Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-09-06
GATHERING OF G. A. R.
Thirty.Third National Meeting
Opens at Philadelphia.
VETERANS AND VISITORS FILL CITY

The Weather La Ideal and Indications
Point to Its Continuance The Avenue
of Fame Attracts the Greatest Interest
President Mckinley and Wife Arrive
Crowds Line the River Front to Sec Ad-
miral Sampson's Warship.
Philadelphia, Sept. 4.-With the ar
rival from Cincinnati of Acting Com
mander-in-C hief Johnston. the thirty
third national encampment of the
Grand Army of the Republic was for
mally inaugurated. Colonel Johnston
was accompanied by the posts of Gin
cinnati and several bands Of music. A
large reception committee, headed by
General Louis Wagner, chairman of
the local executive committee, met the
commander at the railway station and
escorted him to his headquarters at
the Continental hotel.
Weather Is Ideal.
Every incoming train is bringing It's
quota of veterans and visitors, and the
streets are thronged The weather is
ideal with a bright autumnal sun and
cooling breeze rendering sightseeing
enjoyable. Indications point to con-
tinuance of fair weather and those in
terested in the encampment are corre-
spondingly happy. To the visitors and
Philadelphians alike, the Avenue of
Fame Is the point of greatest interest.
The classic columns, gay with flutter-
ing flags and bearing names of battles
and commanders which summoned
memories of personal hardships and
sufferings, or more tender memories
of those who died in the cause of duty,
were absorbing objects of interest.
An important feature of the days
events was the arrival of President and
Mrs. Mckinley. They reached the
city about 8 o'clock at night and were
received by Mayor Ashbridge and the
members of the executive committee.
Preceding the parade the president and
| his party will drive over the route OF
the procession to the reviewing stand
on the city hall plaza. Included in the
party from Washington will be Secre-
tary of War Elihu Root, Secretary OF
the Treasurer Gage, Postmaster Cen
eral Charles Emery Smith and Rear
Admiral Melville. representing Secre-
tary of the Navy John D. Long.
| Crowds Look at Sampson's Fleet.
All day the river front was thronged
with visitors anxious to secure 9
| glimpse of Admiral SIMPSONS feet
anchored in the harbor. The war yes.
| sells will be illuminated on Thursday
night. Camp James A. Sexton In Fair.
mount park was formally opened at
a. m. with firing of the national salute
and the unfurling of the stars and
| stripes over the headquarters OF Col
onel Maginnis, who is in charge Of tn,
camp. An army of sightseers visited
the camp during the day. The vet
Grams quartered there have been regis
tered and line of guards furnished b!
the Sons of Veterans has been estab
lished.
Candidates for Commandsr-in-ChieE
Friends of Acting COMMANDMENT
Chief Johnson assert that with hi
coming there will arrive health,
boom for his election as commander
in-Chief. 1t is expected that Colone
Johnson will be urged as compromis
candidate between Colonel Albert SHAY
| of Watertown and Major Leo Rassieu
of st. Louis, the two leading candi
dates. Colonel Shaw, who has opene
headquarters at the Continental is con
fident of election.
Regarding his position in referenc
to the pension question and his atti
tude toward Pension COMMISSIONS
Evans and the pension bureau Colone
Shaw said: II am in favor of such a
administration of the pension law
that will insure the fairest dealing an
speediest justice to every deservin
claimant" There Is likely to be
third candidate for the commandment
chiefship in the person of Genera
Charles A. Miller Of Venango county
Pa.