The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1907-06-27
z. c: SIMMONS AS HOST
Great Crowd of Grand Army Men
Accept the Hospitality of Well
known Man and Pay Tribute
to His Love for Old Soldiers

8
ks held in Wisconsin in many years.
= Notwithstanding the rain which fell
in copious showers during the even
ing the ardor of the old soldiers was
'so- not chilled and the distinguished
Ne speakers who had come from afar TO
csc be the guests of Mr.. Simmons we're
the given great reception. Mr.. Sim
mons was the idol of the Grand Army
men for the evening and every one of
the speakers proposed the toast to
Mr.. Simmons, 'sThe greatest friend
of the Grand Army man."
ay, The one regret which was expressed
by Mr.. Simmons was the fact that he
was unable to entertain the visiting
delegations at his home on Prairie
avenue but the wet weather made
90 this an impossibility and the visitors
were forced to spend the entire even
ting at the big factory building. The
big banqueting room was scene of
COL rare beauty. The long tables in their
covers of white had been decorated
with countless bouquets of great
orange colored peoples while the
light from hundreds of japanese
M lanterns and a score of great arc
lamps added hrilliancy to the scene.
The dinner which was an elaborate
ten course affair was served by the
Fisher Hotel company and covers
90 were laid for ESQ people. Mr.. Sim
mons was assisted in entertaining by
Mr.. and Mrs. z. G. Simmons, Jr., and
children, Mr.. and Mrs. A, H. Lance
and children, Mr.. and Mrs. A.. r.
Towne and children, Mr., and Mrs.
W c. G. Brown, Mr.. and Mrs. Edward G.
Alleman and Mr.. and Mrs. w. w.
Vincent. During the dinner the Ke-
nosha Brass Band played patriotic
w selections ard after dinner was over
vocal numbers were furnished by the
famous glee club of the Columbia
Post in Chicago under the direction
Y 90 of Major O. b. Knight, the sweet
singer of Illinois, and the Masonic
quartet of Milwa ukee, while often
during the evening the cracked voices
90 of the veterans took up the refrain
and the great building rung with the
singing of the whole list from ''John
SO Browns Body" clear through to
CLONE, Sweet Home'
There was host of distinguished
guests present at the reunion. Seated
at the speakers table with Mr.. Sim
90 mons were Commander-in-Ch Chief
Robert B. Brown, Of GAINESVILLE, Ohio
Past -in.Chief, Corporal
James Tanner, and Miss Tanner, of
Washington; Past COMMANDMENTS
~ Chief A. G.. Weissert, of Milwaukee;
Lieutenant General Arthur Macarthur
of the United States Army; Depart
ment Commander John C. Martin, of
Mineral Point; the Hon S. A. Cook,
m of Neenah; Past Department Com
manders John W. Canes, of Fox
Lake; A. B. Copeland, of Lacrosse;
A. C. Pettibone, of Green Bay; ]. P.
Rumble of Milwaukee; Adjutant Gen.
90 Charles A. Partridge, of Waukeg an,
and a number of other distinguished
Grand Army men from Chicago, Mil
waukee and other cities. At the long
tables were representatives of the
u Posts in Milwaukee, Racine, Wauke-
~ gan, Chicago and Kenosha while
smaller delegations came from other
cities. Department Commander Mat
thews of the Illinois division at the
w last minute found that it was impossi-
bic for him to be present and he sent
letter expressing his deep regret
and bearing message of fraterna1
90 greeting to the veterans of two
states.
With the close of the dinner the old
soldiers gathered about the speakers
table where the Com ma der-in Chief
90 and General Macarthur held an in
formal reception, and every man pres
ent was given a chance to grasp the
hands of the distinguished guests.
The reception occupied the better
J 90 part Of an hour, after which Col. A.
G. Weissert of Milwaukee, one of the
Past Commanders in Chief of the
Grand Army, called the assemblage
90 to order and acted as POSTMASTER.
He presented Robert b. Brown, of
GAINESVILLE, Ohio, the Commander-in-
Chief. The Commander was given
great reception by the company of
veterans, and when the prolonged
OO cheering subsidized he began his
speech, which was one of the greatest
gems of patriotic oratory ever heard
in Kenosha. 1.-THE Grand Army. 2
said Commander Brown, twas never
nearer the hearts Of the American
PeoPle tnan II is today, and1 begin to
90 realize this fact more clearly tonight
after have been the guest of Com
rade Simmons of Kenosha. This is
the most unique function thatiI have
ever attended in my official position,
and Comrade Simmons is setting the
COL pace for other capitalists of the Re-
public in thus paying some tribute to
you, the members of the greatest body
of fighting men that the world ever
w knew or ever can know.