Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-05-17
THOUSANDS TO Be HERE NEXT WEEK
Island to Act Host to the Veterans of IinoMany Dis
tingushed Visitors---0utIne of Program.

Fully % 900 visitors are expected
in this city next Tuesday, Wednesday
and Thursday to attend the Both an
nual encampment of the department
of Illinois G.. \. r., and the state
meetings of the various auxiliary
bodies-the Woman's Relief Corps
Ladies of the 6. \. r.. Ladies' Aid
society, Daughters of Veterans, and
Sons of Veterans.
sentimental and patriotic inter
est attaches to the old boys in blue,
imPelling the average red-blooded
American to uncover to- the white
haired veterans as, to the shrill
music of the fife, they step along in
review. with a pathetic touch of the
vigor of '61. past their old command
ers in the reviewing stand. There
are fewer of them every year, but
they speak of missing comrades with
the philosophical resignation born of
war Bearing on this point may be
related an incident of the 35th en-
campment. held at Peoria last year:
"Where's Brown of Vandalia?
He died in the Home last year.
And Patterson of Company F?''
Dead"
'Is TaIcott here?"
Nope; he's gone
Too bad; a good fellow. Let's go
over to headquarters and see Cen
eraI Black. They tell me the gen
eral carries so much Johnnie lead in
his innards that he had to pay for eN-
cess baggage coming down here
from Chicago"
Decorations Elaborate.
The whole city will he mass of
flags, bunting and red. white and
blue, electrical effects by next Tues
day morning. On Second avenue.
from the court house to the head
quarters at the Harper house, and
around Spencer square. the decora-
tions will be particularly lavish.
Arches will cross all intersecting
streets. and surrounded by festoOns
of electric bulbs, the portraits Of
Logan, Grant, Lincoln, old Dick"
Yates. and other Illinois leaders of
'61-65, will surmount these arches.
The pictures of Dewey, Schley Sheri-
dan, Sherman. and President RoOsc-
welt will also have Il prominent place
in the decorations. At the Illinois
theatre, where the business sessions
of the encampment will he held, the
decorations will be both striking and
beautiful.
Department Commander y. Il.
Thistlewood, of Cairo. says that, not
withstanding the fast-depleting ranks
of the veterans. the coming encamp-
ment will certainly be the most sue
cessful. in point of attendance and
H.. Of TO 70
meeting of the yearr The arrange
ments so far made at Rock Island
for the comfort and entertainment
of visitors are of character to en-
courage the largest attendance,
said Col. Thistlewood. lin addition
the distinguished soldiers and pub
lie men who will be with us, will
bring thousands to our meeting who
would ordinarily remain at home.
We old soldiers of Illinois may well
feel proud of our guests this coming
week. We will not only have with us
our own commander-in-chief Gen.
Torrance. but also Gen. Macarthur of
the United States army, and the
governors of three states-Cummins
of Iowa, Van SAINT. of Minnesota, atif
Yates, of Illinois, with their military
stats. Gov. Van SAINT, indeed, is one
of us. He enlisted at Rock Island.
where he lived when the war began,
and he fought all through the war in
his Illinois regiment.
Distinguished Guests.
"Other distinguished guests who
will be present are Lieut.. Gov. w. \.
Northcott. Gems. I. j. Henderson.
John c. Black, and j. b. Leake, tx
Gov. Joe Fifer, Senator'S Mason
and Cullom, Hon. Samuel AIschuler.
and Mai. 5. L. Blunt, commander at
Rock Island arsenal. We are going
to have great meeting"
All the gentlemen named are on
the program for addresses during
the week. 1t is expected that Gen.
Macarthur will speak to the veterans
on the Philippine question, and it is
thought that his address will reflect
the views of the national administra-
ton, touching especially upon the
charges of inhumanity made in con-
gress during the past month against
the American army of occupation.
One of the leading Issues that. will
be forced TO the front at this en-
campment will be the admission of
the Sons of Veterans as members of
the G.. \. r., with all the rights and
privileges thereunto appertaining.
The Illinois division, Sons of Vet
Grams, is very much interested in
this question, and the officers of the
Sons" will make an aggressive cam
paign for admission. Among the
veterans sentiment is divided. The
majority seem to favor letting down
the bars, but the opposition is de-
termined. If the Sons are admit
ted to fellowship in the G. \. Il. it
will only be after stiff fight, and
because of the plea that otherwise
the parent organization cannot sur
vive.