Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-01
SOLDIERS OF SPANISH WAR
Major Hodgson Suggested as the Next
Head of the Order.
TOAST TO "coMRADE'' ROOSEVELT
Encampment to Be Held Here Next
october-Big Parade Along
Pennsylvania Avenue

I old Glory and the national encampment
| of the United Spanish War Veterans to be
| held In this city next October were topics
that occupied the attention of a large gath
ering of soldiers of 1898 last evening over
| the banquet board at Freand,s The affair
was given in honor Of Nal. Charles r. Mil
| Ter of Cleveland, Ohio, the commander
! chief, who is a visitor here and the guest
! of the Department of the District of Co.
lumbia
The greatest outburst of applause during
/ the evening occurred when one of the
! speakers suggested Maj. Fred S. Hodgson
chairman of the encampment committee
and past commander of the local depart
| ment, as the next commander-in-chef to
succeed Major Miller. The demonstration
| was in progress several minutes.
At the beginning of the banquet the good
| health of "Comrade" Theodore Roosevelt
| President of the United States and colonel
or the Rough Riders. was drunk standing.
The concluding toast to Our Com
rades who have gone to their last bivouac."
1t was drunk in water and in silence.
| The guests. in addition to Maj. Miller,
We're Gen. j. Warren kiefer representative
| In Congress from Ohio, and the first COM
mander-in-chief of the Spanish War yete-
| rams: Col. NJ. Emmett Urei of the National
Guard of the District of Columbia and past
| oommander-in-chiefo of the United Spanish
| War Veterans: Maj. ]. H. Slime president
| of the United States Historical Society;
| Maj. Fred S. Hodgson, Capt Lee NJ Lips
| comb and DR.. s. Clifford Cox, past depart
ment commanders, and Mr.. Herbert G.
| Lewis
| Commander Smith the POSTMASTER
| The long table was decorated with frag-
| rant spring blossoms. After the menu had
| received attention the Spanish War Vet
| Grams discussed other things in both Sc
| rious and humorous veins. Commander John
| Tx2Ufg Unit nf ha
| was POSTMASTER, and he was particularly
happy in his introduction of the speakers
He spoke of the pleasure 1t gave the mem
bers of the District of Columbia depart
ment to have as their guest the highest
officer of their patriotic organization, and
then introduced the commander-in-chief as
the first speaker
Maj. Miller said he appreciated the
| hearty support the District of Columbia
department was giving his administra-
ton, which he hoped would be a memo
rable one.
We shall have future or a past" Maj.
Miller added With your support we
shall make 1t a future"
He described his emotions after the
death of his venerable mother when upou
the opening of her jewel chest there was
disclosed a tiny soldier suit of blue with
its rows of brass buttons. Pinned to it
was card bearing the inscription: This
was worn by my son Charles while he
was beating his drum at patriotic meet
ings in 1861" The speaker said the in
spiration of such American mothers was
what gave their sons the patriotic in
SEPARATION that made of them the match
less American soldiers that have fought
all of our wars to victorious conclusions.
Maj; Miller paid glowing tribute to
bullet pierced blue blouse that did not
pierce some woman's heart"
Interest in Coming Encampment.
OF
speaker. He. responded to the toast Our
Next Encampment." Maj. Hodgson said
the coming encampment was creating
great interest and enthusiasm in every
camp In the District department, as we'll
as in many camps all over the land
THE comrades who come here next Oc-
tober.' Mai. Hodgson announced, will be
in spirit of true comradery. We of Wash
ington propose to make the coming en-
campment the best of all. With 1t will
come the true sentiment which blends the
blue and the gray in American comrade-
ship. In the great parade that will march
along Pennsylvania avenue next fall will
be the sons of the Yanks and the sons of
the Johnny Rebs of more than forty years
ago. They will step side by side, shoulder
to shoulder, with patriotism in their hearts
and the starry emblem Of their country in
their hands"
Gen j. Warren Kiefer, past commander
| in-chief. responded to THE Spanish War
Veterans"
81 have a warm heart for the Spanish
war veterans" Gen. Kiefer began. "When
their first national meeting was held here
in 1899 I WAS elected the first COM
mander-in-chief. / had the honor to be
a member of the council that worked out
the design for the badge and the bronze
button. 1 regard this as one of the best
organizations of Its kind in the United
states. 1t cannot, of course, ever have the
members of the G. A. r., but it will be
none the less patriotic. One great thing
about the soldiers Of 1893 was that they
fought at the close of the nineteenth
century. the basic motto of which was
universal freedom. The war with Spain
was the only contest on record in which
one nation declared war against another
on purely humanitarian principles. Its
results promise much for civilization in
the future. You may boast that you were
the first soldiers to fight in a war for
humanity. The soldiers of the war of 1898
We're imbued with as much patriotism as
were the soldiers of the civil war. Had
occasion demanded you would have been
as great soldiers as those of any previous
war
''It is entirely unfair to say that the Span
ish war soldiers cannot be compared favor
ably with those of the civil war.
Gen. kfefer, in conclusion, urged that
the soldiers of 1898 let courage. love of
country and patriotism underly their con-
duct.
Colonel Urells Response.
Commander Smith next introduced Col.
M. Emmett Urell. past commander-in-chief,
and veteran of the civil war and of the
war with Spain, who responded to the
toast Grand Army Men in the Spanish
War" He said he was sorry there were
not more of the old trained soldiers in the
war of 1898.
IF there had BEEN he added. you
young fellow would have been taken care
of better
Col Ureli went on to say that the 1st Dis
triet of Columbia Regiment, United States
Volunteers. had the honor of establishing
the first camp of the Spanish war. across
IN Virginia.
IT named it Alger" Col Urel added. "and
drove the first tent peg there"
The speaker told of the experience of the
district volunteers at Chickamauga, Tampa
tand In the trenches in Cuba, and of 'the
beautiful tropical weather the regiment
encountered the night of July H. 1898.
Il was In the battle of Gettysburg and
other big fights in the civil war" Col Urell
remarked. "and l say In all truth that we
men of 1885 did not have as hard time
at any iuncture of the war from 1851 to
1866 as the District boys did for a few days
at Santiago. The conditions In the tropics