Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-04-21
IN POSSESSION OF KANSAS PATRI-
OTTO ORGANIZATIONS.
SIXTEENTH G.A.R.ENCAMPMENT
FIVE AUXILIARY ORDERS ALSO
HOLDING CONVENTIONS.
Crowd of 5000 Expected-LireIy Con-
tests for Ofices-TOpeka and
LeavenwOrth Battling for
the Fall ReuniOn-COn-
ditiOn of G. 4. II.

mute is now in possession of the battle
SCARED veterans of the late rebellion. Ihe
keys of the city were turned over TO the
visitors to-day. and will not be returned I'M
til next Saturday. The gala celebration Is
occasioned by the annual encampment OF
the Kansas department of the G. A. r. and
all the various organizations which have
sprung up with it. 1t is the sixteenth en-
campment of the C. A. R., the thirteenth
convention of the w. r. c. and the tenth
encampment of the Sons of Veterans. Be
sides these, the Ladies' Aid Society, auXil-
iary to the Sons of Veterans; the Ladies OF
the G.. A. R. and the Loyal Workers are
also holding their state conventions. The
last two named are independent orGaniza-
tions, and are not recognized by the u.
A. f.
Incoming trains from every section have
been bringing in delegates to the reunions
to-day by the hundreds. 1t is estimated
that there are $500 visitors here tonight.
1t is expected that the crowd will reach
5000 by Thursday. Department Commander
w. C.Whitney and other state officers came
in on the early train and opened up head
quarters Immediately at the Oriental. This
evening Major Thomas Anderson and his
band Of Modocs arrived in special train
from Topeka. Among the pastcommanders
here are Tim Mccarthy, of Larned; Ber-
nard Kelly, of Emporia; Major Anderson.
of Topeka, and Colonel j. II; Fitzpatrick, OF
Leavenworth. Other notables here are:
Judge Theo. Botkin. of Hutchinson; Judge
Graves, of Emporia; Judge Moore, OF Abb,
lene; Colonel II. 1. Millard. of Sterling, and
Captain @. X. Spencer. OF LeaVenworth.
Grant Harrington. of Hiawatha. depart
ment commander of the Sons of Veterans,
with his staff, came in at noon. Mrs. Julia
Chase president of the state W: r. c.. and
her sister officers have also arrived: re-
ception was rendered the visitors this even.
ing. Later the Sons of Veterans band, of
Chanute. with Walter Barkley, an old Kan
sas City boy, as drum major, serenaded
everybody.
six organizations will be held at 10 o'clock
tomorrow. Reports OF the condition of the
orders will be made then.
The report of Adjutant Geenral Niles. of
the G. A. R., shows that there are i59 posts
in the state, with membership OF 1iU4.
as against a membership of 1881 for the
previo.S year. The order lost 26I members
by d th and 525 We're suspended during
the ! st year. One post surrendered its
| charter. four new ones s., were organized and I'd
good financial condition. 1t has balance
on hand of sa1S2. The various posts have
about 5000 il cash in the treasury and
own in the aggregate $500 worth OF prop
erty.
The candidates for commander for the
G.ming I year a are ,t Judge Thee gotkin Hutch
| Wells. Erie: W. +. Osborne, Baldwin: I.
+. Jones. Holton:, b. Dornblazer, Ere
GGna dom mhese are 'e rGr
| Coffeyville.
For commander of the Kansas depart
| ment Sons of Veterans. the fight is between
w. p. FEEDER, of Great Bend, and J.. d.
| Price. of Mulvane. The fight may become
| so bitter, however. that n dark horse will
be elected as a compromise.
| Mrs. Julia Chase, of Hiawatha, is seek
| ing reelection as president of the state
| ". r. c.. and her only opponent so far is
| Mrs Margaret Griffith of Emporia
| There is q hot fight in progress over the
! selection of the place TO hold the G. y. r.
| reunion this coming fall Leavenworth and
| Topeka are both candidates. The Leayen-
| worth contingent has succeeded in getting
| Tim Mccarthy interested on their side.
and hope to win. Major Anderson. however,
! feels confident that he can pull the big
| show TO Topeka.
| So far there has been only one applicant
| for the encampment next year. That is
| Wichita. and the sentiment is strongly in
| favor Of granting the windy wonder of the
| Southwest its only request
| IN his annual address before the Sons Of
| Veterans encampment Tomorrow, Com
| mander Harrington will recommend a COM
| plete revision of the organization of that
| order. He says the Sons of Veterans cam
not live as ritualistic order; It must be
| made an honorary order and the sooner
| the change is made the better.
The most important business to come up
| before the state w. r. c. is the matter
in relation to the establishment of home
| for widows and children of deceased eX-
| Union soldiers ct Ellsworth. Kas. A short
| time ago the state G. A. r. gave up the
grounGs donated to it and they were turned
ratified by the state encampment at it's
present session. Some opposition has
| sprung up against the project, on account
| of the fear expressed that the order will
| not be able to maintain such home as
| contemplated. The supporters of the plan,
however, say that the deal will be ratified
| without a doubt. and that the home will
he established. 1t is the intention to open
| the home in early autumn.