Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-06-16
HOLD A MONSTER MEETING AT
CAMP RANDALL.
PROMINENT VETS TALK
Rousing Speeches by Senator Welton,
Mayor Whelan, Col. Gray, ex-Gov.
Hoard, Prof. Freeman, Rev. Kulp
and J. a. Watrous-Col. Weissert
Presides at Meeting-Camp Notes.
Madison. June S.

monster campfire held at Camp Kan
dali Tuesday night. The weather
was pleasant and the speeches elo-
quent and interesting. The large au-
dience sat patiently in the grand
stand for two hours and half listen
ing to stories of the civil war, Of the
American soldier, Of the Spanish war,
Of Dewey, Sampson, Schley, Hobson
and other American idols and of his
toric Camp Randall which was the
scene Of many an escapade Of the
grizzly veterans now present
who camped there 81 years ago.
The audience was an impressive one
sea of faces scared and scanned by
years Of toll, and in many instances
by poverty and sorrow. But still it
reflected the sturdy manhood and no.
bility of those who freely offered their
lives for the preservation of the
union.
The exercises were opened at s
o'clock by several patriotic airs by the
university band. Senator c. B. We'll
ton, chairman of the veterans reunion
committee, extended a hearty welcome
to visiting veterans. He said that
this reunion is and promises to con-
tinue the pleasantest ever enjoyed by
the old soldiers. 1t is a rare priv
ilege, he said, for veteran to partic-
irate in a reunion held on his old
camping grounds 81 years afterward
He regretted that he had not been one
Of these. This reunion he said vivid
ly recalls the stirring incidents of the
civil war. He urged all to enjoy the
occasion to the fullest extent. We've
not only unlocked the gates of Camp
Randall but we've taken them of their
hinges" he said. He urged them all
10 give themselves up to the fullest
enjoyment Of this reunion and he ex
pressed the hope that they would be
alive and able to attend the next semi.
centennial or centennial celebration
SO or 100 years hence, which caused
a general laugh.
He then presented Col. A. G.. Weis-
sert of Milwaukee as president of the
meeting. After few preliminary re-
marks, Col. Weissert introduced Elder
w. j. Mckay who pronounced the
invocation.
Mayor c.. E. Whelan, after being
introduced, made one of his character
istic addresses of welcome. He told
the boys in blue to take the city as
they did 81 years ago; the police are
locked up in the station and the key
is lost as it was then, he said. If
the mayor interferes with you throw
him out" said Mr.. Whelan. His ref
erence to Dewey and Hobson provoked
storm Of applause.
Past Department Commander Gray
responded to the mayors welcome.
The colonel always pleased the vets,
and after some humorous remarks said
that the beauty of the present condi-
ton Of today is not because we can
whip the Spaniards, but because of the
fact that every state in the union is
crammed full OF Yankees. He called
General Fitzhugh Lee a Yankee con-
sui general. The colonel was heartily
applauded. The band then played
America and the old veterans sang the
chorus.
Ex-Gov. W. D. Hoard was the
next speaker. In his own quaint, in
imitable way he pleasantly responded
to some Of the mayors eloquent re-
marks. sit is a great honor to be
governor" he said. but I'd rather be
a rear private than governor for mo-
ment. The continuance Of the peo-
pies favor is not so certain as it might
be-" The speaker then paid high
tribute to the American soldier. I'VE
need today in this state and every
where else" he said, patriotism in
who is crooked in politics. 1t is de-
manded today that the statesman shall
be as patriotic as the boy in blue.
want the people to establish standards
that will compel rectitude in govern
ment. Of what use is it if internal I'M
faithfulness shall tester and corrupt |
that which you builded by your pa
triotism?"
Rev. George B. Kulp of Grand Rap |
ids, Mich, was then introduced and |
made a stirring patriotic address that
seemed to catch the audience.
Prof. J. c. Freeman was next in
troduced and talked beautifully of the |
cost of war, of the grandeur of slavery
abolished and the recollections which |
the presence of the veterans at Camp
Randall recalled.
Col. J. A Watrous of Milwaukee
said that there never was a juster war
than that in which we are now en-
gagged. IF the war costs $4,000, OOO, 900
and 100000 human beings it will
have paid for itself for what it has
done for humanity and for the United
States he said "But 1t will not cost
over $1,000, 100000 and less than one
iftieth of a million lives. The war
has already paid for itself over and
over again by cementing the north and
south so solidly that as long as the
sun shines nothing will pry them
apart"
Gen. Henry Harnden was next
jailed On but declined to respond and
he campfire broke up.
Camp Randall Notes.
Already one feature Of the celebra-
ion has proved a colossal success.
)Ver 1000 veterans are under tents at
amp Randall and all day Tuesday a
here was general handshaking and
Wrapping Of "reminiscences. Tuesday t
vas almost an ideal day and the vet
rams enjoyed themselves lounging ?
bout in the tents. Over 300 tents are e