The evening times., 1902-05-31
Mr.. TORRANCE TALKS OF
GRAND ARMY MATTERS
He Failed to Meet Chairman
Warner This Morning.
LATTER ABSENT FROM CITY
Commander-in-Chief Of the Veterans
Says He Expects Approaching En-
campmeut to Be the Largest and
Most Successful of That Organization

Most Successful of That Organization
The departure of Chairman B. IL
Warner of the Citizens Encaupmeat
Committee, from the city at an early
hour this morning somewnlt inteTferHd
with the plans of Gen. Ell Torrance,
mmandcr-In-Chicf OF che Grand Army
of the Republic. who had contemplated
having talk with the members Of the
local committees regarding the encamp-
ment outlook. As MI. Warner expects
IN he gone for several days General Tor
rance regrets that he viii he unable to
see him as he viii leave for New York
this afternoon
The head of the Grand Army believes
that Che coming encampmsnt will be
one Of the greatest that has ever been
held. hasing hi o,iHion on the express
sfons that he D., received from the
members of the c. =. r. all over the
country.
General Torrance is en- route to West
Point where ne expects TO remain until
June y. participating IN the exercises
at the Military Academy. Of which he
is one CT the board Of visitors. He is
thoroughly satisfied with ,he progress
that is being made by the local commit
tees in preparation for the coming en-
campment-
The adjutant on my staff is follow
ing the work closely and relieving me
of all care IN coming to Washington /
o. nr9a
neying 10 the Mecca OF the old soldier,
from whose memory Washington and its
surroundings can never be erased As
stood beneath the trees at Arlington
yesterday [ had g longing to return TO
the place when | could be alone and
wander uudisturbed among the graves
/ that are kallowed to me. felt as though
/ the concOurse Of people that wandered
/ unrcstTained through the cemetery were
/ deseCrat5ng the soil. throwing in many
/ instances the refuse of their lunches
here and there. without regard to where
il fell
Opposed to ANY Change.
u am sure that it was but thought
/ Iessness on the part Of the offenders.
but It seemed an ofense nevertheless I
am not in sympathy with the suggestion
| for the change of the date OF Memorial
/ Day. The matter has several times been
brought TO the attention OF the national
/ encamDmeat. bVt has never been ia
vored bv the members or the enCaDp-
ment- l believe that the reverence Tor
the day is growing each year. and tnat
( il is not necessary TO invoke the re
=trictive Sunday laws for the protection
II the day l may be like the old par
/ 10 Hra-a aT 81
J nothing of the wickedness that prevails
1 IN other quarters during the services
but SO far as I am able to Judge. ! am
/ confident that the day is each year be-
( coming more sacred to the people 9th.
country
Courtesy From ex-Confederates,
/ 7 have Just completed a trip through
the South. embracing Georgia, Alabama,
/ Louisiana. Mississippi and Texas, where
r went on business connected with the
/ G. Ar. was everywhere received with
. the greatest consideration, and at Dal-
las. where the Confederate veterans
were in convention, ! was invited 70 at
tend the meetings. At another Texas
town the returning delegates TO the con-
/ veutiou marched in a body to ny hot u
20 surrender Everywhere there is )
growing spirit OF smity and good fellow
ship between The weaTeTs Of the blue
and the gray which promises the OBJ
liberation o. al! feeling among the sec
tions in the near future
Il have lust received telegram in
viting me to be guest at the dinner o.
the Union League Club in New Torl
Monday night given in honor OF Genera
Horace Porter. which 1 shall take pleas
tu-e in accepting
i Growing Esteem for the Veterans
As al evidence Of the growing es
TEEN in which the old veterans are helC
il some quarters the memorial service
held IN ore Of the Presbyterian churche
in Minneapolis last Sunday night is al
example Five years ago it would hsv
= been impossible to secure permission L
carry a flag within the edifcs. and ye
= last Sunday the entire building wa
turned over 10 US for the celebration
, which lasted all day"
j Despite the hard travel which Genera
Torrance has been enduring during In
past FIVE weeks he is in much bette
. health than he was some months ago
when he was in this city. He is look
d ing hopefully forward to the continue
=, peace which has characterized his ad
ministration OF the affairs of the Gran
, Army and is anxious that the few re
naming months before the election O
q the next commander n-chief may pas
without incident