Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-09-20
G. A. R. ENCAMPMENT
NOW IN FULL SWING.
Crowds Of Veterans Fill Atlantic City,
Next Place Of Meeting Is Already
Under Discussion" vetS" Own
City--Big Parade Wednesday.

Atlantic City, N. j., Sept. 19.-This
summer resort today Internationally
surrendered to the Grand Army of the
Republic. The greater part of the day
was devoted to registering at the
booths at the commander-in-chief's
headquarters. hand shaking bees and
meetings of committees in preparation
for the business which will come Nd
during the remainder OF the week.
This afternoon, the veterans discuss
/ ed unoficially the proposition for a
permanent camp site to be established
in some city geographically near the
center of the country
There is considerable grumbling over
what the veterans term unjust dis
elimination with reference to railroad
rates. An effort is to be made to have
resolution adopted asking the fed
eral regulation of traffic rates to all
| subsequent encampments.
The railroads of this country will
grant rate of | per cent. a mile for
our next national encampment or there
will be no encampment," is the pre-
diction of Edward Watson, commander
! of u. S. Grant Post, Chicago. This
sentiment seems to prevail among a.
majority of the veterans.
The survivors of the revenue cutter
service who have made repeated at
t"mpts to become members of the
| Grand Army. hope to gain their point
during the present encampment ac-
cording to rumors today.
| Tonight the COMMUNICATIVE chief and
his men We're given a big reception on
| the steel pier, at which there were full
| ly 10000 of the veterans.
The affair was given by the Women'a
| Citizen committee. Later the Sons Of
Veterans gave a similar function al
the Hotel Rubdolf assisted by their
auxiliary.
| Atlantic City, N. j., Sept. 19-Tlc
| innumerable activities Of the national
lencampment of the Grand Army of Il .
Republic began today when the nU-
tiOnal headquarters were formally
opened on the ocean pier at the foot of
Tennessee avenue. The weather WIS
not all that could be desired. Heavy
clouds that rolled in from the ocea 4
made the air damp and indicated raj /.
The big crowd already here was swell
ed by the inflow of thousands of We.
Grams from all parts of the country on
| the morning trains. The greater num-
Der came from distant points and while
weary from travel. Joined with the
same spirit of old in the activities Of
the day. The reunion of the old Phil
adelphia Brigade on the steeplechaae
| pier at the foot of Pennsylvania ave
nue. and the meeting of Colonel Hilary
| A. Herbert, member of President
| Cleveland's cabinet and a Confederate
| officer, with COMMANDMENT -chief Van
SAINT, and General Sickles. is still the
! talk among she hundreds of visitors
who saw the meeting. 1t is probable
| that the proposition made by Colonel
| Herbert to bring about a great meet
| ing of the Blue and the Gray will be
considered during the week with the
Iobject OF carrying out the suggestion.
The national headquarters on the
ocean pier were opened with the first
meeting Of the executive committee of
the national council of administration.
Comma nder- inc chief Van SAINT and
members of his staff were early on
hand to lerd their aid in completing
the Dreliminaries incident to he open
| ing of the encampment sessions on
tees of the Womens Relief Corps also
held their first meeting. The old sol
diers from the Middle Atlantic and New
England states are expected to make
I'D a greater part of the big parade
on Wednesday.
No sooner were the national head
Quarters thrown open than the cam
paign for the next place of meeting and
1 ~
Several cities are in the field for next
years meeting. A rumor going the
rounds that it might be voted to ho'd
the encampment every two years. rain
err than every year. seems TO nave III
tie or no foundation. With this idea CT
a biennial session eliminated the battle
| for the next encampment VIII pe
spirited one and may also aftect the
election of the new commander. John
f.. Gilman of Boston and John McEiroy
of Washington, D. c., editor OF the
National Tribune. the G. A RS Of
fetal journal, are among the candi-
dates.
Many of the veterans attending the
eucampment are criticf5ing the rait-
roads for their alleged failure to re-
duce their rates to the same lever
granted for other large gatherings.
resolution prepared by three OF the
Western departments acting together.
will probably be presented at the en-
lcampment\ on Thursday demanding
that the federal government order ire
| Interstate Commerce Commission u
take charge of the matter OF hXlnS
rates for the encampment and the
lprice be not more than one way tickets'
OF the thousand and one little Incl
dents that go to make a Grano Army
lencampment such delight TO the oio
soldiers, there was one tnat arouse"
Especial enthusiasm today. rms was
lwhen General Granville M. Dooge Oh
/ ,. C;t,. and Cen SickelS, the only