The National tribune., 1906-08-30
THE WOMAN'S RELIEF CORPS.
THE zth NATIONAL CONVENTION AT MINNEAPOLIS.
Grand Meeting With Most Satisfactory Resls-ncrease in
Membership of the Order, With Great Volume Good Work
Done-Mrs Carrie Sparkin of Missouri, Elected National
President.

of the Department Headquarters wer
also located at this hotel.
The National President had been i'm
portuned from all sides to carry ou
the suggestion of Mrs. Ida ]. Har
President of the Department Of the Po
tomac, made last year in National Con
vention in Denver. The suggestion wa
that special meeting be held in whicl
all presentations, greetings from siste
organizations and the affiliated Order
of the Grand Army of the Republic b.
presented SO that the time of the Con
vention might not be taken Ip witt
these pleasant, though very dilator.
courtesies. The custom has grown vi
of making long, fiowery and poetica
presentations, and everybody who ap
pears before the Woman's Relief Corp
seems to think 1t incumbent upon then
to eulogize to the limit, all of which I!
agreeable, but a time-eating process
Just the same. In accordance with ths
many requests. the National Presiden
requested Mrs. Ida X. Martin Chair
man of the Woman's Committee. t
make arrangements for this meeting
Mrs. Martin did her whole duty in the
matter. This semi-Official meeting wa:
held in the Auditorium on Wednesday
evening following the reception held by
the National President in honor OF the
to appear at the reception, but did come
to the talk-fest OF an hour later.
The first reception held was that oil
Mrs. Ida K. Martin In honor of Mrs
Abbie A. Adams. National President
1t was by long odds the largest recep-
ton OF the week. In fact. 1t was so big
that. though held in the great Armory
of the University of Minnesota, it took
most of the eastern portion Of the city
to hold all the guests, who numbered
far into 5000.
tfnguished. In the receiving line Miss
Clara Barton was easily the belle"
Everybody wanted to see her, every
body wanted to shake hands with her.
and everybody did. Fearing at last that
all would not have chance to do this
before the hours for the reception were
over, the line broke loose" and crowd
ed around Miss Barton, almost smoth-
ering her, but she came out of the
ordeal uGwearied and smiling.
The south wing of the Armory was
the reception room in which the Daugh-
ters of Veterans greeted their guests
This room was quite as attractive as
the main room in dainty draperies of
yellow and white bunting
AT the close Of the reception, Just as
the people were retiring from the Ar
mory, the great University Flag was
run to the top of the staff, while the
band played the star Spangled Ban
ner." Just as the Flag became sta
tlonary at the top Of 1t a tri-colored
paper bag broke from its confining
strings. and out of it tumbled and toss-
ed on the soft Summer breeze a thou
sand tiny Flags. for which the younger
people scrambled in merry glee. This
feature was planned by Capt Wallace
Foster. of indianapolis, from whom the
Woman's Relief Corps accepted the pa
triotic work of the Order, and Flag
salute. now adopted by the Grand Army
)f the Republic, which refused to take
t up Is years ago.
On Wednesday evening Mrs. Abbie A.
Adams gave a reception in honor of the
Commander-in-Chief at the Auditorium,
which was expeditiously managed by
Mrs. Elizabeth Brown Doggett, Chief Of
Staff
A Program OF Interest.
A program of interest was presented
which filled the evening until the clocks
on the City Hall tower chimed mid
hight. and even then the lights were
neid by those reluctant to leave. The
greetings of the Grand Army of the Re-
public were presented in a speech ring
ng with loyalty by Past Commander
n-Chief King. who had been designat-
I'd by Commander-in-C Chief Tanner to
perform this pleasant duty. Mrs. Ida
K. Martin. for the Department OF Min
lesota, presented the greetings Of the
Woman's Relief Corps. The response
was made by the National President,
Mrs. Adams. who Is delightful speak
n. The invocation was pronounced by
Mrs. Harriet ]. Bodge, Past National
President. The greetings Of the city
we're presented by Mrs. D. P. Jones.
wife OF Mayor Jones, and Mrs. Agnes
tltt made the response in a few grace
,ul sentences. Mrs. Belle c. Harris of
sang In the sweetest of voices
The Banner Song" illustrating Il with
he various banners of which she sung.
Ind the Modocs. OF Kansas, sang hu-
norous songs There were several 9TH
n beautiful songs most delightfully."-
endered. Commander-in-Chief Tanner
spoke eloquently, as always, and Mrs.
<ate Brownlee Sherwood responded.
With many glowing eulogies of the dead
md gone days and the early workers in
he w. r. G. Col. Adams, husband of
he National President, made a splendid
talk, and the sum total of 1t
III was that the Woman's Relief Corps
vas the very best organization on earth.
Is women the brightest. the most loyal.
he most patriotic, the most charitable,
he most philanthropic. and the Grand
Army of the Republic made up of vet
rams who had never been licked and
lever could be, and who had fought
or the very best Flag on earth a sem
lment which met with hearty and en-
nusiastic applause, and then there
we're mutual declarations Of feaIty TO
ach other, and the evenings exercises
esolved themselves into a mutual ad |
niration society, where most everybody
,ot presents. and the lights finally Went |
'ut as very happy crowd dispersed.
The presentation OF gifts, though
made on the stage. was very informal.
drs. .Abbie A. Adams, the National
President, received from the National
'taf beautiful ring set with four dia-
nonds. the presentation being made by
Mrs. Eliza Brown Daggett, National
,hief of Staff. Mrs Adams was also
iven set Of solid silver teaspoons and |
silver ladle by tho Department OF Ne |
'raska. The National Staff officers pre-
ented her with a set of pearl-handled |
liver knives and forks,
Mrs. Mary r. Morgan, National Sec-
etary. was presented with set Of sill
er teaspoons and silver tadle by the
Department of Nebraska and a pitcher
u rare ware. Both National officers
esponded eloquentiy in appreciation Of |
heir gifts. the audience receiving their
'marks with much applause.
The National Convention.
The sessions of the 24th National
of the Woman's RELIEF
,orps opened on Thursday morning.
ne sessions were held in Wesley NJ. %.
which was Handsomely deco
ated In yellow satin banners bearing
ne names or the IS States in the Union. |
Tags and bunting. The platform, which