The Mena weekly star., 1908-09-03
THE (. 4. R, REUNION
TOLEDO PREPARED TO EXTEND A WARM WELCOME TO CIVIL
 WAR VETERANS.
AN INNOVATION TO BE TRIED THIS YEAR
Old Soldiers to Sleep Under Real Roofs on Real Beds Instead of on Cots in Tents as Heretofore--Hope to Ward Of Rheumatism and Pneu- monia-City ProfuseIy Decorated.

Toledo, O., Sept. LA skirmisk line of veterans entered Toledo Sun day. surveyed the profusely decorated streets. noted the welcome c. A. R." signs on almost every house and build ing, scanned the program of camp fires, parades, music and spectaeles
 arranged for the forty-second national
 encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic, and had no questions for the multi-farious man with the
 Ask Me" badge.
 The forty-second encampment will.
 veterans declare, go down in history
 with most laudatory chapter de voted to committee which aban-
 doned the traditional tents and domi-
 ciled the old soldiers under real roofs and on real beds.
 There was something in the tents of the former reunions which appealed to the imagination of the veterans, and stirred their memories of war
 days, but many of them paid for it with pneumonia and Rheumatism, and they were unstinted in their praise of the present Arrangement. It is
 stated that the appeal 0f Mayor Brand
 Whitlock and Chairman J. Kent Ham ilton that citizens throw open their
 homes to care for the honored visitors
 met with general response.
 Apparently no precaution making for the comfort of visitors has been
 overlooked. An information corps In
 addition to the "Ask Me" army has
 been scattered about the city at
 strategic points and the tents wherein they await inquirers bear on signs
 readable for blocks the word In | formation"
 l Householders generally have agreed to keep their porch and front win
 dows lights burnings that the stranger
 may have the assistance of finding his
 way at night. AS to decorations, they
 are red, white and blue in every ma terial lending itself. tat that color scheme. and of every design from the
 customary festoon draped by human hands to parabolas draped by a mis. chievous wind.
 Not only are the principal business
 streets elaborately decorated, but the residence districts have followed suit
 and family parties on their front porches sat behind draperies of Amer ican flags and bunting.
 With the exception of the California delegation. which arrived 400 strong on a special train Sunday afternoon.
 arrivals Sunday were mostly small parties from nearby towns, coming Tn
 by trolley. Monday great incursion | of veterans and their friends and lam flies is expected. The local commit tee Is prepared to care for from 75,-
 900 to twice that number.
 The campaign for the office of com
 mander-in-chief was in full swing | Sunday night, three of the candidates
 Former Gov. Van Sant of Minnesota, Livingston T. Dickason of Illinois and Col. Henry M Neyins of New Jersey,
 being on the ground. Col. Nevins is
 counting on solid vote from the east
 because of the fact that the present commander-ln-chief is western man, Charles G. Burton of Missouri
 The official program will begin
 Monday night with public reception
 at Memorial hall and a spectacle, in cluding maneuvers by the naval mili- tia. on the river. The features Tues day will be Civic parade and the dedication of the Fort Keigs monm
 ment. On Wednesday, the big day oi
 the encampment, the veterans will
 parade. and on the following day of ficers for the following year will be
 elected. Friday and Saturday will be
 devoted to various forms of entertain
 ment in which the lake and river play
 a prominent part