The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1905-06-15

Commander A. G.. Weissert. of Mil
waukee, called the assemblage to
order and brought forward General
Blackmar, the Commander-in-Ch
As General Blackmar and Mr.. Sim
mons stepped forward there was a
mighty cheer, showing that the two
men were the idols of the Grand
Army. The general raised his hand
thanking the comrades for the well
come they had given him. He spoke
OF Mr.. Simmons, and told of his pride
IN being able to be at this reception
given by the one honorary member of
the Grand Army. General Blackmar
spoke of the work of the orgauiza-
ton, and declared that if it be the
will of Divine Providence he hoped
before the end of his term of Office TO
grasp the hand of every member of
the Grand Army still surviving. He
told of the places he had visited, and
declared that he was now planning
to go to Alaska so as not to overlook a
single one of the old boys who wore
the blue. His references to the men
of the rank and file drew cheers and
tears from his auditors.
The Rev. Jenkin Lloyd Jones, of
Chicago, was next introduced. He.
spoke to the members of the Grand
Army of the coming of peace, and
made a strong plea for universal
peace.
After song by Miss Charlie Run
ais, former Gov. George w. Peck was
introduced as the defender of the
cavalry" For ten minutes he kept
the boys laughing at jokes at the ex-
pense of the cavalry, and he closed
his portion of the program by declar-
ing that the Wisconsin members of
the Grand Army, forty thousand
strong, had decided that henceforth
Z. g. Simmons should be known to
the world as Major General 2. G.
Simmons.
When the hearty cheer that greeted
this suggestion had subsidized, the Rev.
Florence Buck was introduced, and
speaking as the daughter of a soldier
of the rebellion she paid touching
tribute to the old soldiers and the
work they had done.
This ended the speech making, and
the members of the different posts re-
tired to the house where they sat
down to supper, such supper as
had never been served to the members
of the Grand Army before. It was 40
camp fire supper, but ten course
dinner prepared by one of the leading
caterers in Chicago. At the long
tables covers were laid for more than
two hundred guests.
After supper there was a sort of
Informal reunion, and Miss Charlie
Runa1s was called out to recite the
famous poem, ''Old Glory"
By this time it was necessary for
the Milwaukee men to leave for their
train, but before they left they in
sisted on speech from Mr. Sim.
mons. There were big tears chasing
each other down the cheeks of Mr..
Simmons as he came to the front of
the platform to acknowledge the
thanks of the veterans. The hearty
cheers unnerved him for a minute,
but then he spoke. He told the vet
Grams that he couldn't make speech,
but that he wanted to tell them how
much he had enjoyed having them as
his guests. $50 long as I live, " said
Mr.. Simmons, II want you to come
here every year, and when am dead
my children will have the old house
open to every member of the Grand
Army until the last one of you has
answered the final call"
| This ended the evenings enter
tainment, and with light and happy
hearts the veterans dropped into line
and started for the station.
General B1ackmar went directly
from Kenosha to Lacrosse, where he
will attend the state encampment
which opens today.