Omaha daily bee., 1908-08-31
SKIRMISH LINE IN TOLEDO
Advance Guard of Veterans Arrives
for Grand Army Reunion.
TRADITIONAL TENTS ABANDONED
Comrades Are TO BE Housed Under
Real Roofs and Are TO Sleep I'm
Real Beds--City Elab-
orately Decorated.

TOLEDO. o., Aug So.-A skirmish line Of
veterans entered Toledo today, surveyed
the profusely decorated streets, noted the
Welcome. Grand Army Of the Republic"
signs on almost every house. and scanned
the program OF campfircs. parades. music
and spectacles arranged for the forty-sec-
ond national encampment of the Grand
Army of the Republic. and had no ques-
tons for the man. with the ''aak me"
badge. The forty ty-secoRa e1campnsent with
veterans declare. go down IN history with a
most laudatory chapter devoted to a COM
mittee which abandoned the traditional
tents and domiciled the old soldiers under
real roofs and on real beds.
There was something in the tents Of for
mer reunions which appealed TO the imagi-
nation OF the veterans and stirred their
memories of former days. hut many re-
turned from it with pneumonia and rheu-
natism. and they were unstinted in their
praise OF the present arrangement.
1t is stated that the appeal Of Mayor
Hamilton that citizens throw open their
homes to care for the honored visitors, met
with a general response. Apparently no
precaution for the comfort of the veerans
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
inquiries. bear on signs readable for blocks
he word information"
Lights in All Windows.
Householders generally have agreed to
keep their porch and front window lights
burning that the stranger may have the
assistance of finding his way at night.
| AS to decorations. they are red. white and
| blue inevery material, lending itself to
! that color scheme. and of every design.
from the customary festoon draped oy
human hands TO parabolss draped by a
mischievous wind.
| Not only are the principal business
streets elaborately decorated. but the
residence districts have followed suit and
/ family parties ntheir front porcnes to-
night sat behind draperies OF American
| flags and bunting.
With the exception of the California
delegation. which arrived 400 strong on a
special train this afternoon, arrivals to-
| day were mostly small parties from
nearby towns. coming in by trolley. To-
| morrow great incursion of veterans and
their friends and families is expected.
| The local committee is prepared TO care
for from $4,000 TO twice that number
Three Candidates for Commander.
| The campaign fer tbs office of command
er-in-chief was in fun swing tonight, three
OF the candidates. for Governor Van Ssnt
] OF Minnesota, Livingston 7. Dickson OF
Illinois and Colonel Henry NJ. Nevins of
! New Jersey, being on the ground. Colonel
/ Nevins is counting or a solid vote from the
! east. because Of the fact that the present
| commsnder-in-chief Is = western man
Charles G. Burton of Missouri
The official program will begin tomorrow
night with a public reception at Memorial
hall and a spectacle. including maneuvers
by the naval militia. on the river The
features Tuesday will be a civic parade
and the dedication Of the Fort Meies inonu-
ment On Wednesday. the big day Of the
eneampment' the veterans will parade. and
on the following day Officers for the fol-
I lowing year will be elected Friday and
Saturday viii be devoted TO various fornls
Of entertainment in which the lake and
river play prominent part