The Florence daily tribune., 1902-10-04
THE BOYS WHO
WORE THE BLUE
Now Mobilizing at the Ma
tional Capital.
Thirty-Sixth Annual Encampment
of the Grand Army of the Re-
public Crowds Arriving
Big Time Expected.

Washington, d O.. Oct THE
boys who wore the blue in the COS,
now grizzled veterans who are near.
ing the last milestone of life's journ.
ey, are mobilizing in the national
capital in anticipation of the thirty.
sixth annual encampment of the
Grand Army of the Republic Every
arriving train today is bringing its
quota of visitors and by tomorrow
morning the rush will be ON in
earnest, No city in the country is
better able to care for "A large gather
ing than Washington and this fact is
demonstrated by the admirable man.
ner in which the veterans are being
cared for on their arrival and assigned
to quarters.
The great organization has passed
the zenith of its glory and is now on
the wane. The att .ndance this year
is expected to fall short of last year
as last year fell short of the attend
ance at the Chicago encampment of
two years ago Nevertheless, the en-
campment will be grand and glori
Gus occasion for the old soldiers who
marched and fought and endured the
hardships. of war forty years ago.
thinner and the boys are not able
to stand the srtain of the long parades
which have been the crowning feature
of previous enoampments. But their
enthusiasm has not been dimmed and
the few surviving great war generals
who are to be present will be received
whit the same round of hearty cheers
as in days of yore, when the veterans
were more vigorous as we'll as more
The arrangements for the entertain
ment of the great crowd of visitors
are rs nearly perfect as can be at
tanned. The program will be form
ally inaugurated tomorrow, when
patriotic services will be held in the
various churches. At the campfire in
Convention hall Monday evening ad.
dresses will be delivered by speakers
of national reputation Tuesday
there will be parade of special vet
Grams associations, detachments of
regular troops and District of Colum.
bia militia. There will also be an
excursion to MountVernon for the en-
delegates, and in the even
ing General Terrence. commandment in
chief of the G.. A. r.. and his associa-
ties will be extended the freedom of
the city at "a pGblic meeting. We'd
nesday is the day set aside for the
grand review of the veterans by the
commanders chief and the president
of tine United States, with an elabor-
ate reception in the evening at Con
vention hall. Thursday and Friday
will be devoted to the business ses-
sions of the encampment.
Besides the encampment of the
Grand Army. there will be national
convention of the WomeD's Relief
Corps, of which Mrs. Calista Robin
son Jones of Vermont, is national
president. The Ladies of the Grand
Army of the Republic, of which Mrs.
Wall of Kansas, is national president,
will also meet in convention
From the view point of the Grand
Army veterans the selection of com
mander- in chief to succeed General
Torrance, of Minnesota, is of prime
Importance. The candidates most
prominently mentioned are John Nc
Elroy of Washington. the president
senior vice commander; General Thos.
j. Stewart of Pennsylvania and Cen
eral John G. Black of Illinois. For
mer Governor Robie of Maine is also
named as a possible udidate