Omaha daily bee., 1906-08-14
Complete Arrangements for Comfort Of the
Old Soldiers.
FOR COMMANDER GROWS WARM
Friends of Captain oOnsy of Kansas Making
an Aggressive Campaign.
cASTEEN QUESTION WILL COME UP
Reception to Veterans by Governor
johnson at the New Capitol In
st. PauI-Nebraska Man
Dies of Fatigue.

CSAb1 AAiill.t aus Ac--A he
rush of visitors to this city for the annual
encampment of the Grand Army OF the
Republic continues unabated. and the pres
ent prospect is that the meeting will be one
OF tho most successful ever held by the
Grand Army. According to the estimates
OF railroad men, fully 100000 people have so
far arrived, and dozens of trains running
In two and three sections are still on tho
way.
Minneapolis has risen to the occasion in
magnificent fashion, and it is difficult to
mention anything that could be done for
the entertainment and comfort of her visit
ors which has not already been provided.
Numerous committees have been appointed
TO receive the veterans at the depots, and
man has but to mention who he is and
declare his desires. At nearly every cor
ner in the business section Of the city is
situated an information booth" A fea-
ture of the thoughtfulness that underies
the entire work done by the local enter
tainment committee is found In the numer-
Gus benches that are stretched along both
sides of all the downtown streets. They
are rough affairs, fashioned crudely out Of
unplaned planks. but they AFFORD a rest
ing place for tens of thousands OF wearied
pedestrians. No feature of the encamp-
ment has been so productive of comfort
and satisfaction.
City ElRbOrately Decorated.
The city itself is decorated as though
every man had made It his personal busi-
ness to see that Minneapolis looked her
bravest and best. Flags and bunting are
everywhere from roofs to sidewalks. and
banners are swung in endless profusion
across the streets. The decorations. Law
ish as they now seem, are still in prog
ress, and they will be increased until the
morning of Wednesday. when all the busi-
ness houses of the city will close in honor
OF the great parade
The contest for national commander Is
growing warmer, although no great amount
OF electioneering has so far been done.
The friends of Captain p. H. Coney OF
Kansas are making what is outwardly the
most aggressive campaign, and claim to
be fairly confident of the election OF their
man. other candidates whose names are
being strongly pushed are r. b. Brown Of
GAINESVILLE O., and Charles @. Burton OF
Missouri. There is no contest worth men
tioning for any Of the minor Offices.
Canteen Question TO Come Up.
A meeting of the executive committee
Of the Grand Army of the Republic was
held today to determine matters of routine
ItldtlNt 10 lnt DuSlntbS IlttllnB OI the en-
campment which commences on Thursday
morning.
It is expected that considerable debate
will result over the recent law. passed
by congress driving the canteen out of the
old soldiers homes Comma nder-in- Chief
Tanner is in favor of the passage of a
resolutions deprecating the purpose of this
law, but a strong element in the organiza-
tion is against such action.
Another feature that may crop up, is the
OLD fight over the proposed erection by the
women Of the south of a statue of Henry
Wirz, notorious for his atrocities while in
command at Andersonvile prison. This
matter came up in 1901 and has been more
or less alive ever since. All members of
the Grand Army are vehemently opposed
to the erection of a statue to Wirz, who
was hanged for his crimes, but many OF
them declare that in their opinion the in
tention TO erect the statue is not serious,
and as the matter now stands, not worth
the consideration which some are disposed
TO give it.
Reception by the Governor.
The several features OF the encampment
which are numbered by the hundred COM
menced today with regimental reunions
and a reception given by Governor John
visiting veterans A grand patriotic con-
cert was the evening feature in this city.
z. v. Tilden of Antelope county. Ne
braska, an old soldier died today OF fatigue
induced by the journey from his home
The program for tomorrow consists
largely OF receptions and business meetings
by numerous affiliated societies and re-
unions od various regiments.
Clara Barton, the famous Red Cross
worker, arrived in Minneapolis today to
attend the encampment and will remain
during the week to enjoy being with the
soldiers for whom she worked so industri.
ously during the great war. Miss Barton
came with the Massachusetts, department.
A number OF veterans were overcome by
the heat today and taken to hospitals.
Philippine Veterans Meet.
DIES MONIES. Aug. 13.-The seventh an
nual reunion Of the Army Of the Philippines
convened here today. reception was
rendered the visiting delegates by the local
association preliminary to the opening sd-
dress Of the commander-in-chief Alfred s.
Frost. Prominent Philippine veterans. IN
cluding Generals Hale and Green, are ar
riving from every section of the country.
campfire was one OF the features Of
tonight,