The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-08-28
G. A. R. ENCAMPMENT.
forly-flve Thousand Union Veterans Are
Gathered 10 Chicago.
HE TOTAL NUMBER OF VISITORS 3i5,OOO
Commander In Chief shaw Delivered
a Lengthy Address In which He
Favored More Pensions.

ChcSgo. August Ef.--Ihe thirty-fourtn an
nual encampment OF the Grand Army OF the
Republic which was formallyS opened last
night by the monster meeting in the Coils
cum was in fun blast TODAY and IN all re-
speots promises 10 be the greatest and most
successful encampment the army las ever
held. All last night and all of today train
alter tram loaded iowa with veterans and
tuelr friends rolled into the various uepots
III the city anu by evening u was estimated
by railroad oniclals that fuliy ioovu OF the
old soiuIers hau arriyou anu 100000 oller eN-
curs,onists had come with them. IL IS ex-
ntcted that theie will be hDJJO additional
arrivals by tomorrow The RANT OF me line
was gveu to the men wno sailed the seas
uur.ng the civil war Ine chetting to-day
wa al for them and the nonors were theirs
Tue army will come TO It's own tomorrow.
The heroes Of river ana sea OF the civll war
are small band now; OF the iSZV" men
enlisted In the navy IN the early days OF
the war, less than 1000 marched today, ana
IL is agreed hy the old sailors that tnclr
number was greater in the marcn touaN tnaii
II will ever pe IN any parade 10 come But
ono battlenag was carried by the naval vet
elans. IL was one tnat futteled from the
monitor winnebago when Farragut sailel
ito Mobile bay
The later afternoon feature OF the day 5
celebration, the naval parade on Lake Michi-
gan proved a disappointment wta her con-
d.,ions interfering sadly with the arrange
monts. y sides the revenue cutters morrill,
and Fessenden and Meet OF excursion
steamers Il had been planned TO have the
large feet of the Chicago Yacht cluo lncIude9
in the parade from thu Lake Front ark on
jackson boulevard nto Lake Michigan,
where the naval battle took place bu tne
bleeze of tho morning died away and aardiy
a breath OF air was stirring during the
afternoon. sc this part of the programme was
necessarily abandoned The government YES
sells. towing n string Of hatSes hllcd WIN
attachments from the Illinois naval reserve
and gnly decorated with nags and stream
ers and the excursion boats, loaded with
sightseers made an imposing appearance as
they slowly steamed out Of the harbor and
headed down toward Lincoln park The heet
arrived OFF Lincoln park about ii3u D m
and then. In sight OF thousands OF specta-
tors the revenue cutters, wlth thelr pIus
iat ketsd crews WORKING the rapiu nre guns
OF the two vessels, went through some btau-
THU maHeuvering in the sham light for SUI
plemacv 49,,
banquet OF the Iron Brigade. which was held
al the Athletic club at $50. Among the
speakers were Speaker D. s. Henderson,
Julius = Burrows, United States senator
from Michigan; Governor Edward Schohei
of wisconsin General Albert D. shaw coiu
mander in chief of the Grand Army of the
Republic; Governor James A. Mount of In
diana Charles G. Dawes, comptroller of the
currency, and General Edward 5. Bragg OF
Wisconsin. poem was recited by James
Whitcomb Riley.
be held tomorrow, this being feature of the
encampment which has never been attempt
ed before. The programme tomorrow includes
the great parade OF the Grand Arliy, which
is expected TO be the largest parade ever
held by tho organization since 1t came into
existence
Eloquent speeches by soldiers and states
men and patriotic music, vocal and instru"
mental made memorable the annual meeting
Of Cook county Sons of Veterans, held in the
auditorium tonight The auditorium was
packed 10 the doors. Commander in Chief A.
b. Shaw of the Grand Army OF the Republic
delivered the principal speech of the evening,
General Shaw delivered a lengthy address,
large part OF which was devoted TO the
subject Of pensions: he deprecated the ill.,
feeling which has arisen over the rejection
of a number Of claims by the present admin
istraton OF the pension department and ad
vocated the establishment OF a court OF APP.
peals to the end that there be more pensions
He submitted the following figures:
Disbursements for pensions and mainten-
ance OF system from July /, 1865, TO June 3d.
1900:
For medical examinations. $3.50 929 So
For salaries and all other ex-
penses of bureau ,.......,... 4S,s0S 623 20
For salaries and other expenses
/ OF agencies ,...........,.,...., l2.6lieso 70
Total ....................". 2.Gl2, S29, $50 50
Number pensioners on the rolls.... y9l SO
Number originals granted ....,....... 4O,645
Number names restored .............. i,G99
----
Dropped by deaths ........,............. 80, 500
Dropped by remarriagos ,............... a0g
Dropped by all other causes. ............. 6,6lG
Total Observation-Disclosures. .2si
! Short speeches were also made by Com
mander William II. Hule, Illinois division
Sons OF Veterans; Past Commander William
r.. Church, Judge loci NJ. Longnecker. Com
mander in Chief Asa w. Jones United States
Senator Cushman x. Davis of Minnesota and
General j. c. Black.
Chicago, August civilian Jennings
Bryan has followed the example of President
Mckinley and declined to be a visitor at the
Nationa: ,encampment. He this afternoon
sent message TO Executive Director VIII
liam H. Harper saying that because Of the
absence of President Mckinley from the
encampment he considered il advisable 10 re-
main away. His telegram is as follows:
Lincoln Neb August William II
Harper, Executive Director Of the Grand
Army Reunion, Chicago, m: Since President
Mckinley is detained by public business I be-
lieve that the propreties OF the occasion de-
mand that also decline and thus relieve the
reunion OF any appearance Of craftsmanship.
The local committee, through Mr.. Harper
expressed It's regrets at the inability of MIR.
Bryan TO be present by sending him the fol
lowing message;
/ w. ], Bryan, Lincoln, Neh: Your tele-
gram declining the invitation to the Grano
Army reunion because of President McI{ln.
ley's absence by reason OF his pubIfe dutios
received. The executive committee apnre
ciates your delicacy OF sentiment under the
circumstances while regretting that we can
not have the pleasure aud honor Of entertain.
ing you. 'W II. Harper
Executive Director