The National tribune., 1898-03-10
A GREAT REUNION.
Preparations for the National
Encampment of the Grand
Army.
CtHcrNNATr. March s.

CINCINNATI, March 5.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Preparations
for the National Encampments of the
Grand Army, in whatever city held, are
always watched with interest by the thous-
ands of veterans in all parts of the country.
And when the Enca mpment is to be held
at some central point where the great mass
of the members of this great organization
are able to attend and participate, then the
interest is accelerated in proportion.
No Encampment city has ever been more
favored as to location than is Cincinnati,
where during the first week of next Sep
tember the battle scared hosts are to
gather IN annual Reunion. The citizens of
Cincinnati have been slow late in getting
the opportunity to extend their hospi-
tally.
When, early last Summer, it was decided
at a mass meeting of public spirited and
prominent citizens to extend an invitation
to hold the ed annual Encampment in
Cincinnati, it was further determined not
only to extend the invitation, but to back
it up with an earnest of the desire existing
to have it accepted. What that earnest was
will be recalled by every veteran who was
so fortunate as to be in Buffalo last
August.
PREPARING FOR THE ESCAMPMENT.
When the invitation was accepted, the
work OF preparing for the event one year IN
the future was at once begun. On the
evening of the day the Invitation Com
mittee retl rned from Buffalo, the first sub
scription to the entertainment fund was
volunteered over the telephone. 1t was
from a mercantile house, and was for the
handsome sum of ST COO.
This is mentioned merely us an incident
indicating the spirit that has Dreva led
since the wires brought the message that
the veterans assembled at Buffalo had
voted to visit Cincinnati in 1898. The Invi-
tation Committee at Buffalo made few
promises as to what might be expected at
the Cincinnati Encampment, except the
general one that no one would regret having
visited the Queen City.
Now that nearly six months have elapsed
since that invitation was extended and ac-
cepted, a history of the work of the Git
zens' Committee up to date in the work of
preparing for the Encampment may lie OF
interest. 1t is doubtful if any Encampment
city ever undertook the work of prcpara-
ton with a more thorough or energetic
organization.
From a large Citizens Committee was
drafted the smaller working organization
known as the Executive Committee, en-
bracing 81 picked men, each detailed
for his special fitness as Chairman of
some important subcommittee. The plan
for this organization was drafted by Gen.
Andrew HickenlOoper, whose br,&llant mill
tary record is well known. So well was
this plan OF organization framed that
though the duty of each subcommittee was
fully outlined in advance, not change
has been found necessary since the COM
mitteeS began operating under it.
ENERGETIC COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN.
Hon. N. E. ingalls, is Chairman of the
Citizens Committee and of the Executive
Committee He is a man of National promi-
hence, and ranks foremost among the great
railroad men of the day. He will be re-
membered as having extended the address
of invitation at Buffalo.
The other officers of the organization are:
William b. MeIish, Executive Director;
Casper Ii. Rowe, Treasurer, and Edwin
Stevens, Secretary. The members of the
Executive Committee are +. Ii. Aims. NJ.
Ackerland, j. 1t Blair, Hon. Jacob II.
Cromwell, E. V. Cherry, ex-Mayor John A.
Caldwell, Joseph T. Carew, j. G. Culbertson,
VIM. b. Carpenter, II. ID. Crane, George F..
Currie, A. Hic1enlooper, John Harris, w.
c. johnson, j. A. Kohner, Chas. Z. Logan,
Frank A. Lee, E. K. Nlonfort, p. NJ. Milli-
KIN, w. r. McComas, VIM. T. Perkins,
Geo. Puchta, James Powell, Assistant
United States Treasurer NJ chael Ryan j.
W. Robinson, Max Silverberrg, Mayor
Gustav Tafel, Geo A. Vandegrift, JOS W.
Wiltshire, and H. p. Wiborg
This is the character Of men who have
undertaken TO plan and execute arrange
ments for the next Encampmcnt. Each is
the Chairman OF subcommittee, and
has surrounded himself with a committee
numbering all the way from 10 to $50 men.
Few OF them contain more than the num-
Der first Tamcd.
The large committee is DR.. j. c. gilbert
son s, and made up entirely of physicians,
who will be on duty during the entire En-
campment, and prepared to care for the
physical ailments OF the visitors. Each of
the comm tees is held responsible for its
particular line OF duty. though all of its
actions are subject to the approval of the
Executive Committee. Not less than 500
citizens OF the city are now engaged ac-
lively planning for the September event.
LIBERAL GIFTS OF MONEY.
SO far their work has been, as speci-
fed, chiefly planning. The one great ex-
ception TO this rule is the Finance Com
mittee, Of which Assistant u. S. Treasurer
Ryan is Chairman. That comm ttcc was
We'll organized and well un1er way long
before Christmas, hut the active canvas
has been made since the first OF the year,
and with most gratifying results.
1t was early determined that to entertain
as Cincinnati wants To entertain the Grand
Army, fund of not less than So, 900 is
needed. Nearly three-fOurths of that sum
has been raised by the larger subscript ons,
and the members to the Finance Com
mittee are confident that before money is
actually needed, the sum raised will APP
proximatc SlG0, 900. In Buffalo the first call
for subscriptions to an entertainment find
was not issued until April l.
The entertainment, war pageantry, day
decorations, night illuminations. and SINH
lar committees have nearly all their plans
laid, but their approval by the Executive
Comm ttcc awaits the appOrtionment of
funds that will be made after the enter
tainment fund is all in.
The Committee on Hotels long ago COM
plcted its first labors Of making good he
promise of the Invitation Committee that
the usual rates should prevail Encampment
week. Contracts with all the hotels of any
prom nence guaranteeing no advance in
rates are now on file with the proper officer
Of the National organization There will
accordingly be no "gOuging" of visitors
GRAND ARMY's TENTED CITY
The Committee on Camp, of which Col. J.
w. Wiltshire, a man of experience is Chair
city, and the veterans from different sec
tons of the country who have been here in
quest OF quarters and inspected the site,
are more than pleased with it.
Regulation military tents, accommodating
probably 2o,0'O men, will spread their white
wings over the level stretch of land adioin-
ing Chester Park, one of the city's most
popular Summer resorts These tents will
have board floors, and will he provided with
mattresses.
The White City will Ike well severed, sup
piled with water and electric light, and i'm
every way made attractive. The regular
equ pmentS of the resort will be used in
providing food for theaOccupants. Three
lines of steam railroad band two electric |