The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-12-11
FOR G. A. R. HEROES.
Campfire at Auditorium in Honor of
National Officers.

The visit of the national officers of
the G.. A. r.. and the women of the
auxiliary organizations TO Topeka was
brought to a fitting close last night by
a camp fire held at the Auditorium
Patriot songs and speeches of like
nature formed the programme OF the
evening. The big building was ar
ranged for the occasion, hundreds OF
yards of patriotic colored bunting ana
nags forming the greater portion OF
the decorations.
The Modocs led in the singing of
patriotic songs in which the audience
Joined, though the favorite song OF
the evening was kansas arranged
by the Modocs. The party headed by
National Commander Henry M. Neyius
arrived in Topeka late in the forenoon
and after luncheon were driven ABOUT
the city in autom obiles and carriages
After the ride about Topeka the
party was taken to the department
commanders headquarters at the state
house where an informal reception
was held. A 6 o'clock dinner was
given at the home of General ana
Mrs j. w. F. Hughes in Potwin to
the visitors and limited number of
invited guests from Topeka.
At s o'clock the party gathered at
the auditorium for the campfire which
was opened by a prayer by Rev. S.
Lampman. department chaplain, fol-
lowed by selections on the pipe organ
by w. F. Roehr. The address of wei
come was delivered by Justice G. b.
Graves who was followed by Major
Henry M. Nevius, commander in chief
of the G.. A. r., who said in part:
1.-THE G. A. r. is an organization OF
which 1 am a part and servant, said
Major Nevius, land my only wish and
ambition is to see it prosper and to
have all the men who fought in the
civil war enjoy the blessings and ma
terial advantages derived from mem
bership. There are now 225.OOO
O1Ir o
suspended list. And yet the pension
rolls show that $4,000 men who
fought in the civil war are still living.
This means that there are over 3O0,-
600 men entitled to membership in
our order, who prefer to remain out
side the ranks with those who were
dishonorably discharged and are not
entitled to membership, and will not
ally themselves with US.
MANY are too poor to pay the
initiation fee. This should not stand
in the way of joining. and the com
mander of every post should make
special dispensation in these cases so
that all members of the fast-dis-
appearing army should be given the
privileges of membership in their
failing years. The question is up to
you whether or not this organization
shall continue to live and increase in
will all be gone. In these
last years. all should endeavor
to live upright lives of charity
and love. SO that future gem
erations shall look back with reVer-
ence upon as members of that
great and noble organization of which
we are members"
Short addresses were delivered by
Colonel E. c. Little of Abilene presi-
dent of the Spanish War Veterans as
sociation and d. C. Tillotson of To-
peka for the Sons of Veterans. Mrs.
Mary E. Gilman. national president
of the Woman's Relief corps thanked
the citizens of Topeka for their efforts
to make the stay of the party in To-
peka a pleasant one. and urged a
greater membership in the organiza-
tipon of which she is the head. Dur
ing the programme the Modocs sang
and there were two solos by Mrs. Belle
Harris with an enthusiastic encore
and short talks by Thomas w. Scott
William H. Armstrong and Philip
Cheek, members of the executive
committee. The official party left this
morning for Salt Lake which will be
the next StOD made