The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-08-31
WITH THE BL UE.
The Old Soldiers Saluted Ex-
Confederate, W. A. Harris.
Gave the Democratic Candidate
a housing Reception.
NO POLITICS SPOKEN.
MI. Sutton Paid Praise to the
Speaker as Senator.
Large Crowd Present at the
Dodge City Reunion.

Dodge Citv, Kan, Aug. 31-No man
who has ever addressed an old soldiers
reunion at Dodge City has had more
cordial reception than Colonel W. a
Harris. who spoke here Thursday NJ
man in the years that these reunions
have been held has talked more forcl-
bly and earnestly for patriotism than
ne. As he proceeded the 800 or 400 OLD
Union soldiers present cheered anu
cheered again this ex-Confederate'
thereby showing better than any othei
argument that the Union soldiers Will
not vote against this candidate because
of a difference of sentiment Of more
than 30 years ago.
Senator Harris address was mag
nifcent effort. Not once during his two
hours speech did he refer to politics or
his candidacy for governor. He told OF
the war and near the close drew a PIC
ture Of Gettysburg that caused his near
ers to lean forward with silent sus-
pense that was finally broken by sucn
cheers as one rarely hears even here at
Dodge.
For six years the people Of Dodge
City have been holding an old soldleIs
reunion during the last week of each
August. Each year has seen the attend.
ance larger than the year before, Dut IL
remains this year to so far surpass eN-
cry previous reunion as 70 ma me tAAI10
in charge fear for the future, and there
are hundreds of old veterans here from
all over the state who heard Senator
Harris Thursday and will hear wee
President Fairbanks today
Colonel Harris arrived on an early
train. At 10 o'clock. headed by large
band, the Democratic candidate for gov
ernOr was driven to the COTTONWOOD
grove, where he saw before him under
spacious tent uniforms OF blue whose
wearers, with their wives and daugh-
ters, filled the great canvas Just after
Colonel Harris had taken his seat on the
platform the band struck up the strains
of Dixie and Colonel Harris smiled good
naturally. The crowd smiled IN re-
tusn.
The band next played medley Of
of war songs When Rally Round
the Flag, Boys" was played the leader
had 800 or 400 assistants, for that many
wrinkled hands beat time and that
many white heads nodded to each beat.
the Battles Over" and then suddenly
to In the Prison Cell I Sit" and then
came There viii Be one Vacant
Chair" while scores of womens eyes
ran tears. When the medley reached
America" it was noticeable that Col.
Harris was the first on his feet in &C
cordance with patriotic custom. =" yam
kee Doodle" came last with many
cheers.
NJ ]. Sutton of Dodge City was chair
man. He introduced Colonel Harris
with a few remarks.
Il presume because Of the peculiar
conditions a years ago" he said, Il
am asked TO preside over this meeting.
Senator Harris belonged to one army
and I to the other. We tried to kill
each other, at least did. Senator Har-
ris belonged to the army of Northern
virginia. He was the acquaintance and
had the confidence Of General Lee. Now,
any person who had the confidence of
that man and who parucipa ted in his
battles is entitled to that which is ac-
corded to the brave Lee was a great
general While in the senate of the
United States Colonel Harris did more
Tor the Union soldier than any other
man who has ever been there"
Senator Harris said, among other
things: Soldiers of the great north
and south, when I come before YOU my
heart has an unfortunate way of get
ting In the way of my tongue When
we look back forty-five years and fol-
low the years down to the present,
what a wonderful history it has been.
Forty-dve years ago We were boys,
then looking forward to our future ca
reers Like an earthquake the coun-
try was rent asunder and men rushed
to arms because Of a sentiment You
men of courage went into that con-
fiict. You know the feeling of every
fiber being strained as you went into a
charge. A charge is not such a diff
ficult thing You are shoulder to
shoulder, carried on by enthusiasm.
but let a regiment lie waiting to
60 into action, with the men falling
dead all about. with the wounded be-
ing carried away to the rear. The
waiting and suspense there is test of
courage Grant and when his name is
mentioned 1 wish to reverently salute,
did more to restore love and peace be
tween the two armies than any other
man. When the surrender came he
said You may retain your horses:
YOU viii need them to put in Your
spring crops. Grant CONQUERED at
arms He then conquered our hearts.
II venture to say that there is not a
single soul in all of our land todav
who would now have had it different
MY son was a member Of the Ma
tiOnal guard of the District of Column
bia when the Spanish war broke out
He came to me and said that his regi-
ment was ordered to Cuba and thai
he wished to go. I told him that he
was too young and that I feared he
could not stand the hard campaign
His reply was a letter: I'm as old az
you were when the civil war broke ou-
and know I am larger He went and
had the good fortune to be under IRE
He came home wasted and i'll wifi
fever, but never regretted that he
went
Elm this connection Z am reminded
that when the war began with Snain
the Spanish minister wished to stir III
the embers of the civil war in the hon,
Of enlistiug the sympathy of the soufF
with his side. Why, bless his old heart