The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-03-31
CAMP FIRE ORATORY
There Will Be No Dearth of 1t
at Encampment.
GENERAL ORDERS ISSUED
viii Take Special Precautions
Against FakirS,

The local committee Of the G. A. R.
are now about to finish the detail of the
big encampment that is about to come
off Department Commander Botkin was
here from Hutchinson yesterday in con-
ference with the committees and issues
the following general order concerning
the encampment, which order viii be
sent over the state:
BOTKIN'S ENGAGEMENT ORDER.
The Seventeenth Annual Encampment
which meets at Wichita, April 20, Il and
%, promises to be one of more than usual
interest. The local committee and the cit
liens of that enterprising city are p"=r
ting forth every effort 10 insure the sue
cess of our gathering and the comfort
and satisfaction Of all visitors. Every
post should be represented at the sessions
of the encampment.
The usual one-fare rates will be made
by the railways.
II is the purpose of the committee to
give TO this occasion the magnitude and
character of a grand reunion. and all old
soldiers and sailors and their friends are
cordially invited. There will be camp
fires every night, and on Thursday a
grand street parade. in which the many
thousand school children Of the city and
vicinity Will participate.
The council of administration will meet
at room los of the Hotel Carey at a. m.
April 20. It is important that every mem
Der should be present at that time. as
there is much to do.
The committee on credentials will be in
session on and after a. m. April 20, and
comrades entitled to seats in the encamp-
ment should present their credentials and
report to the committee as soon after
that hour as possible. The place for this
committee to hold its session has not yet
been fixed. but notice will be put up at
each of the hotel offices announcing the
location of the committee. The members
of this committee will be Comrades ]. R
Baird. Spearville; Geo w. Weed, Of To-
peka and NJ. A Jordan of Peabody.
Distinguished comrades in other depart
ments have been invited to meet with us,
and there will be no dearth of campfire
orstory.
Headquarters will be established at
callers will receive a hearty welcome.
Our experience of late years has GER
tainly taught us that some action should
be taken by the encampment to protect
the interests and good name Of the Grand
Army of the Republic in the arrange
ments for, and management of. our state
reunions. AS long as we appoint the time
and place for these gatherings and take
official charge Of the reunion camp-fres,
II is to little purpose that we disclaim all
responsibility for the side shows, fakirs.
gambling devices. joints and dens of i'll
repute that cast their baleful shadows
acress our reunion camp grounds. with
the consent of the local committees.
AS our membership grows older, feebler
and fewer, we shall find il still harder
TO keep up a sufficient general fund for
practical purposes without demanding
some share in the net profits resulting
from the sale of concessions. privileges.
etc, at our annual gatherings. From the
reunion of 1896 we derived a benefit OF
s956.9S. From the reunion held in 1897 our
general fund gets nothing. although the
local committee report a ret surplus on
hand of $1,000 Some decided course
should be marked out by the encamp-
ment that will in the future inure to the
benefit Of the G. A R. in this connection.