Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-07-02
REUNION OF G. A. B.
WISCONSIN VETERANS ENCAMP
AT SHE8OYGAN.
Large Attendance and an Interesting
Three Day Conveution-De Croft is
Chosen Observation-Disclosures of Re-
firing Commander.

Sheboygan correspondence:
The State encampment of the Grand
Army of the Republic. the Woman's Re
lief Corps and The Sons of Veterans.
opened in Sheboygan on Tuesday with
clear, warm weather. There were 400
old soldiers registered on the first day,
and it is estimated there We're 1900 Wis
itors in the city, incoming trains bringing
large numbers.
The city was gaily decorated with ever
greens. flags and electric lights. Hang
ing from the festOons across the streets
were transparencies bearing appropriate
inscriptions.
Wednesday morning Mayor bennett
welcomed the @. \. II. at their session
which opened in the opera house at 10
o'clock. The response was made by Col.
B. F. Bryant There was recitation
by Miss Sarah Spratt, daughter OF As
semblyman and Mrs. George Spratt Of
Sheboygan Falls, and u song by COmrade
Kimberly. The big parade took place
that afternoon. It moving promptly at
80 O'Clock from the government build
ing. From this point the line Of march
was the main portion of the city, both
the south and north sides.
Department Commander James and
Assistant Adjutant General Mic Farland
of the G. A r. read their reports We'd
nesday morning Department Command
er Jones report was in part as follows:
Comrades: One year ago when you elect
ed me to the position of department COM
mander l accepted the honor with some
misgivings. When l looked back and saw
list of the eminent men who had honored
the place and the high standard they had
brought the department to, l realized the
responsibility that rested on my shoulders,
and will say that have used my best en-
deavors to keep it where found 1t, but am
very sorry to inform you that 1t is hard TO
compete with old Father Time. 1t has beeg
hard race, but we will have 30 give up; h'
is mastering out faster than we can gather
them In, and no one more fully realizes tnat
the time is fast drawing nigh when we will
be compelled to surrender. pack our KNAPP
sack and join the rest on the other shore.
Two years ago law was enacted to re-
move the batt!efags from the rotunda or
the capitol building to the new library Dul!d,
ing. This proved to be very distastefu
act to the old comrades and they wanted
the old standards where they would be Wis
ible to them when they visited the capltoi
The assistant adjutant general and myself
visited the library building and looked IN
vain for some time to discover the flags, ana
finally had to get the aid of the custodian
to show US where they were, and we found
them in the top story Of the building, in
room that served as the light shaft for
rooms below, and in the terrible heat of the
blazing sun that came through the glass rCot
they were standing around the wall of this
room without a particle of protection, ana
would have been entirely ruined in very
short time. We had Il bill introduced In the
Legislature authorizing their return to the
rotunda of the capitol building and having
them placed in Theoretically sealed cases,
with plate glass fronts. This bill became a
law and the flags are now back in their old
cases until new ones can be provided for
them.
After a lively contest Thursday morn
ing Allen H. De Croft of Buffalo County
was elected commander for the term OF
one year The other officers are w. y.
Root, Sheboygan, senior vice-cOmmander,
and George w. Morton of Berlin, Junior
vice-commander.
Three trustees for the Veterans Home
at Waupaca were elected, as follows;
COL ]. H. Woodnorth of Milwaukee,
who has been secretary of the board
David G.. James of Richland Center,
whose term as commander has just ex-
pired, and William Wilson of Appleton.
The encampment closed with sham
battle and campfire at Lake View Park.
The city overfowed with visitors, it be-
ing estimated that there were from 5000
TO 5000 visitors in town. Every hotel
and lodging house was filed
The election at the w. Il. c. meeting
resulted as follows: Mrs. Hattie Weldon
of Madison, commander; Miss Laura h.
Dietsch of Sheboygan, senior vice-com-
mander; Mrs. Frances Wheelock of Med
ford, Junior vice-cOmmander.
There was a lively contest at the cleo
ton of the Sons of Veterans. Martin
Grassie of Milwaukee was elected col
onel of the State department by the thin
majority of one. The other officers OF
the Sons of Veterans are as follows:
A. H. Calender of Racine, senior vice
colonel; Frank Merryfeld, Stevens Point,
junior vice-colonel. Division council A,
Hall of Superior, Harry Campbell, River
Falls. Louis Grassie of Sheboygan; dele
gate at large DIR. Mcdowell of Racine;
q. A. Geissler, delegate, ShebOygan, al
ternate-at-large, W. Beitz of Milwaukee;
alternate delegate, Oscar Gulbert OF
Blaine, Wis.
The encampment in 1902 will he held
at Stevens Point Milwaukee, Mineral
Point and Waupaca made a warm fight
for the meeting.