The times., 1899-09-05
VETERANS AT PHILADELPHIA.
Opening of the Thirfy-Tshird Annual
Encampment of the G. A. r.

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Encampment of the G. A. r..
PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 4.-The thirty
third annual encampment of the Grand
Army of the Republic was opened in ear
nest today. There are many thousand vet
Grams in the city, and they are having a
glorious time. At Camp Sexton, on the
Knoll overlooking the Schuylkifl and the
Belmont rayine in Fairmount Park, 1000
veterans are eneamped. The camp was
formally opened this morning at five min
utes before 6, when the notes of the
TeVeflie rang out. When the men had as
sembled, the color sergeant John Green,
raised the flag, which was greeted with a
cheer, and then the vets Joined in singing
the Star Spangled Banner" Regular
camp routine has been established. The
ships of the North Atlantic Squadron pre-
sented a scene of activity all day In the
morning the regular drills took pace. and
at IL O'Clock the vessels were open ior in
spection. 1t being a holiday. thousands
ayailed themselves of the opportun ty. In
the afternoon the parade of the naval vets
TOOK place. In addition to the vets there
were l,zGo marines and sailors from the
vessels of the squadron in line. Admiral
sampson and the officers of the vessels in
the squadron rode in carriages. Both Off
GERS and men were cheered as thay passed
over the route. Many of the veterans duc-
ing the day visited the League Island Navy
yard, which Rear Admiral Casey has or
dered shall be open during the encamp-
ment.
The busiest place in the city was the
continental Hotel around which centres
interest connected with the election of the
commander-in-c chief, Acting Commander
W. christie Johnson arrived in the morning
ana promptly it was announced that he
would be candidate for the position of
eommarder-in- chief. The other candidates
are General Shaw, of New York, and Major
Rassier, of Missouri. and the contest prom
ises to be spirited one Indications are
that General Shaw has a shade the best of
the tight at the present time
delegates to the convention of the Ma
tlonal Womans Relief Corps of the G. A.
r.; the Ladies of the G. A. R.; the Asso-
citation of Army Nurses and the Ladies'
Auxiliary of the Naval Veterans are be-
ginning to arrive and are busy canyassing
for candidates for the various offices that
are to be filled at conventions to be held
Wednesday and Thursday Mrs. Flo Jami-
son Miller. National President of the Wo-
mans Relief Corps, has opened headQuar
ters In the Continental Hotel At present
there are four avowed candidates to succeed
her. They are Mrs. Harriet L. Dodge, of
Connecticut: Mrs. Calista r. Jones, of Ver-
mont; Mrs. Mohr, of New York, and Miss
Cummings, of Pennsylvania. The real
struggle, it is thought. will be between
| Mrs. Dodge and Mrs Jones.
The programme arranged for tomorrow
| includes the parade of the men of the G. A.
| R. The veterans will be reviewed by Pres
| ident Mckinley, who with his party, will
| be on the stand at Broad and Spruce
Streets. After the parade luncheon will be
served in the City Hall, the President and
party being guests of the committee on ar
| rangements for the encampment. In the
| evening there will be a meeting in the
/ Academy of Music, at which speeches will
| be made by the President, Mayor Ash
bridge, Gen. Lewis Wagner. Governor
Stone of Pennsylvania, Acting Commander
| in-Chief Of the G. A. r. Johnson, and Colo
mel Terrence of Minneapolis. At the close
of the meeting the President will attend a
| banquet which will be given to the Lafay
/ ette of New York and the E. U. Kinsley
| Post of Boston by the George G.. Meade
Post of this city There the President will
| deliver speech, as will also General Miles
and Admiral Sampson. On Wednesday the
! convention of the G. A. R. will open in the
| Grand Opera House.