Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-08
COMMISSIONER WARE
Head of Pension Bureau Gives
Reception
TO GENERAL TORRANCE
TWENTY THOUSAND VETERANS
WERE PRESENT.
20 GENERAL TORRANCE
Great Courtyard Magnificently Deco
rated, Patriotic Speeches and Stir
ring Music and Song.

In the great courtway OF the United
States pension office a scene was presented
yesterday afternoon which will live long in
the memory of all who witnessed It.
Fully 10000 of the visiting veterans many
of them accompanied by their wives and
daughters, gathered at the great red brick
building to meet the commissioner OF pen
sions and to greet the commander-in- chief
OF the Grand Army OF the Republic. The
occasion was the reception rendered Gen
eral Ell Torrance of the Grand Army by
Mr.. Eugene F. Ware and the Assistant
pension commissioners. 1t was a function
marked by rare patriotism and enthusiasm.
Ringing speeches were delivered by the
host and his guest; the United States Ma
rine Band. under the splendid leadership
Of Lieutenant w. H. Santelmann. rem
dered national anthems and wartime meio-
dies; battle songs were sung by musical or
people Joining in the chorus. and then the
veterans marched by in a seemingly never
ending file to shake the hands Of the United
States officers of pensions.
Scheme of Decoration.
The court Of the pension building. which
has been transformed into palace often
times In the past on the occasion of inau-
gural balls. was yesterday magnificent.
souf-stirring tabernacle Of patriotism. The
national colors, the red white and blue,
which were assembled by quaint old Betsy
Ross into the emblem of a free-boru people
SO many. many years ago. formed the dec
orative scheme on which the pension clerks
have spent much time and study. From
center line at the very top of the court
ways height, great streamerS OF aIternat-
ing red, white and blue were looped down.
ri m fha This of the
decoration extended the entire length of
the building and formed above the people
assembled there patriotic canopy. the ef-
fectiveness Of which was widely comment
ed upon Around the balcony fronts were
arranged in graceful designs hundreds and
hundreds Of American flags. These friezes
continued unbroken around the cours Eacn
supporting pillar was gracefully draped In
the national colors and bore the coat OF
arms of one of the sovereign states OF the
Union worked on silken banner of navy
blue. Not a state was missing.
On the north side Of the court a stage
had been erected. 1t was set with beautiful
palms and other growing plants and from
immense urns blossomed exquisite cut now
ers. The back Of the stage was draped IN
red and it was canopied over with red and
white streamers- On either side at the
front were arranged two mute sentineis-
full sets Of ancient coats of mail On the
south wall against a field Of pale blue were
arranged small flags bearing the different
corps designs Toward the eastern ena OF
the court was erected the stand upon whlch
the Marine Band was stationed during the
reception. The throngs filed into the PEN
sion building through the south doors ana
passed out of the west entrance
When 8 o'clock arrived the courtWay was
already filled with the veterans In army
blue The two balconies We're densely pack
ed with people. most of them ladles, VINO
waved their handkerchiefs and cheered with
the soldiers below when an opportunity was
,rasapfe6 for patriOtic demonstration.
Distinguished Guests Arrive.
AS the distinguished guests arrived they
were escorted to the stage ny members OF
the escort committee, whose chairman was
Mr. b. F. Chase. Arriving at the platform
they were greeted by Mr.. w. H. Bayly,
chairman of the committee on arrangements
and reception. Capt. L. M Kelley, the vice
chairman and treasurer of the general corr
mittee, and Mr.. A. D. Albert. the secretary.
were active in looking after the arriving
guests. The membership of the committee
was made up of clerks and officers Of the
pension Office. On the stage during the
opening ceremonies of the reception were
General Ell Torrance. commander-ln-chtef
Of the Grand Army. and several members
of his staff; Mr.. Eugene F. Ware. the COM
missioner of pensions; Mr.. j. l.. Davenport,
the first deputy commissioner of pensions;
Captain L. NJ. Kelley. deputy commissioner
Of pensions; Mr.. B. II. Warner. chairman of
the citizens executive committee in charge
Of the arrangements for the tkfrty-sixth en-
campment; Governor A. D. Bliss OF Michi-
gan; General Leo Raussier, past comman-
der-in-chief of the G. A. R.; Mr.. F. L.
Campbell. assistant secretary of the inte-
rior; Mr.. John G. Black. eX-CommSSioner
of pensions; Mr.. Binger Hermann, commits
sioner of the general land office; Mr.. Fred
erfck l. Allen of the patent office; Mr. c. NJ
Irelan, chief clerk of the patent office; Mr.
R. r. Henderson, president of the Loyal
Legion of Minnesota; MIR. john Day Smith
of Minneapolis, and a large number of
others.
The reception hours were from 3 to 5
o'clock, and during that time fully 25,OG0
people must have filed in and out of the
pension office. The reception was confined
as closely possible 10 the visiting vet
Grams. In order that the people of Wash
way, however. arrangements have been
made to leave them in place for several DAYS
and the building will be open every evening
until the 18th instant
An assembly call on drum ratified above
the noisy hum of the great throng at 3
o'clock and announced the opening OF the
magnificent function. After the roll call a
number Of battle limitations On the drum
were given by Mr.. A. F. Springsteen and
then the Marine Band burst forth with a
miliar tunes swept vibrantly through the
f1ag-bedecked temple they stirred the blood
to action and the veterans cheered with
wonderful enthusiasm
Commissioner Wares Welcome.
After this first outburst of the afternoon
Commissioner Ware stepped to the front of
the stage and made an address Of welcome
He said 1t was indeed rare pleasure to
entertain SO many of the nations heroes in
the storehouse Of their deeds of valor No
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