Evening journal., 1905-09-08
WILMINGTON PREPARES
FOR u. v. |. CONVENTION
FIVE THOUSAND VISITORS EXPECTED NEXT
WEEK FROM ALL PARTS OF THE UNITED
STATES GENERAL WILLIAM A.
REILLY FOR NATIONAL COM
MANDER

wilmington is in gala attire for the
twentieth annual National Encamp-
ment Of the Union Veteran Legion
which viii be held here next week
from Tuesday to Friday inclusive.
This will be the first time that the
encampment has met in this city
and, owing to the age Of the members
and to the fact that the naturally de-
creasing membership cannot be re-
plenished, it viii possibly be the last
occasion on which the veterans will
assemble in Delaware.
Five thousand visitors, including FIVE
hundred accredited delegates. are ex-
pected from all parts of the United
states. the largest number coming
from Pittsburg. Pa, in which city the
Legion was instituted by General A..
B. Hay, and which has the greatest
membership. The delegates from
Encampment No. 1 Of Pittsburg will
exceed fifty. There will be about sixty
delegates from Philadelphia, they
representing encampments numbers
2, 20, SO and 73. Encampment No.
81, Of Camden. n. j., will send about
25 delegates, they accompanying the
city, which has two encampments, will
send % delegates.
TWELVE THOUSAND MEMBERS.
The Veteran Legion has twelve
thousand members thirty-five per
cent Of whom are in Pennsylvania.
The membership in point of numbers
in the different States then grades as
follows.
Ohio. Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Illi-
nois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Missouri.
Michigan. New Jersey, New York,
Maryland, District of Columbia, Del7-
ware West Virginia, Kentucky. Kan
sas, California. Maine and Massachu-
setss All Of these States will be rep
resented at the National Encampment.
- The chief interest centres I'm the
elrcticn cf q national commander 20
Succeed General William H. Manning,
pf Dayton. o.. who is now completing
his second term he having been re-
elected last year at the encampment
iu jamestown, n. Y. He does not
desire a third term and the principal
bandidata for the high Office is Cen
'eral William A. Reilly of this city
'ormer Adjutant General and a mem-
Der Of the present National Executive
COMMITTEE. He has already served
two terms as q member of this COM
.mittee.
A large number OF the delegates fav-
or General Reilly's election inasmuch
as he is the choice of the one hundred
active members in Delaware who will
act as their hosts.
DIFFERENT FROM C. a. r.
the Union Veteran Legion and the
Grand Army Of the Republic. eighty
per cent. Of the members of the for
mer are allied with the G. A. R. IN
. order to be eligible TO join the Veteran
Legion, soldier must have enlistei
prior to July. 1863. and served in the
4 Civil War at least two consecutive
years, unless wounded in the line oi
duty. No drafted man. substitute oi
deserter can enter. The membership
. includes men who took part i'm every
4 engagement from the fall of Fort Sum.
. ter to the end Of the rebellion at APP
pomattox.
General Reilly who is PROMINENT,
mentioned for the Office of Nationa
Commander was Colonel of Encamp.
ment No. a. of Wilmington. whicl
embraces the State OF Delaware. anC
also Department Commander Of tn,
C. a. r.. at the same time in 1900.
The sessions OF the convention vii
b held in Eden Hall. The first fea.
tuN will be the meeting of the exc.
cutA'e committee at the ClaytoI
Hok'e (the national headquarters) a
2 y M. on Tuesday for the purpose o
exaiA lining tho credentials of delegates
At We same place on that evening
National Commander Manning and hi
staff will hold a public reception.