The Washington times., 1902-07-11
President to Be Asked to
Make Opening
Address.
PLAN OF CHAIRMAN WARNER
Religious Exercises Also Suggested
Politic Movement to Organize War
Veterans Exciting Much Inte-est-A
Departure From Precedent.

President Roosevelt viii be requested
to extend 4 welcome 20 the visiting del
egates to the Grand Army encampment
in October next on behalf of the United
States Government. if the present plans
OF Chairman Brainard H. Warner. Of
the executive committee are complied
with.
Mr. Warner has had the matter under
advisement for some days and Contem-
plates an immense mass meeting Mon
day night, October c, TO formally open
the encampment.
This meeting will be held on the Mon
ument Lot or some other accessible
place where an immense gathering will
be possible and is designed to be OF
the greatest magnitude. Several Of the
largest bands attending the encampment
will furnish the music, in which the au-
dience will be requested to join. Speak
ers of national reputation will address
the meeting. Vocal music will probably
be rendered by some celebrated vocal
list.
The Idea Mr.. Warmers.
The plan has as yet taken no definite
form, and nothing has been done toward
putting it into execution, as Mr.. Warner
has just conceived the plan. As now
contemplated. the address of the Presi-
dent will be followed by a welcome on
the rart of the city by Commissioner
Macfarland. After this some leading To-
cal speaker not yet definitely determined
upon. hut believed to be Col. John Nc
Elroy. will. speak The reply on the
part of the Grand Army will be made
by Gen. Ell Torrance, the commander
in-chief of the Grand Army of the Re
public.
The entire program will be interspers-
ed with music by leading bands, and the
audience will be requested to join in
the singing of Nearer, Ny God to
Thee" and the Star Spangled Banner"
monster religious gathering is also
planned by Mr.. Warner to be held the
Sunday preceding the encampment in
Convention Hall. Here, also, bands OF
national reputation will furnish the
music. and one of the prominent local
directors win be requested to lead the
ulOlSleE SACI u5, IO4DPI-SAiS tAS SA4N44N
audience.
Just what form this service will take
Mr. Warner, has not decided. but 1t is
probable that one or more of the most
eloquent divines in the country will be
asked to address the meeting. II this
course is not pursued, 1t will be purely
q service of song. in which the entire
audience will participate.
Political Movement Excites Interest,
Much interest IS evidenced in Grand
Army circles at the news accounts of
the proposed national association of
veterans that it is announced viii be
formed with the purpose Of making it
self a political power. Most Of the mer
bers of the Grand Army of the Republic
are dependent entirely upon the press
fer their Information on the subject. as
little is known Of the movement outside
of the few who are at present directing
the organization.
The organization effected several
nights ago is but preliminary to a ma
tional organization which, It IS hoped,
will be formed among the veterans at
the time of their gathering in this city.
Whether this effort on the part Of Pri
vate DalzelIc and his friends will prove
successful is yet a matter Of conjecture.
The important departure from prece-
dent, involving a plan which has hereto
fore been foreign 10 all patriotic socic-
ties. is the purpose of the founders to
compel all members OF the orga nization
TO vote as the directing power Of the
organization may indicate.