The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1909-06-24


Simmons and the many ways in which
he had aided in making the lives of
the veterans full of sunshine and de-
clared that the Kenosha honorary mem
Der of the Grana Army was loved and
revered not only as a friend and bene
factor, but as comrade.
Former Governor George w. Peck
was in one of his most delightful moods
and when he was introduced by Gen
eral Weissert as. stThe Man Who Put
Down the Rebellion,'' he responded in
happy manner and got the crowd in
good humor right away. lie declared
that the annual pilgrimage of the vet
Grams to Kenosha was one of the great
est pleasures of their life and that
while he was not going to give away
the secret of how he suppressed the re-
bellion he was glad to pay tribute to
a Wisconsin man who had money and
who didn't hang on to it with ice
tongs, but gave of his wealth for the
bettering Of the people. He spoke at
length of the benefactions of Mr.. Sim
mons and declared that Yankee and
Rebel joined in this loyal appreciation
of his kindness.
After song by the Columbia
Quartette Grand Chaplain Spence of
Knoxville was introduced and he was
given great ovation. The grand
chaplain spoke Of the Grand Army in
the south and closed his brief address
by beautiful apostrophe to the
American flags which stirred the great
crowd to high pitch Of patriotism.
Col. Stubs Of Chicago, famous as
Grand Array entertainer then recited,
."Why I Joined the Grand Army af-
ter which Mrs. Harding of Evanston
read in a very charming manner "The
Perfect Tribute. - It is the story of
the Lincoln Gettysburg address and
Mrs. Harding read it in way to arouse
the veterans to cheers and applause.
Phil Cheek of 7Baraboo probably the
most popular veteran in Wisconsin
among the rank and file of the Grand
Army responded for the Grand Com
mander and brought greetings from the
head Of the great organization of the
veterans and regrets that he could not
be present at the gathering. Other
short addresses were made by T. @. Nye
Of Milwaukee, the Hon. Pliny Norcross
of GAINESVILLE, and Department Com
mander William, III. Grinnell of Beloit
after which the great crowd joined in
singing "Tramp, Tramp, Tramp"
Then Commander Weissert introduced
the host of the evening and in present
ing Mr.. Simmons to the great assem-
blage the speaker declared that it was
his privilege to present not only one
of "Our Comrades but one of the
"real boys of the Grand Army.
Mr.. Simmons was greeted by prolong-
ed cheering and made a few remarks
in which he spoke of the great honor
shat had been conferred on the men
who wore the blue. 'No higher dis
tinction,' he declared, "could be
given to any American citizen then the
nation" has given to you men in calling
you to be- the preservers of this great
nation" In closing Mr.. Simmons
spoke of the great union of the states
and paid tribute to the bravery and the
heroism of the men who wore the gray
but he declared that the highest God
Given Honor of the nation would ever
be conferred upon the men who wore
the blue, not because they were the vic
tors in the great struggle, but because
they fought for a great principle and
won a great victory for the right.
The short address by Mr.. Simmons
closed the program for the evening, but
there was more music and many of the
members of different companies got to-
gether on the Simmons porch and en-
gagged in reunions until the last train
left for the night. The reception this
year was from all standpoints the most
successful ever given in Kenosha.