The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-14
Report. of Adiutant q neral and
Council OF Admins: grafton
Also Elicit INTEREST.
SUBSTANCE OF RHi0rUTIOHs
PRESENT CONDITIONS HANDLED In
NO UNCERTAIN WAY.
Attitude of the Grand ASmy Clearly
OutIined-various c4mmi,-
tee Meetins.a


The wisdom of the decision n hold the an
nual encampment OF the Ind fna q. A. r.
in indianapolis during the week Of the
monument dedication was am5ly vindicated
by the mighty army of wearsss of the uni
form of blue and button o 4 bronze that
surged into the city from stem and inter-
urban cars throughout the o4y yesterday
The veterans began pouring 4nto the city
at an early hour in the mo hing. and by
the time Commander Garrig7s raped for
order at the opening Of the twenty-third
annual encampment in Tomll BON Hall yes
terday afternoon the citys rapulation had
been increased by more than 600 visitors
G.. A. r. men and others. tGrand Army
leaders declared last night TINT the attend
ance at the present encamD4ent has un-
doubtedly reached the "high3water mark
of such events in this Sta{ There will
not in another year. is the isDrrowful pre-
dction, be enough OF the gall Ant old heroes
remaining 10 make such In admirable
showing. This is scarcely boS,e out by the
youthful appearance keen ey T. and springy
steps of many OF the vetttans Bowed
forms are still in the minority among them.
Canes in abundance were s4en upon the
streets yesterday, but theirA owners used
them chiefly in pointing out objects of in
terest forgetful OF the need },r which they
were carried
The encampment did not 3begin until 2
o'clock in the afternoon. b3 long before
noon hundreds OF veterans fOssa. gathered
about Tonllinson Han awaitSg the Coming
Of the officer of the day TO ur 3ock the doors.
After entrance was gained ahe time until
the encampment opened wasIocoupied in a
series of impromptu camp hles. Many be-
came so absorbed in "reminiscences of the
great struggle between the Nfrth and South
that they forgot 10 eat their dinners
At 2:15 yesterday afternoly Department
Commander Garrigus's gavel 1caused silence
and 700 faces crowned witt gray hairs
faced that Official The sessiYn was opened
in due form, Comrade Charies w Wheat
acting officer of the day land David "
Hewey officer OF the guard hen Chaplain
Shepherd. of Post 476. rose 10 invoke the
divine blessing with trend in his voice.
the body stood with 1ed heads a
touching spectacle, and jOinIL in a fervent
amen. The next matter OF Importance was
the reading Of the address II Department
Commander Garrigus. whicl was listened
to with closest attention.
THE COMMANDERS REPORT.
The address Of Department Commander
Garrigus, submitted yesteitay. takes -
very optimistic view OF thea Nations oft
look On this subject he sals:
1--WE have done and are 3oine. our fun
share in fulfilling our grtst mission to
make the world happier nd3better because
we lived in IL. Providence has led and
blessed and guided our kcountry The
patriotic blood and fervOr 4Df her cOufa-
geOus and liberty-loving sOIls has been 50
diffused among our people fhat we have
shown the world an object 1sson in hasty
/ preparation and grand achievements on
/ land and sea in our war vi Spain We
are placed properly in the ftrefront OF the
/ governments ot the earth in tlilitary. naval,
humanitarian and business matters. and
our growth and prosperity htTe no bounds"
Speaking OF the value II organization
Department Commander Jlrrigus illus
/ tratcd IL by pOrtraying the achievements OF
/ the Grand Army in Indiana T. follows.
/ Success with bodies OH men depends
\ upon Thoroughly organized 1fort whether
I in war, politics, legislation, I4ligiOn or busl-
ness. BY thorough organization OF the
army and navy we suppre tsed the rebel
/ lion. Our companies. regin1nts. brigades,
/ divisions and corps. when aiing under The
i orders of one qualified omSnander and in
concert with our fleet. bee 1me invincible.
/ SO our great organization. 4 Grand Army
/ OF the Republic has enabl1 US 10 secure
favorable pension legislatioIt establish ma
\ tiOnal and State military homes, at
Knightstown a Soldiers ait Sailors Or
/ phans' Home and erect rtagnifcent md
I lasting monument at Indis4 polls TO the
\ soldiers and sailors OF the wtr OF 1915 and
/ in honor of the cause for VI fch We fought.
I This patriotic and useful legislation and its
/ beneficial results could not fhave been ac-
/ complished without the AID and manage
/ ment OF our Organization-'
/ Memorial day, said I've department
| commander lis the sweetes3 and most sa-
cred day Of all the year ~ the Sabbath
/ Of American patriotism. ISle wonders OF
natures howery kingdom, Ikarching IN the
advance of spring. embeis{ the earth. At
/ times hear again the soul q OF nfe. drum
and bugle. We see our cOn4 AIDES taking
I last farewell of home. mo4her, wife and
+ sweetheart Their flushed f3ces shine with
I love and courage. We he1 again their
familiar voices and songs. thile In camp.
on the march and in the bfttle But this
is all memory and image nation. Their
+ voices were stlled they twent out from
+ among us through the smC{le that settled
on the battlefields more th;fn a third OF a
+ century ago. Dear dead comrades. you
sleep I'm death and dream .! war no mOrel
/ Many died in the happiest, sslnniest periods
! ~ their lives. For all thesi glorious dead
. the tattoo extinguishes no Hight. the rev.
/ ellie brings no morning. Btt the spirit or
/ their sacrifice still lives andj spires all our
Nations future How eXcesiingly sad that
/ they are bat dust and a mefOryi But with
I a heroism seldom equaled .nd a chivalry
/ never surpassed they cafie our star
decked flag. oft spotted witlf fblood and torn
I with shot and shell. 10 an unparalleled tri-
umph in the interest OF mtnkind. There
I fore the observance Of Memorial day IL a
1 sacred duty that every ciuz5n Of this -coun-
try and every lover OF hOmf and our insti-
tutions owes 10 lofty PATRIOTISM and heroic
''i0'' Is ENTHUSIASTIC.
The department commant Pr is very en-
| thusiastic over the Soldiert Home at La
/ fayette He urges countiek 20 build cot
| tages and the State 10 nal Is further ap-
I propriations. "The home \ not "A burden
10 the state. The cost for ach veteran Is
. $50 "A year. OF which the Uni ted States pays
500. The cost Of maintainfg the nonse!f-
supporting veteran is less Il the home than
I'm the poorhouse Therefort as a measure
of economy. the several co.'s bites would Tar
better make provision for ii'iigent veterans
IN the Soldiers Home. whtre they rightly