Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-07
VETERANS At BANQUET
IN Honor Of COMMANDMENT
Chief Of G. Ar.
AT THE NEW WILLARD HOTEL
Messages Of Congratulation From
President and Vice President.
RESPONSES TO THE T0ASTs
Commander Tanner Rejoices in Re-
united Country-List of Mem
bers and Guests.
AT THE NEW WILLARD HOTEL
RESPONSES TO THE ToAsTs
Commander Tanner Rejoices in R.


The Department of the Potomac, Grand
Army of the Republic. now holding
its thirty-eighth annual encampment,
gave a banquet in the immense ball
room of the New willard last evening
i'll honor of Corporal Tanner. commander
in-chief of the $4,000 Union veterans Of
the civil war" This organization. born of
strife and nurtnred by war, devoted its
time last evening to the advocacy of uni
versal peace The two hundred members
conflict of 81 to 'e5. and with the lights
eXtinguished they listened with bowed heads
to the sounding of taps in memory of their
departed comrades and then, almost I'M
consciously, they joined in softly singing.
"Tenting on the Old Camp Ground
1t was an evening of good things. both
dinner remarks From the small Cape
Gods" to the fancy ice cream and cigars.
the eats were thoroughly enjoyed; and
from the opening speech of Department
Commander Tasker to the final Summing
up by Justice Stafford and Colonel Hop
kins, the attention of the members and
their guests was absolute. Applause and
bestowed as to become merely incidental to
the program. When Professor McFalI sang
solo in memory of the departed comrades
he was given an ovation that he will prob
ably Eaver forget. The old soldiers were
impressed, and he had to return and sing
to them again.
Southern snilax ornamented every cornice
in the large room, and We'd with the every
where prevalent Stars and Stripes for dec
orative pre-eminence. Yellow tulips and
jonquils were used for table decorations
their brilliant colors being tempered by d
wealth of Scattered greens. An orchestra was
present and played throughout the evening,
materially assisting the Old soldiers when
they sang America" "The Star Spangled
Banner and other national airs.
When the menu had been disposed of De-
partment Commander Tasker introduced
Col Thomas s. Hopkins as the POSTMASTER.
In doing so he complimented Corporal Tan
ner and. on behalf of the department well
coined him in their midst. Col Hopkins
took great pleasure in introducing every
body. Most of the speeches were serious:
many were reminiscent, and one-that OF
Representative Charles e. Littlefield of
Maine-was refreshingiy humorous. Col
Hopkins started out to have fun with the
gentleman from Maine" but when the
gentleman from Maine had retaliated the
laugh was on the colonel
Toast to the President.
Representative R. w. Bonynge of Colo
RADIO was first on the program, responding
to toast to the President of the United
States. In opening, he expressed the graft
fication of Denver. and the people of Colo
RADIO generally. that the G. A. r. had met
at Denver in its last national encampment.
He added that Denver would like to have
the G. A. r. make the town its permanent
national meeting place, whereupon Corporal
Tanner interrupted with the warning that
Mr.. Bonynge would better be careful with
his invitations, because the members Of the
G. A. r. are very much disposed to return
again to the metropolis of the state of Colo
of his tender years he had not been
eligible for admission into the army at the
time of the civil war, but he declared that
he felt 1t a sacred duty to preserve the
Union and maintain the progress OF this
country which these veterans. by their sac
rifices. had made possible As representa-
tive of the younger generation, 1.-The men
that must take your places when you co.
he said. he received the country ana the IN
alienable right of liberty as an heritage to
be protected and preserved for all time.
Referring to the President, he said the
office would not exist today, nor would Its
occupant rank as high among the rulers OF
the world had not the "army OF the blue
fought so valiantly and SO successfully. He
characterized Mr.. Roosevelt as the most
complete American that has ever held the
office of chief executive OF TINS country.
He detailed the Presidents rise in politics,
and when he concluded the applause from
the old soldiers demonstrated that they
shared the sentiment of. the gentleman
from Colorado.
Chiefs Address.
Commander-in-chief Tanner was then in
troduced to respond to the toast The
Grand Army of the Republic" He was
greeted with three rousing cheers all the
members standing. In opening he asked
the question What has been the .compen-
sation for our sacrifcec" In replying to
his own question, Corporal Tanner declared
that the progress of the country, it's pres
ent rank among the nations of the world,
and, finally, the gratitude of the younger
generation, fully compensated him for all
that he had done during the war.
Army life" said he, is the crucIble In
which character Is tested and in which the
dross is melted away" He was thankful
that he had lived to see reunited country,
and In closing he referred to the case of
Midshipman Bagley, the first to lose his life
In the Spanish-American war.
THAT boy said Corporal Tanner, wear
ing the blue, fell martyr to his country.
His body was taken to his home In the
south, where he had lived. and there It was
buried, still in the uniform of blue. In an
adjoining grave lay the body Of his father.
uniformed in gray. He had died In the
service of the confederacy, and In the
graves the blue and the gray blended This
have lived to see that. That is the kind
of Union I fought for, and now that 1t
has been accomplished, I join with that
illustrious soldier, Gen. Grant, In saying,
Let us have peace
Judge William L. Pen1eld. formerly So
HECTOR for the State Department, was asked
to respond to the toast. THE peace OF the
world" He said there are two obstacles
in the way of international and permanent
peace. The first Is the intense savagery or
civilized man. and the second Is the too
numerous schemes of the advocates of uni
versal peace. War, said he. IL positive
evil and peace Is positive good, but he
did not believe that international peace
would be achieved for many years to come
Mr.. Littlefeld's Humorous Remarks.
Representative Littlefield of Maine was
then called upon. He pointed to an empty
chair at his left and. picking up card,
said:
This chair was intended for Mr.. Warner
the commissioner of pensions. but. as he
did not get here have eaten his dinner
and smoked his cigar. In fact, feel as II.
by absorption. had become the commits
sioner Of pensions, and f there are any