The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-09
Sons of Veterans at Peru Urged to
Devote Themselves to Deepening
Respect for the Flag.
NEXT STATE ENCAMPMENT
1T WILL BE HELD AT NOBLESVILLE
ON A DATE NOT YET SET.
Parade of Military and Civic Organ
fxatiOns-Peru Branch of the La
dies Aid Society Formed.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
PERU, Ind, July Sat the annual state
encampment of the Sons of Veterans to-
day it was decided to go to Noblesville next
year. The date is not set. Officers will be
elected Thursday. National President
Frank Martin was present to-day.
At the Ladies' Aid Society meetings to-
day a branch for Peru was formed, with
Mrs. William Ileff as president. National
President Addie Wallace, of Indianapolis,
officiated. Mrs. Fannie Rabb-Green. of
Knightstown, division president, was pre-
sented with diamond and pearl brooch by
the Sons of Veterans, the committee being
Sid Conger, Scott Thompson and Ira j.
Christian, prominent members.
This afternoon there was q fine parade Of
various military and civic organizations. At
its close speeches were made by James F..
Statesman. Lieutenant Governor Gilbert.
National Commander Martin and Congress
man Robinson, of Fort Wayne.
great crowd was expected to-day, but
the attendance was woefully short, due
probably to the recent Fourth of July holi-
day and to harvest. The people of Peru
have done wonderfully we'll in providing
welcome and entertainment for an unlim-
tied number of guests.
GOVERNOR DURBINS ADDRESS.
Governor Durbn was expected to address
the campfire tonight, but was detained at
Indianapolis on public business. James f.
Statesman, of Peru, presided and the camp
fire was a brilliant success from the prom
inence OF the speakers and quality of their
addresses. Maj. A. l.. Bodurtha, of the
and delivered it with oratorical effect, so as
to make it fully impressive. 1t was warmly
applauded. The address follows:
The demands of public business, made
more pressing by unfortunate occurrences
within the borders of the State, make il i'm
perative that / should cancel my engage
ment TO be present during the state en-
campment of the Sons of Veterans. L have
been looking forward with pleasurable an
ticipation TO this occasion, not only because
of the qualification it would give me TO re-
new old and agreeable associations, but
that l might give oral expression to the
high respect in which hold the great or
ganization you represent"
1.-The men who fought upon the battlefields
OF the rebellion did more than merely to pre-
serve the Union in its original integrity.
Great as was that consummation, of even
greater value is the heritage of inspiratio ion
which has come down to later generations
of Americans through the noble courage. the
transcendent patriotism of men who, by the
hundred thousand, marched down into the
very valley of the shadow of death that this
Republic, the last, best hope of earth,
might be preserved. Futile the effort to
adequately estimate the magnitude of our
obligations TO the soldiers OF the sixties.
and useless to seek TO glorify with human
speech the service they performed. for the
eloquence of such deeds as theirs surpasses
in infinite degree the eloouence of words.
REPUBLICS NOT UNGRATEFUL.
I'VE have not been a fcrgetful nor an un-
grateful people. Our government has been
generous beyond all precedent in its fulfill
ment of Abraham Lincoln's conception of
the Nations duty toward its preservers-'to
care for him who shall have borne the bat
tie, and for his widow and his orphans.
There is no more convincing refutation Of
the doctrine that republics are unerateful
than our annual pension budget OF hum
dred and nifty million dollars. a sum APP
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