The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-13
Preparations Complete for the Opening Session of
the Indiana Department at Anderson To-day

grand marshal-National and department
officers will review parade from balcony of
Hotel acknowledgements session re-
sumed Immediately after parade.
1880 p. m.-Civic parade of uniformed and
other lodges and associations, Charles HI.
Daniels. grand marshal.
500 p. m.-Grand Opera House campfire,
Department Commander Benjamin Starr.
chairman. Addresses by National Com
mander T. J. Stewart; Judge J. " Hadley.
Governor Durbin and others.
Auditorium campfire, Past Department
Commander J: 8 Dodge, chairman Ad-
dresses by Lieutenant Governor Gilbert,
Hon. Alfred Ellison, w. A. Ketcham and
others.
M E. Church campfire. Past Department
Commander j. L. Johnston, chairman. Ad-
dresses by Captain Henry c. Adams: Rev:
others.
STAFF Correspondence of the Journal.
ANDERSON, Ind, May 12.-The citizens
of Anderson. proverbially hospitabe. have
fairly outdone themselves in the generous
welcome extended to the thousands of visit
ors gathered here for the twenty-fourth an
nual encampment Department of Indiana
Grand Army of the Republic. They have
adorned their city in holiday attire, they
have thrown open their homes and public
halls and. in fact, the veterans and their
friends are impressed on every hand with
the idea that the entire city is theirs. How
ever, more indicative Of the genuine hos
pitality, and the thing that appeals most
strongly to their guests, is the manner In
which the citizens have turned out to ex-
| tend a personal welcome. There are COM
mittees galore on reception, entertainment,
| information, comfort, Red Cross, and each
member OF each committee governs him.
self as If he were personally responsible
| for the welfare of every visitor. Conse-
quently nothing that makes for comfort
and convenience is wanting, and the open
ing day of the encampment has passed most
auspiciously.
The arrangements for handling the crowds
have been admirably perfected and have
proved wholly adequate. 1t is estimated
that there are between four and five thou
sand strangers in the city tonight. and
they have been received and disposed of
without the slightest hitch. OF course the
crowd tomorrow will be much larger
three or four times that number If the
weather is propitious-but the indications
are that Anderson will prove equal to the
emergency.
Department Commander Benjamin Starr,
of Richmond, who arrived early this morn
floor of the Hotel Anderson at o'clock.
With him is Asst. Adjt. Gen. Richard M.
Smock, of Indianapolis, and other depart
ment officers. The committee on credentials
was established at an early hour in the
large billiard room of the hotel and under
admiral police arrangements that kept the
hall free of a crowd, the delegates and
post commanders, who are entitled to seats
In the encampment were handled expedi-
tiously and as rapidly as they arrived. The
headquarters of the local reception and en-
tertainnent committee was opened in
a business room on the north side OF the
public square. near the hotel. Sub-commit-
tees met every train. with a. brass or mar
tial band, and escorted the visitors to the
headquarters, where they were assigned
to the hotels or residences where they will
be entertained during the meeting. At the
same time. committees of ladies met the
visiting members of the Woman's Relief
Corps and Ladies Of the @. A. R., and took
them in carriages to the headquarters,
where they received their assignments.
Headquarters for the w. r. c. was estab-
lished at the Hotel Anderson, while the
Ladies Of the G. A. r. hold forth at the
Grand.
No sessions of the encampment were held
to-day. The time was given over to the
work of the credentials committee and one
or two regimental reunions, and, Incl
dentally. to the political skirmishing Of the
various candidates for the important Offices
in the G. A. R., w. r. c. and Ladies Of the
G. A. r. There are three candidates for
department commander of the G. A. r.
Judge George w. Grubbs, Of Martinsville;
Russell p. Finney, of New Albany, and
Isaiah B. Mcdonald, Of Columbia City.
Each is supported by a coterie of active
friends, and the indications are that the
race will be one Of the liveliest in the
history of the department. Judge Grubbs
will probably have the lead on the first
ballot, as he comes from the central part
of the State, where the membership is
largest, but that will not necessarily
settle the contest. Colonel Mcdonald
is the present senior vice department
commander, and has large per-
sonal acquaintance among the veterans.
Mr. Finney comes from a section of the
State that has not been represented in the
list of department officers for several years,
and he has a large following. The contest
is somewhat complicated by the fact that
the position of assistant adjutant general
is now vacant, Mr.. Smock retiring TO as
sumo the superintendency of the State Sol
diers' Eome, and there is a long list of
candidates for the place. fifteen or twenty
men having been mentioned. The new de-
partment commander will have the appoint
ment, and rumors Of all sorts of combina-
tions are afioat The name of Col /. n.
Walker, of indianapolis. past department
commander and past commander-in-chief
of the G. A. r.. was mentioned to-day in
connection with the place, but 1t was after
wards stated that he had said he could not
accept it, The election Of department COM
mander will be the last order Of business
before final adjournment Thursday.
There Is an equal number OF candidates
for department president Of the Ladies of
the G. A. R. Mrs. NJ. A. Gordon. OF Lo-
transport, Mrs. Margaret Lewis, OF Rich
mond. and Mrs- Kate c. Ward. of Month
cello, are in the race. and all OF them have
opened quarters at the Grand But one
candidate for department president of the
w. r. c. has appeared so far. Mrs. Sarah
C. White. of Rockville, but 1t IL possible
that she will have a contest
The old rivalry between the two women's