Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-09-09
How the Arrangements for Today's
Events Were Organized.
iHE APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES
Major Sylvester Had the Affair
We'll in Hand.
SOME CHANGE OF PLANS

The glorious reception which was ex-
tended to the returned District Volunteer
Regiment today had is inception at the
meeting that was held in the National
Theater on the night OF August "a. That
was one of the largest, most spontaneous
and representative gatherings ever held in
the city of Washington The theater was
packed to is utmost capacity, and hun
dreds went away unable to obtain admis-
sion The meeting presided over by
District Commissioner Ross, who delivered
brief and patriotic address. showing the
propriety of giving the heartiest kind Of
welcome home to the soldiers Of the Dis
tr.ct Of Columbia, who had gone to the war
to uphold the honor Of the stars and
stripes.
Addresses breathing the most exalted pa
tr.otism were delivered by Postmaster Gen
eral Smith. Rev DR.. D. j. Stafford and Cor
poral Tanner, and the utmost enthusiasm
was manifested by the vast audience at the
tributes paid to the soldierly qualities and
the herCisn, fortitude and patriotism OF
the District volunteers; and when the ex-
ercises closed with the singing OF the star
Spangled Banner by Mrs. Thos c. Noyes
there was the widest kind of cheering.
Committee on Arrangements.
At this meeting the first real business
was transacted. Commissioner Ross ap-
pointed Major Richard Sylvester chairman
of the committee of arrangements, and Mr.
John Joy Edison chairman of the committee
on finance.
The following night the full committee OF
arrangements was determined upon
full meeting of the committee was
held on the following Monday night, at
which the plan of reception was set forth
by Chairman Sylvester, and the chairmeh
,rafff teas n
nounced They were: Richard Sylvester,
chairman, Harry l. West, vice chairman;
T. Frederick Alvey, secretary John JOY
Edison. chairman committee on finance; Ed
ward ]. StellWagen, chairman committee
on tickets and invitations: DR.. Francis K.
Lane, chairman committee on programs;
Theodore w. Noyes, chairman committee
on press; Colonel John Nj. wilson, chair
man committee on reservation and grounds,
Colonel T A Bingham, vice chairman COM
mittee on reservation and grounds; Frank
A Vanderlip, chairman committee on au-
DIT; j. Henry Small, tr., chairman commit
tee on flowers and wreaths Isadore Saks,
chairman committee on transportation, W.
H. Moses, chairman committee on decora-
lions, s. W. Woodward, chairman commit
tee on reception; w. S. Hutchins, chair
man committee on street railways, Emil
c. Shafer, chairman committee on convey
ances: Colonel Charles Hayward, chairman
committee on sailors and marines; Arthur
Hendricks. chairman committee veteran
organizations; Edward c. Jones, chairman
committee labor organizations; ]. HoIs-
worth Gordon, chairman committee pub
lie order: Z. b. Hay, chairman committee
on music; n. E Young; ]. Nota McGill.
chairman committee on privileges; Louis
d. Wine, chairman committee on street
decorations; ]. R. Marshall chairman COM
mtttee on designs for stands; Colonel Henry
May. Allison Naior, tr., chairman commit
tee on refreshments; William Dickson.
George w Evans. chairman committee on
civic organizations: Major c. A Fleet
wood. chairman committee on Information;
W. A Wimsatt, chairman committee on
stands; Rev. George F. Dudley: Mrs M
NJ North. chairman committee on serving
refreshments: Arthur O'NeiIl. chairman
committee on comfort; Rev II. N Couden.
Change of Plan.
At that time IT was the general expecta-
ton that the regiment would remain In
camp for about three weeks in order to
recuperate from the facilitating effects OF
the torrtd cline in which the men had
served and the hardships they had endured.
and an elaborate plan of exercises was
mapped cut to do them honor on their re-
turn.
1t WIS intended that there should be a
parade with an escort embracing all the
veteran and patriotic organizations a line
or march extending far as 18th street
with a review of the troops by the PresI.
dent, who, with his cabinet. was to be
placed on a platform erected on Pennsvl-
yania avenue in front of the White House
This platform was also to be large enough
70 contain chorus OF 500 singers who
were to sing patriotic songs. and tina Presi-
GENT was 10 present to Col. Harries medals
Tor every man in the regiment
Immediately after this plan had been
agreed to 1t was Learned that the Condition
OF the soldiers was much more serious than
had been anticipated, and that there was a
feeling OF Inconsistencies that made them
al want to get back at the earliest posi-,
bic date In fact. so strong was this feel
Ing that they would have returned as soon
as they were released from the detention
camp had this bsen possible
Yielding to this desire on the part of his
officers and men. Col. Harries. to whom