldiers organizations. To rem
der an applicant eligible to membership he
must have served IN the Union forces SAX
months, and have seen service at the
front. lie spoke generously OF all the
otter organizations OF soldiers. He told
of tie spirit OF fraternity which perraded
the L. V. L., and pledged that that or
saniZation had at heart the interest of all.
lie called attention to the distin suished
nen ON the platform and stipulated that,
In order that as many as possible might
hc heard, each speaker would be limited
TO seven minutes He regretted that IL
was necessary TO restrict those speaker
VINO would luu the audience to sleep with
the music of their eloquence.
Gen. -,ferU. the national commander, be-
gan his brief speech with a tactical salute
ana the phras. "Gentlemen eRd ladies"
Th, thought came 10 him that thirty six
years had passed since the life OF the ma
lion had Eeen threatened and since the
Confederate guns had opened fire on Fort
Sumter. He reviewed how before the
echoes had rolled away, the people of the
North and West ana OF the border states
had flocked Loyalty around the standard OF
their country. He quoted some statistics
OF the war, and of the number of soldiers
who had been thrown back into civil life.
The most distihg guished men in the
service of the nation today were veterans
Of tie late war. 1t was said that the men
Of the war were getting old. This was not
true. The men of the war were Just tn
middle life. They were young nlen when
the war broke out The war was fought
by the youth OF the country. He spoke
gratefully Of the work accomplished by
the GIsud Army Of thc Republic, and said
That If he had tie power he would enroll
every rnaa " no mad seen twent y-four hours
service. He said that the Union Veterans
Union antagouized 10 ether organization
He believed that any man w no had seen
six months service was entitled u hold
such political opinions al he saw best.
At the close Of Gen. Streets remarks,
Chairman Strattou read a letter from
Prestdcm Mckinley, expressing his re-
gret at not being able TO attend
\ uiaie quartet sang Loves Old Sweet
Song"
secretary Of Agriculture Wilson was
the Eext Speaker. He was greeted with
tremendous eHt thusiasm. He said he
would tell . story He said that toward
the closing days Of President Grants
administration, ne called upon the Presi-
/ dert, in company with Martin TUWnsend
/ OF Troy II was just at that time when
4 it was not known whether Hayes OF
| Tilden had been elected. There was
| rUHUr that $4,000 men Were to march
| to Washington. VIII you put down
| another rebellion as you did the last?'
| said Townsend to Grant. Il did not
! pet down the last rebellion" said Grant,
| ''the young men Of the country did that"
Secretary Wilson tod of the nerve of
| the past generation of men and debated
| the question as TO whether the present
! generation was made Of as good stuff
! He said, We are on trial" He said
that the country was rich in grain and
cattle, and that 10 old veteran or any
body dear TO MIN ought to be allowed to
| want
The next speaker was Commissioner OF
| Immigration PUwderly. He did not thinI
he should be called upon for a speech so
early in the proceedings. while there were
/ yet many present whose claims to be
! heard were stronger than his. He said
that seven minutes was too short time
| in which to review the heroism which to
| a certain extent they We're celebrating
! He closed by sa ying that it was better
| to build pension rolls to living soldiers
| than 10 erect monumen Of bronze and
marble to dea d ones.
Mr. John TweedaIe, chief clerk of the