The age-herald., 1900-08-28
BRYAN SENDS
 HIS REGRETS Declines Invitation to Encamp- ment on High Grounds DUE ID M'NNLEYS ABSENCE Chicago is Full of Veterans and visi- tors-0pening Ceremonies Yes-
 terday-The Banquet Last Night-For Today.
DUE ID M'K|NLEYS ABSENCE

Chicago, August 9-William J. Bryan has followed the example of President Mo- Kinley and declined to be visitor of the National Encampment. This afternoon he sent a message to William H. Harper say ing that because of the absence of Presi- dent Mckinley from the encampment he considered it advisable to remain away. His telegram is as follows:
 Lincoln, Neb., August 27. ''W. H. Harper, Chicago:
 Since President Mckinley is detained by public business ! ul,.ve that the proprie- ties of the occasion demand that l also decline and thus relieve the reunion of any appearance of partisanship."
 The local committee, through Mr. Har- per, expressed it's regrets at the disability of MT. Bryan to be present in the follow ing message:
 Your telegram declining the invitation to the Grand Army Reunion because of President McI<inley's absence by reason of his pupic euties received The exeu- tive committee appreciates your delicacy of sentiment under the circumstances, while regretting that we cannot have the pleasure and honor of entertaining you.
 (Signed) ''W. H. HARPER,
 Executive Director"
 The Grand Army of the Republic meet ing which was formally opened last night by the monster meeting in the Coliseum, was in full blast today and in all respects it promises to be the greatest and most successful encampment the army has ever held. All last night and all of today train after train loaded down with veterans and their friends rolled into the various depots in the city and by evening it was esti- mated by railroad officials that fully 45, ,GQi old soldiers had arrived and that 300, OOt other eNcursionists had come with them. It is expected that there will be 5000 ad- ditonal arrivals by tomorrow morning.
 The right ot the line was given to the men who sailed the seas during the civil war. The cheering today was all for them and all the honors were theirs. The army will come to its own tomorrow.
 The heroes of river ana sea of the civil war are a small band now. Of the 132, 0o0 men enlisted in the navy in the early days of the war, less than 1000 march today, and it is agreed by the old sailors that their number was greater in the march to- day than it will ever be in another parade to come But one battle flag was carried by the naval veterans. It was one that aut- tered from the monitor Winnebago when Farragut sailed into Mobile bay
 Besides the men who fought afoat from 1861 to 1865, came the younger generation who helped to demoiish Montojos fleet in Manila bay and made glorious history when Cervera sailed out of Santiago har- Dor to overwhelming defeat. With the vet erans of the navy marched d band of men whose lot during the war comprised the worst of hardships, but none the less were as full of glory as the career of the bray est fighters of them all. These were the members of the Association of Ex-Prison- CTS of War, who received an enthusiastic greeting as they marched along.
 OnIy fre.ude
 The parade, which was but a prelude of the great march of the Grand Army of the Republic tomorrow, started at Il o'clock from the corner of Michigan avenue and Randolph street, and after short march through the downtown streets, turned into Michigan avenue at Jackson Boulevard and passed on south under the arch at Van Buren street, through the court of honor and out under the naval arch at Michigan avenue and Hubbard court, where 1t passed in review before Commander-in-Chief Shaw