Omaha daily bee., 1898-09-11
VETERANS OF THE KEY COME
Military Telsgraphsrs and the 0ld-Tims
Teegraphers Associations,
uSSUsG HEROES OF THE CIVIL WAR
Men who Manned the wires and
Handled the Messages During the
Rebellion VIII Exchange REM
iniscences of Those Days.

During this week Omaha will entertain
two kindred organizations, the members Of
which have been associated with the his
tory Of this country and IT'S Advancement
along scientific lines These are the Society
Of the United States Military Telegraph
corps and the Ola Time Tclegraphers as
socia,ion, which hold their annual meetings
in Omaha, beginning Tuesday, and contlnu-
Ing until Thursday evening, when the ses-
sions will close with a farewell banquet at
the Markell cafe on the exposition grounds
The first organization, like the Grand
Army Of the Republic, will in time cease
TO have existence, as only those who served
a. teleg-aphers during the civil war are
eligible TO membership. Already there is
q noticeable thinning out Of the ranks.
while those who are expected TO attend the
meeting this week are men beyond the
middle age. The other organization will be
iu'ermnable, il the interest In 1t is kept up.
Anyone who has been engaged in teleg-
raphy for twenty years Is eligible TO mem
bership. 1t was the original intention OF
this organization to limit membership only
90 those who were connected with the early
history and establishment OF telegraphy,
but later this plan was changed as men
toned. The president Of the military tel
egraphers is William b. Wilson Of Phila-
delphia, an official Of the Pennsylvania
road, and the president OF the old timers is
J. j. Dckey Of this city.
Some years ago the military telegraphers
adopted resolutions OF respect for Ulysses
S. Grant, and commended the course he
pursued as a solder and public official and
especially his efforts to assist the military
telegraphers, and bring proper recognition
10 their work in the field. These were or
dered engrossed beneath a portrait Of Cen
eral Grant, and the whole, encased in one
handsome frame, is used as the charter Of
the organization and at all Of the meetings
it is displayed. It arrived in Omaha yester-
day, in care OF Mr. f. Rosewater OF The
Bee, one OF the officers Of the organization,
and will be displayed in the room where
the meetings are to be held.
why They Meet Together.
These two bodies hold their meetings
simultaneously because there are many who
are members OF both. especially since the
old timers admit anyone who has worked
on the wires for twenty years. any military
telegrapher would be eligible to member
ship. Last year the meetings were held at
Nashville. The sessions in this city will be
held in Royal Arcanum hall in The Bee
building.
sleeper left New York City with the con-
tingent from that state. and the party will
be increased as the train moves westward
Il is expected that il will reach Omaha next
Tuesday morning. In the meantime other
members OF the two organizations will ar
rive from other sections OF the country
They come from both north and south and
representatives, Of the Postal and Western
Union companies will be present.
Tno local committee OF entertainment has
arranged an elaborate program for the
amusement OF the visitors outside OF the
business sessions OF the associations. The
festivities will begin the first thing Tues
day morning. The women OF the party. and
such OF the members as do not wish 20
attend the business meetings, will be taken
at $50 for a tarly-ho and carriage ride
about the city. At l p. m. they will go to
the exposition grounds, where they will
spend the day, closing by making an ex-
ploration of the Midway under the guidance
OF the president Of the Old Timers asso-
citation.
Wednesday morning those who do not
attend the meetings will be entertained at
George W. Liningers art gallery from 10 to
l. o'clock At go p. m. they will board
a special trolley train for a trip to Council
Bmffs Returning at 2.3O the same train
will take them to South Omaha, where the
visitors will be shown the workings of the
big packing houses. In the evening the eX-
position will be again visited in time to
witness the grand parade by the Shriners.
Later they will be entertained by special
display of fireworks, and the evening will
be rounded out by a trip to the Indian res
ervation, where a program Of dances will
be given especially arranged for the teleg-
Taphe-s.
Thursday win BE- spent at the exposition
again. where special exhibitions will be
given in various fields for the entertain
menr Of the visitors, and the day will con-
clude with a banquet at the Markell cafe,
go" to be announced just before the lights
go out.