The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-06-29
6l[St AMY NIGHT

The Presence OF General Tanner and
wife and President Adams Made
: Notable Occasion.
n Friday evening was a night OF pa
Stsi0GisIn, of happiness to the olu
soldier ana the members OF the Re
lief Corps aud general good cheer all
around. The occasion was the pres
ence OF General James Tanner, COM
mander-in-shief OF the national de
paItment of the Grand Army of the
Republic, and Mrs. Tanner, and Mrs.
Abbie Adams, the president OF the
national department. OF the Womens'
Relief Corps. This party of distin-
gnished guests had been in attend
ance at state encampment held at
Yankton, and they accepted the in
yitation of the Mitchell delegation to
come to this city for an evenings
address.
The meeting was held at the city
hal! auditorium and the lower floor
was filed with people to hear the
patriotic addresses which were to be
delivered. Aside from the speakers
ofsthe evening there were quite a
few leading members OF the Grand
Army Of the Republic ..and the Wo-
mems Relief Corps. The stage was
appropriately decorated with flags OF
the nation and the Gene was a truly
inspiring one.
Gen. George A. Silsby, a former
department commander Of the G. A.
R. Of South Dakotl. presided during
the evening and introduced the
speakers. The exercises we're opened
with the SINGING of a national hymn
by q chorus OF male voices, consisting
OF ~ G. Clark, G. w. Boggs, w. NJ.
Herbert, Q. w. Downey and Orwin
Peck. with Miss Grace Gregory pre-
siding at the piano. The audience
ioinld heartily in singing the old
songs and q strong spirit OF enthusi-
asm and patriotism prevailed.
Mayor Branson was called upon for
q few remarks, in which he spoke
with strong feeling of the debt OF
gratitude that the country owed to
the men who laid down their lives
forsthe country's flag. He touched
many things OF great interest
to tue old soldier and the civilian as
well. His remarks were we'll receiv-
ed.
Mrs, Abhie Adams. the president
OF the national w r. c.. was in
tIodncedato the audience and for a
half hour she made a most interest
ing address, giving a splendid report
OF the work accomplished 10y this
noble order Of women, who work in
sympathy with the old soldier and
for the Incubation of the spirit of
patriotism among the rising genera
tions and this she considered one of
the most important and greatest
duties OF the Relief Cops.
InsclOsing She expressed her belief
ID the great extension OF the country
over which the stars and stripes will
eventually be inaugurated, which
found an echoings response among her
listeners.
Mrs. Tanner was pressed into ser
vice before the general spoke and
she INDUCED ia some pleasantries at
the expense of the general and also
the old soldiers. She referred to-
tlleir %crankiness, their nervousness,
ETC., In a facetious way, but adj
mittGd In the end that with ali their
faults they loved their old men still.
Mrs. Tanner spoke of the organiza-
lionof a Red Cross branch in South
Dakota and Hoped that Mitchell
sot,ld prove Its patriotism and loyal
" by organizing just as soon as the
,tate was Organized. Mis-. Tanner's
'enlarks we're very much enlpyed andi
he old soldiers laughed heartily at
ler Sallies.
In presenting General Tanner to
he audience Nj silsby referred to
ne .scorporalfs' early enlistment
i the age OF l serving two years
md Was required to withdraw from
lie s~ervicegson account OF the disabil-
IysWhtch came to iliim. when a rebel
hell struck him on the legs that re-
Iuired the immediate amputation
both members. General Tannei
received with great applause and
Or over an hour he talked with the
reatest interest to the people. His
ddress was more OF less anecdotal mi
allure. He alluded to the PROMISE
g made a little over a year ago.
lhen the South Dakota department
greed to support him for command
liz he would agree to comel I