Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-31

Today the forty-second annual en-
campment Of the Grand Army OF the Re-
public really opened. although the pro-
gram of the day called for nothing save
the renewal of old acQuaintances until
the formal reception of visitors tonight.
when Mayor Brand Whitlock will deliver
a brief address Of welcome.
Taft Will Review Parade.
The banner day of the encampment
will come Wednesday when the G. A
r. parade will share lhonors with William
H. Taft, republican candidate for Presi-
dent: Senator Foraker. Gov. Harris and
others. The gentlemen mentioned will be
rendered reception on that day by the
Lincoln Club and will review the parade.
Gov. Wilson Of Kentucky also is eX-
pected.
No city in which a national encamp-
ment has been held. the veterans declare.
has been more profusely decorated than
the metropolis of the Maumee valley.
Flags and electric lights In patriotic de-
signs are everywhere and bunting runs IN
rivulets along every street in the business
district The housing of the old soldiers
in hotels and at private residences meets
with general commendation and there Is
mourning among the germs OF rheuma-
tism. and pneumonia which previously
have rejoiced in the presence OF damp
canvas and straw beds on the ground.
Civil War Singers.
BY noon thousands Of veterans with yell
low badges bearing the names of their
respective states thronged the streets.
though in scarcely greater number than
the women Of auxiliary associations. HIRE
and there on street corners or In front OF
hotels knots Of old soldiers gathered. ex-
changing intimate details Of half a CEN
tury Of history or listening to some i'm
promptu soloist roaring some old war
song, notable chiefly for wealth of detail
and the untutored composition of the
music.
An early songster collected a crowd near
the Secor Hotel with thunderous burst
which had a range OIL the scale of about
four notes. but which omitted nothing of
interest concerning the battle of the VIII
derness. And he received earnest atten-
tion all the way through, too.
Brass Band serenades.
The atmosphere Of gayety and relaxation
was enhanced by the arrival Of brass
bands, which delivered serenades at the
various hotels and headquarters, and by
the appearance of automobiles and car
riages, every one Of them appropriately
with the colors Of the occa-
sion The delivery wagons were dressed.
Hawkers paraded the streets. selling
badges and small flags with marked sue
cess. for every visitor could count that
hour lost which brought him no new
badge.
"Where'll find the Massachusetts,
boys?' asked new arrival from Illinois
of a newsboy guide.
IF he's from Massachusetts, you'll prob
Ind of ha Nofr Ar
with your own bunch. It's awful the way
they mix up; us guides have our own
troubles"
Vets AL Mixed Up.
The boy wearily pointed to the passing
proud Of the bucktails in their caps: New
Workers., veterans from Iowa and Ne
braska, a large number of whom had
been delayed by a wreck ahead of them:
Oregon, Washington, Louisiana, Alabama.
Illinois, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, South
Carolina. Indiana, Kentucky. Maine. Min
nesota electioneering for ex-Gov. Van
SAINT for commander-in-chief: Michigan
and New Jersey. which expects to elect
Col Henry NJ. Nevius to the leadership
OF the organization, and others.
There was a lamentable lack Of system
in the concourse, according to the boys
viewpoint. but it suited the old boys in
blue to mingle south with north and east
and west with both.
Hand Shaking and Hospitality.
At the various headquarters, needless Of
the perplexities Of the boy guides. there
was endless land-shaking and hospital
ity in the shifting crowds. At noon Iiii-
nois was outnumbered In it's own rooms
by Iowa, and later by Indiana, but the
two states were in their turn over
whelmed by Illinois to the hearty salts
faction Of all concerned. California dis
pensed literally from its store Of fruit and
wine brought in two special cars from
the coast. and Prof George W. Young
of that state neld forth for few pa
thetic moments to reporters of the wild
ows for whom there were no reunions.
Many G.. A. r. Men in South.
William NJ. Scott of Atlanta. Ga, jun-1
for vice commander. with Mrs Scott,
arrived during the night and expressed
himself pleased at the numerical strength
Of the Southern States despite encour-
Of the southern states.
There are q great many more members
Of the @. A. r. in the south than most
people think" said Col. Scott. II re-
Of Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee and
found them In a flourishing condition"
Col. Scott's chief interest In the encamp-
ment lies in an e6ort to make provision
for the proper decoration and maintenance
of. the graves Of northern soldiers, partic-
ularly In the south. when the last veteran
shall have passed away. This work. he
believes. must be left to the women. and
Il is desired that the women at this en-
campment take some action which will