The National tribune., 1899-02-16
NHTIONAL ENCAMpMENT.
A General Program Adopted for the
Great Gathering in Philadelphia.


The General Committee for the 33d
National Encampmcnt and Reunion o.
the Grand Army Of the Repu bile, to be
held in Philadelphia, Sept. 40, submitted
program to the Executive Committee
last week, and it was adopted subject to
the approval of the Acting Commander in
Chief. The proposed program, beginning
with Sept. 5, is as follows:
Tuesday, Grand Army parade.
Tuesday evening, reception at the
Academy OF Music.
Wednesday and Thursday the National
, organizations will meet for business;
regimentaI, corps and other Reunions and
meetings to be held.
Thursday afternoon, parade OF the Naval
| ISOLATION, u. S. Veteran Signal Corps
Association and other veteran organiza-
| tons, and the local regiment OF Sons OF
Veterans.
| Friday, Naval Day, with excursions on
| the Delaware for the members OF the
| National Encampment, GAR; the
W.RC., Ladies of the GAR. and other
| National bodies and specially invited
guests.
| The report says: 1.-THE parade, winch
| has always been the grand feature OF the
week, has been for few years past held
on Wednesday, thus requiring the busi-
ness meetings and Reunions OF the
Thursday and Friday. Experience mas
proven that the members OF the National
organizations who conscientiously attend
to their duties as representatives nave
had thus but little opportunity ior signt-
seeing or for social courtcsleS, ana Dy
Friday afternoon are mostly desirous Oh
returning home.
THE largest number OF our visitors will
be within 10 or II hours travel OF Phiia-
delphia Outside of this area visitors
from Chicago, Indianapolis and LouisvIiie
can leave Sunday p. m. ana De mere
Monday p. m. Those as far distant as
Kansas City and Omaha can leave Satur-
day evening and reach here Monday.
The largest number can as well De Win
us on Tuesday as ON Wednesday
This will doubtless be the last great
assembIage of veterans OF the war Tor
the Union in this city, and we believe
the interest of the parade will be en-
HANGED if it be confined strictly TO the
Grand Army of the Republic and all
offers of escort be respectfully declined.
while the National organizations are
in session on Wednesday and thursday
and the regimental and other Reunions
are being held, other visitors can avaii
themselves of these days for local sight
seeing and ior excursions.
"Thc National Encampment, G A.R.,
can doubtless adjourn by noon Of Thurs
signed for the parade of the Naval vet
Grams, the Prisoners OF War Association
the u. S. Veteran Signal Corps Associ-
alton and other organizations OF veterans
and the local regiment OF Sons OF veterans,
as above suggested.
For some years past the formal ad-
dresses OF welcome to the Grand Army
have been made in the Encampment hall
at the beginning OF their session, occu-
pying practically all the morning. we
propose that these addresses shall be
made at the Academy OF Music on Tues
day evening TO an audience limited only
by the capacity OF the building.
Gen. Wagner, as the first department.
Commander OF Pennsylvania, will, OF
course, preside, and addresses OF welcome
should be made on the part OF the State
by Gov. Stone and for the City by the
Mayor, to be followed by an address by
the President OF the United States ana
by other speakers.
with the pest music that can be pro-
vided, with the Academy handsomely
decorated, with distinguished guests on
the stage and a grand array of the rem
nants of the old battlehags, the occasion
will be one long to be remembered.
Evening receptions have always been
held by the W.R.C. and by the Ladies OF
the GAR. The arrangement OF the par
lors at the Continental Hotel, which IS
engaged as headquarters, will afford but
limited space for two series of receptions,
but it is possible to arrange for joint re-
ception ON Wednesday evening, and we
recommend that this be referred to the
Committee on Invitations and Courtesies
with power.
For Friday we have suggested river
demonstration. The Committee on Navy
and Marine Corps will no doubt be en-
tirely successful in securing the presence
in our harbor of number OF war vessels
in addition to those now laid up at League
Island. These could be located at vari-