The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-08-10
LIGHTS WENT OUT
Electric Storm Sweeps Down on
Salt Lake City
And Leaves the G. A. r. Veterans
in the Dark.
POLITICS is ACTIVE
Many Candidates for Head of
the Various Orders.
MOdocs Arrive and Create Sem
satiOn on the Streets.

, Salt Lake City, Aug. 10.-On this, the
second day of the forty-third annual
encampment of the Grand Army of the
Republic, one begins to catch glimpses
Of the more serious purposes which
have drawn the army and its auxiliaries
together. The holiday-making and gen
eral fellowship are still uppermost but
the wheels are going round and the
creak Of the administrative machinery
may be occasionally heard.
Fresh arrivals continue to swell the
ranks of the invaders.
Whom are you for?'' and What place
are you fcr?' are the questions that
greet each newcomer.
Whom are you for?" refers to the
friendly fight between Ex-Governor Van
SAINT of Minnesota and Judge William
"A. ketcham Of Indiana, for the chief
command. What place are yOu for go
has to do with the spirited contest be
tween Atlantic City and St. Louis for
the foroy-fourth encampment. A partial
poll taken last night is said to have
shown $50 NanSant votes out of a total
Of about 400. The Ketcham manager
comedies 100 votes, claims 100 and calls
THE remaining 200 doubtful
As between Atlantic City and St
Louis, the issue is even more uncertain.
The retiring commander Henry NJ.
NeVius, is exercising his influence in
favor of the seabOard city, and the am
bltiOn of Denver to secure the 1911
meeting may also count against against
st. Louis.
There is a triple contest for the ma
tional presidency for the Womans Re
lief corps. with Mrs. Jennie I. Berry Of
iowa, Mrs. Belle Harris of Kansas and
Mrs. Melissa Caylor of Indiana, as the
candidates. The greatest confidence is
shown by the followers of Mrs. Berry.
The council OF tie Ladies of the Grand
Army of the Republic, the Anderson
1.iJ ln 41-.,
Daughters of Veterans, the council of
the Relief Corps. the National Press
correspondents and the National AssC-
ciation Of. eX-Union prisoners held meet
IL gs To-Day. The meetings of the AS
sociatiOn of Army Nurses are being en-
tertained at Saltair the lake resort.
Mountain Storm Comes Up.
A genuine mountain storm last night
produced some unwelcome electrical ef-
fects. Visitors thronged the streets
waiting the spectacular parade of the
wizard of the Wasatia and admlring
the sparkling vistas of incandescent
lamps when the storm broke. Accom-
panied by vOlleys of thunder and the
white glare of lightning, torrents of
rain drenched the crowd and the dec
orations. There was an unceremonious
dash for shelter and the parade was
abandoned. Within 50 minutes it was
all over. stars studded the skies and
the street lamps twinkled as merrily as
before.
In the meantime the lightning had
been playing havoc with the power
transmission lines and the Grand Army
camp fires at the Assembly hall and
the Armory were plunged into dark
ness. A few lanterns were secured and
created small oases of light in the
halls but, Tor the most part, the speak
ers and singers were invisible. Voices
from the shadows produced a novel eff
feet which was not unappreciated.
The city's guests find no fault with
the temperature The maximum yes
terday was Sc degrees and the mini |
mum 81 degrees. After the evenings |
shower the air was delightfully."- fresh !
and cool. More showers are predicted |
by the weather observers.
To Meet in the Tabernacle.
A formal greeting to the Grand !
Army delegates will be extended in |
the historic tabernacle tonight. We'll |
coming addresses are to be made by |
the governor of the state and the |
mayor of the city, while Commander |
in-Chief Nevius will be heard in re-