The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-05-09

Then the inspiring spectacle of the
evening the members of the G. A. r.
perhaps LOCO strong, every member car
rying small American flag which f1ut-
tered in the breeze as it's enthusiastic
Color bearer waved to the crowd in an
swer to the cheers which greeted the
llne- Some of the steps were faltering
but there was a grim determination
marked on every face and there were no
laggards nor were there any who drop
ped out along the line of march.
On the contrary as the march proceed
60 now and then a form uniformed in
blue stepped from the crowded walk
and Joined the ranks of the marchers
no longer able to withstand the call of
| the allur1ng strains of martial music.
Perhaps he had promised the good wife
and boys and girls at home that he
would not join in the march but what
nattered that promise for it was for
gotten in the excitement of the mo-
ment.
A confession will follow when father
gets home and a feast of forgiveness
ana a renewed promise that it will be
the last parade he will march in, for
he is growing old, and perhaps the
promise will be kept for the master
harvester is fast gathering his own. If,
however, the father is spared another
! reunion he will probably be in the pa
rade perhaps nearer the rear and un-
Il able to finish the course, but he will be
there for the call is irresistible
| The line of march was not long and
| every half block or so the line paused
and waited while the police cleared the
way for farther progress. The waits
| gave breathing spell for the old vet
Grams whose steps were perhaps begin
ming to lag just the least bit. With the
order of Forward they stepped off
with the tread of youth only again to
! lag from the fatigue of age and its ac-
companying infirmities.
1t had been planned that the old SOL
diers should witness the parade from
nOinfS Of ufo hI1t he T1f
plans of their friends cause to naught.
To most of them the gathering would
not have been an encampment if they
had not been permitted to mingle with
the marchers for a ways at least.
The column of veterans started four
abreast but this formation did not last
for the column moved here and there
a blue uniformed veteran joined it I'M
til at the end of the line of march they
were in places six and eight feet deep.
Fall in" would come the call of some
marcher as he recognized a comrade in
the crowd and the answer would be
another soldier in the ranks
Confusion in March.
Following the line of the old SOL
diers came the Garden City band with
its six and one-half foot drum major
looming above the ranks of the march
ers, and furnishing inspiring music for
the old veterans. A number of floats
followed by procession OF twenty
automobiles finished the procession.
mistake in orders causing the column
to countermarch at Ninth instead of
Tenth street and the bands were
thrown SO closely together that their
music intermingled and spoiled the
effect.
The encampment which will close
today will go down in the memories
of those who have participated as one
of the most successful in recent years.
Since it has been in session there has
been strong talk of making Topeka
the permanent place of holding the
annual reunion though this matter will
hours of the gathering.
After countermarching on Kansas
avenue last night to Sixth avenue the
procession wendell its way to the
Audito RUM where ranks were broken,
and all of those who were able to gain
admission participated in the camp
fire There was not a bit of availab Bile |
space which was not occupied includ- !
ing the aisles and windows and it was
estimated that between five and six
thousand people listened to the pro- |
gramme which lasted until near mid
night.
Hundreds stood in front of the
Auditorium last night unable to gain
admission and admired the beautiful
building which had been decorated for
the occasion. From every window
foated a five foot flag waving in the
glare of electric lights with which the
building was bedecked. The center
piece formed of electric lights was con- !
structed by H. B. Howard and repre- |
sented a waving flag in colors, one of |
the handsomest pieces of work seen
in the city. While Kansas avenue was
a blaze of electric lights the glare was
even more intense on Quincy street
near the Auditorium.
Big Meeting at Auditorium.
The meeting was called to order by
duced Colonel j. H. fitzpatrick of
Leavenworth as commandant and
chairman of the meeting. The gath
ering which was of the campfire va
riety consisted of short talks by num-
Der of old veterans, patriotic music on
the pipe organ by Professor Penny
and Mr.. Roehr.
Among the speakers were Joseph G.
Waters and Senator Charles Curtis;
Congressman w. A. Calderhead and
National Inspector General T. w.
of ST. Joseph. Music was fur
nished by the Lincoln Post Drum
Corps and Mrs. Agnes G. Cooper. Miss
Una Honeycutt and Miss Eva Corning
sang solos.
One of the prettiest drills which
thrilled the audience was formed of
rs children dressed in patriotic cos
tunes as representation of the
American flag. The body of little folks
drilled and as they marched sang the
old inspiring songs Of war times.
At the BUSINESS meeting of the G. A.
r. held in the auditorium this morn
ing are solution was adopted asking the
National encampment which meets at
Saratoga. New York, to select Kansas
City as the meeting place of the next
National -encampment next year. The
sent to the national encamp-
ment have been instructed to work for
the location of the annual encamp-
ment at the city at the mouth of the
Kaw.
Mrs. Nation Head of w r. C.
The fight in the ranks of the w. r.
c. which has been on since the open
ing of the encampment for the presi-
dency was settled late yesterday after