The Mena weekly star., 1907-09-19
THY MARCH ONCE MORE
Fifteen Thousand c. A. R. Veterans Participate in What May be
 Their Last Parade.
SARATOGA ABLAzE WITH NATIONS cOLoRs
Line of March Reduced to One Mile Because of Failing Strength of Vet erans--Flag That Covered Gen. Grants Body a Festure--Topeka May Get Next Encampment.

Saratoga, N. Y., Sept. l2.-Martiai music, the old war time tunes to which the soldiers of the Civil war had marched in many campaigns, awak- ened Saratoga at an early hour Wednesday. the day of the parade of the veterans attending the national oncampment of the Grand Army of the Republic. It was estimated that 15 ,000 paraders were in line. Signifi- cant of the failing strength of the vet erans was the fact that the parading distance was reduced to one mile the shortest ever fixed for the national encampment. For the first time the parade was limited to members of the Grand Army instead of being open to all survivors of the war.
 The village was ablaze with the na- tional colors. covering the fronts of buildings, festooned at every convent ent point, strung in rows at short in tervals across the streets and com pletely covering the interior of the great convention hall, where the ses- sions of the encampment were held. The parade was scheduled to begin at D. m, but it was much later when the start was made.
 One of the features of the parade was the presence of a big flag which covered the body of Gen. Grant on it's way from Mt McGregor to the tomb. In custody of the Grenadier Guard. commanded by Col A. s. Fowler of Little Rock, Ark, of which every man was over 6 feet tall and each repre- senting one of the 45 departments of the C. A. R., this old flag brought up the extreme rear, escorted by the whole parade and being carried at last along the whole line of review. As planned. the national officers in carriages with Gov. Charles E. Hughes of this state, led the line, the chief of staff in command being J. Cary Win ans of Toledo. The department of New York state, although entitled by seniority to fifth place, selected as hosts the left of the line, which in cluded a representation of every de partment, including Alaska, and of every branch of the service. The pa rade was reviewed by Gov. Hughes and the national officers of the C. A. R. The days programme began with a reception at Congress hall. the New l York state headquarters, in honor of l Gov. Hughes at 11:30 o'clock. At | 12: 30 luncheon was served by the de- partment of New York to the gover- nor, Commander in Chief Robert B. Brown and his staff, past national of ficers, department commanders and i the other distinguished guests. Mean while theer had been reunions of the various organizations.
 Wednesday night there was a mus tering-in service, conducted by Me morial post of Cleveland, O., with a stereopticon exhibition in the Conven- | ton hall.
 1 The real business of the convention will begin Thursday with the annual address of retiring Commander Brown, reports of officers and committees and possibly election of officers. The lat ter however, may be postponed until Friday. The place of the next nation al encampment is still in doubt. prob abzly lying between Topeka, Kan. and Toledo. o.