The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-09-19
CITIZENS SPIRIT
PROMISES WELL
PROMINENT q. "A. r. MAN PRE-
Diets BIG ENCAMPMENT.
In Spite, of Rapidly Thinning Members,
a Great Attendance Is Predicted
Next summer-Executive Committee
& Soon to Be Named, Will Meet Here
to Fix the Date.

"Judging from the spirit in which
some of your prominent Grand Army
men and philosophical citizens propose
to take hold Of the preliminary work,
the annual encampment at Minneapolis
next year will be "a record breaker,
said Colonel Eli w. Hall of Lynn,
Colonel Hall, who is visiting his son,
Walter G. Hall, for a few days on his
way home from the Denver encamp-
ment, has missed only one grand en-
campment in the last twenty years. He
is past commander of the department,
Of Massachusetts and has been twice
commander Of the largest Grand Army
der post, No. 5, Of Lynn. Colonel Hall
was member Of the national execu-
tive committee in 1890 and 1891 and
was an active worker in arranging Tor
the Boston encampment.
stThe Boston encampment was the
largest ever held said Colonel Hail.
cit was estimated that half million
persons came to Boston. 1 was chair
man Of the committee on invitations,
specimens of the engraver's art, recelv-
ing over 5000 replies. We sent invita-,
tions to all officers of the army and
navy, both on the active and retired
list, to all members Of congress, all
ministers from foreign countries, the
members of the Massachusetts, legisla-
ture, the governor of the state and the
mayors Of all the cities in Massachu,
setts and the prominent clergymen OF
the state, besides, OF course, to the
members of all Grand Army posts.
Some Of the invitations went all over
the world, chasing officers Of the army
and navy, and some Of the replies re-
ceived were very humorous or inter
esting. The late General Fitzhugh Lee
| regretted his inability to attend, and
said he preferred to meet the members
| of the G.. A. r. in peace rather than
in war.
Losses by Death Heavy.
stIn the past year the army has lost
| over thirty Thousand members by death.
The rapidity with which its ranks are
thinning is indicated by the death rol!
at the Massachusetts state soldiers
home at Chelsea, where we have lost
ninety-two men in the past year. The
G.. A. R. membership is heaviest In
New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and
/ Massachusetts,. Not more than two
! thirds of the civil war veterans are
members Of the army, as many are scat
tered about the country in places where
there are no posts. The army member
ship reached it's high-water mark II
1889, when there were 409, 900 names or
the rolls. Since that time the member
ship has been gradually dwindling. Al
4 the Denver encampment, however, thu
visitors more than doubled the popu
lation of Denver, and I have no doub
that the attendance at the Minneapolis
encampment will be still heavier
! tThe date for the Minneapolis en-
campment will not be fixed unit! tn
meeting of the executive committee
which will soon be appointed by Com
mander-in- Chief Tanner. This commit
tee will meet in Minneapolis, probabl.
lin November. About ten members
chosen from the council of administra
/ ton, which is made up of one represen
tative from each state in the union, AM
it is customary to appoint the same me-
| year after year: At the Boston encamp
) ment each member Of our executiv
| committee Of twenty-one members wa
: the chairman of a subcommittee of ter
Z fifteen or twenty members, which locke
, after some branch Of the work. Thes
) various committees were reinforced b
) citizens committee of 100 members
3 prominent business and professions
men of Boston. We had the additions
advantage of large appropriations fro1
the city Of Boston and the state of Mas
sachusetts.'