Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-16
Commander Chief Street of q. v.
q. Honored by Comrades.
RECEPTION At NATIONAL RIFLES HALL
Distinguished Ofatofs .Rehearse the
Stories Of the War.
THE PRESIDENTS REGRETS

|
General Harlow L. Street, commander in
| chief of the Union Veterans Union, was
| given a hattering ovation at the National
| Rifles Hall last evening by his comrades
| of the Department of the Potomac The
hall was deliberately decorated with Ameri-
| can flags, and there was large audience
| of those invited to welcome the newly
elected chief officer of the organization
| The stage was occupied by distinguished
men, representing various fraternal and
| patriotic societies
The comrades of many a field of battle
talked of war times, enjoyed a musical and
| literary program and concluded the even
! inSs entertainment in the banquet hall Of
| the armory, where a bountiful repast was
| Spread. Among those present were Pay
master General Stanton, Col. Tyler Powell.
Dr. Frank II. Howe, Commander Hopkins
| Street.
| unique feature of the stage decorations
! was an old straw hat. prominently dis
| played in the center of an American flag
hung PACK OF the stage. The hat was in
scrlbed lucky box and around the rim
We're the words: "Sprin gfield Ohio 1877,
1t was in that hat that the ballots which
| elected General Street to his high office
| were cast.
The assembiage was called to order by
| Col John Irving, who invited Col. Samuel
X. Stratton to the chair. and asked him TO
assume the duties of master of ceremonies
Key. Dr. Drummer delivered an invocation
/ after which Gel. Stratton introduced Com,
| mander-in-Chief Street.
Gen. Streets Address,
General Street was frequently interrupted
| with round after round of applause during
| the course of his address. He spoke OF
! tie trying times of the republic from 1861
| to 1862 and of the brave men who went out
| to defend the flag. He spoke of those who
wen victories for the Union as being most
| ly boys, and continued:
As that brave old soldier and statesmen
General Ketfer of Ohio, said at our camp
| fire in Springfield, Ohio, last month:
The war of the rebellion was fought
mostly by the boys of this land
Fhats why We are not so old as we
look. | well remember that in I'll, when
enlisted, / was but seventeen years of
| age; that / was mustered as captain the
| Gay l was twenty-one: and was twenty
| Two Years of age when mustered out, May
| IT,, 1866
Shortly after the, close Of tn, e" war an
| Organization known as the Grand Arnly
| of the Republic was formed and today il
numbers III its ranks all or nearly so, OF
those who had any service in the war of
the rebellion. from 81 to 60 who We're
| honorably discharged therefrom If it were
i IN my power, every man who had served
even twenty-fonr hours Should be made 10
Army Of the Republic There are various
Other soldier orsanizations-the Loyal
Legion, the Union Veterans Legion and the
Union Veterans Union. now in its thir-
teenth year of existence, some 81, 900 strong
which has just orored me by electine me
its commandments.
objects of the Union.
THE Union Veterans Enion antagonizes
| no other soldier organization. Its objects
are to assist one another; to stand shoulder
| to shoulder with our eomrsdes as in the
dark days Of the war. Like Masonry it
does not permit the question of politics
| or religion to be discussed in its meet
! ings. We hold that a man who fought for
| the flag from 81 to '65 earned the right to
| have any political utilization ne desires, or
| to worship such as he chooses. We hold
| that the soldier should be preferred for
| the positions of honor or trust under this
\ government which he is qualified to fill.
eligibility to membership consists in the
\ applicant having seen at least six months
| service, part. of which shall have been
| at the front, and the records must show
| that he had been present with his company
| or regiment under the enemys fire."
Gen. Street spoke of his appreciation of
/ the honor that had been conferred Gpon
| him, and concluded his remarks amid the
I plaudits Of Ms Comrades. 80 ga 80
| =. President McKinley's Regrets.
| A letter from President Mckinley was
| then read, expressing his regret that he
| could not attend the campfire. Loves Old
| Sweet Song" was rendered by male quar-
| tet
| Secretary Wilson of the Department of
| Agriculture was then introduced, ard was
| given rousing reception. the hall re-
| sounding with cries of "Tama Jim" He
| opened his remarks by recounting an in
cident that happened at the White House
when the country was wondering whether
! Hayes or Tiiden had been elected Presi-
dent.
Some one had threatened" the Secretary
| SAID, to march on Washington with &c.
| 600 men. Mr.. Townsend was considerably
worried over this, and when ne met Gen.
| Grant he said: General do you think we
will have another rebeliion?' No" replied
| the President. ! suppose If we did you
| would crush 1t as you did the last? COLI
tinued Mr.. Townsend. i dill not crush the
| rebellion, replied Gen. Grans; it. was the
| noble army OF young men, And let me tell
! you. they will be ever ready to do so again,
Question of Pensions.
| OF the opposition occasionally heard to
| the appropriations for pensions, Mr.. Will
| son said:
| IF You hear any one say that. we are
paying out too much money for pensions,
| lust take him off to one side and saw IN