The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1907-09-12
THt BAxItR REUNION.
A. D. Pontius Tells Of His Trip
10 the Reunion.

union at Baxter Springs. Went
over the Frisco road, changed at
Linton. pissed through Joplin,
where Secretary Taft spoke at the
Auditorium. The national eolors
were.hoatlng IN honor Of the occa-
sion aud streamers OF rcd, white and
blue were stretched Along the front
OF the gallery and round about the
iron ptilars OF the stage 1t was
several minutes after the hour adj
vertlsed for the speaking to begin,
when Sec'y. Taft, IN the convoy OF
Chairman Holmes, w. r. Lively, Of
Webb city. and omnlpresent o. ID,
Royse, appeared in the rear Of the
Auditorium The customary greet
ing was accorded and the march
along the aisle was characterized
by the Taft smile. which IL one Of
the Secretary's biggest assets After
the band had played a number Of
patriotic airs. during which the au-
dience rose to It's feet. the chairman
called the meeting 90 order and
prung a bit OF surprise in irst in-
Producing Senator William Warner
who had quietly taken a chair on
the platform. In n characteristic
vein, senator Warner acknowledged
the honor. but realizing that the
audience had not come TO hear him.
eontented himself with a few re-
marks. After the cheers had sub
sided the chairman said, II now
have the honor Of introducing to
you, the next President OF the United
states. william II. Roosevelt" As
ne bowed gracefully, the broad smile
OF the secretary grew to a width
even larger than usual rs he laugh
Ingly expressed the hope that the
ehairman's ability TO forecast wa
more reliable than his memory OF
names. The chairman, realizing his
mistake Of n slip Of the tongue, took
TO correct his mistake. but by this
time the whole audience was In an
uproar. They quickly grew atten-
tive. The heat was oppressive. The
speech was a collection OF his ex-
crepts themes of his previn0s speech
es. l wish you all could have heard
them. He is q great man.
Joplin Is a large mining town
Mountains Of gravel, sand and dirt
look ragged. / found the corn In
places short. and some oft was cut
and some should have been, a. IL
wns dried out. The crops around
Baxter are pretty good. They had
had IA general rain "A week hetore the
reunion and their prospects arr ns
good ~ ours. They are OF a great
Iand boom. common hand 500 an
some Is developed d great
deal nor
The reunion was about the best
vet. 5000 was the estimate on
Thursday at roll call. The people
surged and crushed TO e the old
soldiers. The 26th annual meeting
OF the comrades was opened by the
sunrise salute from our old cannon
in charge OF our worthy comrade,
Capt. Wan Blundell. MIR. MeNay
delivered an excellent address Of wei
come. lie Infused new lie In the old
soldiers. At night, a grand camp
fire was built free for all.
The highways were lined with We
hicles OF every escrIptlon,comin 20
the great reunion. The incoming
trains swelled the crowds until
standing room was az a premium.
Tuesday morning, the Womcn's
Relief Corps had the auditorium.
Speeches and songs wero the chief
diversions. Anobie address by Mrs.
p IN the afternoon at $50
o'clock. Chester l.. Long made a
splendid speech lasting 2 - hours.
The opening speech made by ID A.
Gilbert, an old soldier, who knows
the life OF a warrior ia all its phases.
re OIANliFA al VI tAtpt N"AAa RA
told Of the camp, marches, battles,
despite the commotion that had
proceeded his speech. All became
quiet while listening 10 his flights Of
oratoFy. +. G, Young, Of Fredouia,
KAN. and Grant Ronsday, Of Fort
Scott. delivered Addresses. Tburs-
day senator Porter, n Caney de-
Iivered an address, also WsR surhs
OF Lawrence. p. p. Campbeli, whom
all old soldiers know. He II elo-
quent, although the time allowed
him was short. W. :. Fitzpatrick
OF sedan, made a political talk 20 a
iarge crowd ON Friday. Mrs. Tlb-
bltt, from Wichita, delivered a TEN.
peranee lecture. She handled she
Lawmakers OF Kansas rough shod-
Her wit was caustie. She drove
her points home and elinched them
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