The record-union., 1899-09-05
VETERANS OF
The CIVIL WAR.
Thirty-Third National Encampment
of Grand Army
Convened at Philadelphia Yesterday Under
Favorable Auspices.
The President Given a Hearty Re-
ception on His Arrival at the
Quaker City-a Warm Fight for
Commander-in-Ch of the
Grand Army.

PHILADELPHIA, Sept 4.-With the
arrival from Cincinnati to-day of Act
ing Communicating Chief Johnston. the
the Grand Army of the Republic was
formally inaugurated. Colonel John
ston was accompanied by the posts of
Cincinnati and several bands of music.
A large reception committee, headed by
General Lewis Wagner, Chairman of
the local Executive Committee. met the
Commander at the railway station and
escorted him to his Headquarters. Ey-
cry incoming train is bringing it's
quota OF veterans and visitors, and the
streets are thronged. To the visitors
and Philadelphians alike the Avenue
Of Fame is the point of greatest in
terest
President Mckinley and his party ar
rived here at 8 o'clock tonight. after
a four hours run from Washington.
The Presidential party was met at the
railroad station by Mayor Ashbridge.
General Louis Wagner, Chairman of
the Executive Committee, and a num-
Der of other city officials The station
was thronged, and Gordon of police
men was necessary to keep the crowds
back as the distinguished visitors made
their way from the train to the car
riages in waiting.
President Mckinley walked with un-
covered head from the train shed to
the stand, and was cheered to the echo.
He acknowledged the ovation with
many smiles and bows The party was
driven to the Hotel Walton. and the
President Immediately retired to his
private sitting-room.
At III O'Clock members of the United
German singing societies, accompanied
by band, arrived at the hotel and
serenaded the President They sang
three German selections and finished
with the Star Spangled Banner" in
which the multitude Joined During
the rendition of the songs President
Mckinley sat on the window ledge.
and at the conclusion Of each led the
applause. There were loud cries for a
speech. but che President merely
bowed, and waved his white Fedora
hat
Rear Admiral Sampson, who occu-
pies the suits of rooms directly over
those Of the President. enjoyed the SER
enade equally as we'll as Mr. Mckinley.
! 1t was some time before the throng in
/ the street observed him, but when his
/ presence became known he was loudly
| cheered.
The President retired about IL
o'clock. Tomorrow morning at $40
/ o'clock he will receive Admiral Samp-
son and the Captains of the fleet
Later he will ride over the route of
| the Grand Army parade to the review
! ing stand on the City Hall plaza.
After the parade he will be enter
tanned at luncheon in the City Hall.
Early to-day the river front was
thronged with visitors anxious to see
Admiral SIMPSONS fleet, anchored in
| the harbor. Camp James A. Sexton,
! in Fairmount Park. was formally
! opened at q a. m. with the firing of the
national salute and the unfurling Of
/ the Stars and Stripes over the head
quarters of Colonel Maginnis, who is in
! charge of the camp.
! The campaign for COMMANDMENTS
! Chief is waxing warm. 1t is one of the
| fiercest contests the G.. A. r. has been
! engaged in for long time Tonight
! there are three candidates in the field
| Acting Commander-in-C Chief w. c..
| Johnston Of COncinnati, Comrade REQ
| Rassieur of ST. Louis and Colonel AL
! bert D. Shaw of Watertown, n. Y. A
careful canvass among the different de-
/ partments indicates that Colonel Shaw
! tonight has a little the best of the con
test. That gentleman in an interview
| tonight said he was absolutely sure of
victory, and said that the fight was all
over. Neither Colonel Johnston nor
! Comrade Rassieur would speak direct
! ly about the contest, but their lieuten-
ants express the greatest confidence in
the outcome of the struggle. Each of
! the candidates has a headquarters III
| full operation and is distributing badges
and hanging out banners.
| While the delegations from Ohio.
| Missouri and New York are battling for
| supremacy, the delegation from Illinois
/ is putting up great fight for the priv
! ilege of entertaining the Grand Army
at Chicago next year Every depart
ment of Illinois now in the city is dec
Grated with a large yellow ribbon on
which is inscribed in big black letters
| Chicago, 1900"
| The leaders of the Chicago boom say
! they will win hands down. At present
! they have no opponent of any conse-
quence. 1t was reported that Denver,
/ San Francisco, st. Louis and one or
two other cities were in the field, but if
/ InOSe cllleS olS, lHey are lying low,
as there is no evidence on the surface
! that they are in the field.
! The parade of the National Associa-
| tion of Naval Veterans this afternoon
aroused the greatest enthusiasm. The
! first division was composed of the
/ United States Naval Brigade, Captain
| T. j. Jewett, Brigade Commander. in
Guiding marines and seamen of the
! United States ships New York, Indiana.
| Texas, Brooklyn, Massachusetts. Nash
vile and Detroit, and the marines and
seamen from the League Island navy
yard. In the second division were the
| officers and men of the United States
revenue cutter service The third di-
vision was composed of carriages con-
/ tanning the officers of the warships
anchored in the Delaware River. Rear
Admiral Sampson and Captain Chad
wick, chief of staff, were in the first
carriage. The fourth division was com
/ posed of the National Association of
Naval Veterans, United States of Amer
/ lea, J. r. Foss, commanding; Captain
/ William E. Larselarie. chief of staff.