Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-22
BANQUET OF THE GAR.
Local Department Honors
C0mmander-in-Chief.
TRUE SOLDIER COMRADERY
Atmosphere of the Hall Surcharged
With Patriotism.
GEORGE c. ROSS POSTMASTER
Views of the Speakers-President
Sends a Letter-Names of
Committee Members.
c. ROSS POSTMASTER


| Reminders of Antietam, "reminiscences
of Gettysburg and recollections of the
Wilderness were features of the recep-
ton and banquet in honor of Com
mander-in- Chief Charles G. Burton of the
G. a. r. last evening. at the Ebbtt House
| The hosts were the officers and members
of the Department of the Potomac, and
the very atmosphere of the banquet hall
| was surcharged with patriotism, while
Old Glory adorned the walls and blended
in pretty copfusion with the deeper blue
of the veterans uniforms. There were
flowers. too, and old wartime airs were
rendered by the orchestra, lending a
soldier charm to the occasion.
After the band had played 1.-The Stars
and Stripes Forever Department Com
mander Newton Ferree called the nearly
SOD banqueters to order and said the vet
Grams and their guests had assembled at
the hOSpitable board to greet and honor
the commander-in-chief of the greatest
brotherhood in the world. In that broth
.erhoOd the shoulder strap had been wiped
out. and generals, colonies. majors and
captains met on d common ground in the
sergeants. corporals and privates. The
last national encampment of the G. A. r.
had honored itself by eecting as its
commander-in- chief a man who had serv-
ed with distinction as private in the
gallant 10th Ohio.
Welcome to Commander-in-Chief.
Commander Ferree added that Charles
G.. Burton had participated in the SAN
culinary battle of Shiloh few days after
his fifteenth birthday. He then extended
a hearty welcome to Chief
Burton and the guests, on behalf of the
Department of the Potomac, G. A. R.,
and raped the members to their feet to
give salute to the colors as the depart
ment flag was borne to the front by a
stalwart veteran, accompanied by the
color guard. The gavel was then turned
over to George c. Ross, who officiated
as POSTMASTER.
Mr. Ross said the large and repres anta-
tive assemblage was a great compliment
to Commander Burton. He read letters
OF regret from James Rudolph Garfield,
James Tanner, Vice President Fairbanks
and President Roosevelt In his letter
the President of the United States wished
success to the G. A. R.. and said there
was no set of men to whom the country
owed SO much.
I'VE owe it to them" he added, that
we have a nation at all
A trio of trumpeters sounded assem-
bly," and Chaplain c. w Gallagher deliv-
cred devout invocation. the orchestra
following with airs that oleered the SOL
diers' hearts in this days Of fire and
smoke in the sixties.
Longevity of Pension Roll.
In response to the toast. The President
of the United States" Senator McCumber
said he knew of nothing that had bet
ter record for longevity than the pension
roll. The pension roll of the war of the
revolution was continued 12J years after
the close of that contest. He said when
he looked into the young faces" about
him. it led him to believe history will
repeat itself as to the civil war pension
roll
The speaker lauded President Roosevelt
and declared that mo President since the
martyred Lincoln has held SO warm or
American people as has Theodore Roose
Welt"
Commanderin-chief Burton responded
to the toast. THE Grand Army of the
Republic" He said this is the day and
generation of societies of all sorts and
they have their meeting places in cities
towns and hamlets. while their emblems
may be seen on the breasts of nearly
every passerby.
But" he added, 1.-THE G. A. r. is
unique. 1t had no ancestor and :, can
have no posterity. 1t is voluntary Or
ganization and it knows not coercion.
Value of Little Bronze Button.
THE Englishman may wear his badge
of the garter; the Frenchman his cross
of honor and the German his iron cross.
Nobility is prohibited here, however ex-
cept now and then when a stray count or
duke is purchased on the international
A..
Rockefeller; the endowments of a Car
negie; the piety of a Cardinal Gibbons;
the oratory of Bryan or the strenuosty
of Roosevelt cannot acquire the little
bronze button of the G. a. r., which is
so proudly worn by these boys in blue.
Commander Burton described the Amer
lean flag. with it's bright stars and
bars" as 1.-The music sheet of a great ma
ton on which her sons have written the
patriotic songs of the republic"
In conclusion. the commander-in-chief
said the United States should have a
navy large enough to protect every
American citizen wherever he may be.
Toast to Fallen Comrades.
A toast to Our Fallen Comrades was
drunk in silence. and Toastmaster Ross
presented Senator William Warner to
respond to "The Rank and File" He
began by saying that the banquet in hon.
or of Mr.. Burton was the red-letter BAN
quet in the history of the G. A. R., be-
cause it is the banquet of the rank and
file" Senator Warner said he would not
exchange the little bronze button he wore
on his coat lapel for all the positions he
had ever held. He told of the privations
and suffering of the soldiers and re-.
marked that to the American fighting
men the tri-colored flag is "a pillar of
cloRd by day and a pillar of fire by
night The speaker paid a tribute to
the citizen-soldier and declared a grateful
nation will care for the men who had
borne the brunt of it's battles and his
widow and dependent ones.
Gen. J. Warren Keifer. representative
from Ohio. spoke to the toast The Sol
der as a Citizen" He said be believed
the G. A. r. will have a posterity of
patriot that will last forever Men
and women a hundred years hence will
be hunting up their ancestry with vet
Grams of the G. A. r. Bat no one will
be hunting up relationship. with men of
wealth." he declared. They will be for
gotten. The soldiers of the southern
armies made the best of citizens when
they returned to their homes from the
war"
Schools Of, Patriotism.
Bishop John Ireland. chaplain chief
of the G. A. r.. delivered a patriotic adj
dress He said gatherings Of old soldiers