The National tribune., 1909-03-04
THE NATIONAL ENcAMrsiENr.
Salt Lake Lberal-Utah Munificent
and Badge Magnificent.

Salt Lake City. Utah, Aug 9-14, 1909.
Editor National Tribune: Yours of the
10Th inst. at hand. l am glad to avail
myself of the opportunity extended by you
to inform the Grand Army comrades now
and then of the situation as it exists here.
The greatest work that we have ever
been able to do yet in relation to Grand
Army Encampments so far as the adver-
tisement of them is concerned, Is In re-
Gently making an arrangement with the
Western Newspaper Union to publish each
week a picture of one of our Past Com
manders-in- Chief until the entire 3S liv-
ing and dead have all been published with
short biographical sketch of each, accom-
panied by a paragraph in relation to the
33d National Eacampment, to be held in Salt
Lake City Aug. Ola, 1909. l am procur-
ing these photos every day, and having
them all enlarged to the same size, 1ox20,
with the same character and colored frame.
These are designed to adorn the Executive
Headquarters for the present, and to be
ment of our hall. l planned TO have our
Executive Committee here make present
of these pictures to the next National En-
campment.
Salt Lake is making great preparations.
All trolley poles in the city are now be-
ing taken down in order that the streets
may be entirely unobstructed during the
tUUllUS II lS utSIHutu 10 tApChh
at least twice and probably three times as
much money for decoration on streets this
year as was expended for that purpose in
Toledo last year.
An invitation has been sent to President
elect Taft, inviting him to be present dur
ing the week of the Encampment as
guest of Salt Lake City. The invitation
itself was very beautiful piece of work;
The outside binding was of blue silk and
the inside of white satin. The invitation
was on parchment.
The undersigned has received five bags
of flower seed from the Agricultural De
partment, being those that will mature
from the 1st to the 18th of August. 1t is
designed to plant flowers in all public
grounds such as school houses, parks, etc,
and furnish seed to private parties to
plant on residence grounds thruout the
entire city. This work will be under the
charge of a Woman's Citizens Committee
which is just now being formed. This
Woman's Citizens Committee will have a
fiat Appropriation which they will be allow
ed to expend without question on the
part of our Executive Committee. This
Committee will be composed of one MEM
Der from each of the Woman,s Clubs; one
from each of the Woman's Patriotic Or
CARNATIONS; one from each school in the
city, and one from each church. These
women will elect their own officers; will
o. X. their own bills, and make final re-
port to the Executive Committee. This
general plan was adopted last year at
Toledo for the first time.
The Senate and House of the Utah
Legislature have passed an appropriation
for $35. 600 for the entertainment of the
Grand Army of the Republic. This will IN
all probability be supplemented by an ap-
preparation Of $4,000 from the city, $1,000
from the Mormon Church. $1,000 from the
County, and whatever balance will be
needed will be provided either by private
or thru public appropriations
in the various cities and counties of the
State. The State Legislature has passed
an act empowering any city or County oi
the State to make appropriations for this
purpose. 1t has been made a State af-
fair as was shown in the Legislature by
the members outside of Salt Lake City
offering to increase the appropriation.
The information we have from the va
rious Departments is very encouraging for
a large gathering. New Hampshire,
Maine, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania. Ohio,
Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois,
Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, and Montana
have already acquired quarters for their
Depa partments. This is little -eariier than
usual. .--.-..
The official badge for delegates this
year will in all probability be the most
unique one ever made. The tentative de-
sign is to have the top medallion the reg
ular Grand Army Eagle with the crossed
cannon and balls made cut of Utah cop
per. On one of the cannons will be the
words "Salt Lake City, Utah." on the
other August Ola, 1909" Hung to this
by links will be the monogram sc. A. r."
in red, white and blue hard enamel made |
out of Utah gold; now to this by links will |
be a reproduction of the Sego Lily in its
native colors made out of Utah silver;
hung to this will be a lower medallion |
with a portrait of Abraham Lincoln |
around which will be imprinted his famous
expression, "With malice toward none, and
charity for ALL" On the reverse of this
lower medallion made out of Utah copper, |
will be the words Centennial of the Birth |
,f Abraham Lincoln" "43d National En-.
Grand Army of the Republic.
This tentative design is subject to such al
.eration as the COmmander-in-Chief may
zee fit to make. Fraternally,
+. w. STERRErT,
Executive Director G.. A. K.