The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1900-09-06
BRYANWILLNOT ATTEND
The Encampment Of the Grand
Army of the Republic.
FOLLOWS THE PRESIDENTS LEAD.


scncc of the Republican Candidate.
Might Give the Gathering the Color
| of PartiSanship.
Chicago, Aug. 2S.--Willam J. Bryan
has followed the example Of President
Mckinley and declined to be visitor
at the thirty-fcurth national encamp-
ment of the Grand Army of the Re-
/ public. Yesterday afternoon he sent a
message to Executive Director William
| II. Harper, the head of the local COM
mittee in charge Of the local end OF the
encampmcnt saying that because of the
absence of President Mckinley from
the encampment he considered ID ad-
visable to remain away, and thus re-
lieve the reunion of any appearance OF
partisanship. Mr.. Harper in a mes
sage expressing regrets at the inabil-
ity. of Mr.. Bryan to be present, said:
"The executive committee appreciates
your delicacy OF sentiment under the
circumstances"
The annual encampment, which was
formally opened Sunday night by the
monster meeting in the Coliseum,
promises to be the greatest and most
successful encampment the army has
ever held. 1t was estimated by rail-
road officials last evening that fully
$4,000 old soldiers had arrived and
that 100000 other excursionists had
come with them. 1t is expected that
there will be $4,000 additional ar
rivals by noon. The veterans have
come from all parts Of the republic.
and every northern state has sent a
strong contingent.
The first day Of the encampment was
one of ideal beauty, in marked con-
trast to the hot and humid weeks that
have preceded it since the first OF Au-
gust The right of the line on the
opening day was given to the men who
sailed the seas in the civil war, the
cheering was all for them and all the
honors were theirs. The heroes of
river and sea of the civil war are a
small band now. OF the 1872, 900 men
enlisted in the navy in the early days
Of the war. less than 1000 marched
yesterday, and it is agieed by the old
sailors that their number was greater
than will ever be in any parade to
come. Besides the men who fought
afioat from 81 to 'G5, came the younger
generation which helped to smash
Montejo's fleet.
The end OF the naval fight off Lin
coin Park closed the official program
of the encampment for the day, but all
over the city, in various halls and in
hotels, there were reunions of regi-
ments almost without number, frater-
nal gatherings of all sorts and de-
scriptions. One of the leading affairs
of the night was the banquet of the
Iron brigade, which was held at the
club house of the Athletic club. The
speakers were Speaker d. b. Hender-
son, Senator Burrows of Michigan
Governor Scofeld of Wisconsin, Gen.
Albert d. Shaw, cOmmander-in-chief
of the G.. A. r., Governor Mount Of
Indiana, James G. Flanders Of Mil
waukee, Comptroller Charles G. Dawes
and Gen. Bragg of Wisconsin. An
original poem was recited by James
Whitcomb Riley.
The contest for the honor of enter
tanning the next annual encampment OF
the G.. A. r. promises to be rather
lively one. The preponderance of sem
timent apparently favTs a western
city, and both Salt Lake and Denver
have delegations on the ground work
ing hard to secure the encampment OF
1901. Many of the most prominent
members of the organization are pro-
nounced in favor of the selection of
a city for the next encampment where
reasonably cool weather may be ex-
pected, and it is considered not un-
likely that the next annual encamp-
ment may be held west of the Missis-
sippi river.
Unless the unexpected happens, It
Is probable that Major Leo Raisseur.
Of st. Louis, will be elected COM
mander- -in-chief of the Grand Army OF
the Republic for the coming year at
the business session on Wednesday.
Gen. John c. Black, Of Illinois, who
had been prominently mentioned for
the Office and who had developed con-
siderable strength among the veterans.
of the western and northwestern
states, has declined to be candidate.
This apparently leaves q clear neld'
TOR Major RaiGseur, a. no other nAme