Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-07
HAILED AS COMRADE
Tributes to Pension Commits
sioner Davenport.
HONORED BY THE G. A. R.
Banquet and Reception at the
Arlington Hotel.
WOMEN PRESENT BOUQUETS
Testimonials of Affection for the
New Head of the Bureau Given
by Many Speakers.
HONORED BY THE G. A. R.
WOMEN PRESENT BOUQUETS

James Leroy Davenport. the newly APP
pointed commissioner of pensions. was
the guest of honor at banquet and re
ception given by the Department of the
Potomac, G. A. R., at the Arlington
Hotel last night. Several hundred dis
tnguished members of the G. A r. and
invited guests gathered to welcome Com
missioner Davenport. Tribute was paid
to him by the speakers. who hailed him
as comrade in the Grand Army and as an
official of great ability to whom has been
intrusted the great work Of seeing that
the old soldiers Of the country are
equitably treated.
To meet Mr.. Davenport the old SOL
diers invited the members of the cabinet.
senator's. representatives, other officials
and citizens of distinction. Owing to the
Indictment weather many Of these guests
were unable to attend. but they sent
letters Of regret and eulogies of the
commissioner of pensions. Mr.. Daven-
port himself was suffering from i'll
health and was forced to leave the ban
quet hall early in the evening. But the
program continued uninterrupted and the
members of the Grand Army sat swap
ping stories of their soldier days and
|
night
The banquet hall was handsomely dec
Grated with American flags. The table.
shaped like great gridiron, was decorat
ed with flowers.
Bouquets Presented.
Before the banquet began delegations
from the Daughters of the Veterans and
the woman's Relief Corps marched into
the hall bearing American flags and large
bouquets of flowers. They presented the
flowers to Commissioner Davenport. For
the Woman's Relief Corps the presenta-
ton was made by Mrs. Mary A. Dow,
president of the organization. and for the
Daughters of the Veterans by Miss Rose
Seton, president of the Ellen Spencer
Mussey Tent, No. 1. The banqueters
stood while the ladies marched into the
big hall and cheered them when they pre-
scented the flowers to Mr. Davenport.
In presenting the bouquet Miss Seton
said:
.Comrade Davenport, We are the dangh-
ters OF Union veterans. and are bound to
the soldier by the dearest ties that can
bind human hearts. We are proud OF the
honor and of the high privilege OF ap-
pearing before you and your comrades OF
the Grand Army of the Republic, the
'grandest army that ever marched under
a flag
|
as commissioner OF pensions. and wishing
to show our love and appreciation for
the many services you have rendered our
fathers, the soldier, the widow and the
orphan. we bring you greetings in the
shape Of flowers. Gods choicest blossoms,
but more lasting than the flowers is the
love of the Daughters of Veterans OF this
; city and our sisters throughout the United
States"
; The committee consisted of Mrs. Mary
F. Crenshaw. president: Miss NJ. G. Spen-
|. Seton. junior vice president; Miss Jen-
. ME Hamilton. Mrs. Alice c. johnson. Mrs.
, Hester Tritipoe Miss Abbey Morrow, Miss
. Anna Dow, Mrs. Ella Washburn, Miss
, Emma Hayward and Mrs. Eleanor Scott.
. The young ladies were dressed In white
, and Miss Jennie Hamilton, Mrs. Olive Z.
. Johnson, Mrs. Hester Tritipoe and Mrs.
. Eleanor Scott carried large American
; flags.
Tributes to the Commissioner.
Before the banquet began the guests
were all presented to Mr.. Davenport and
: the ceremony of presenting the colors was
carried out and the assembly was sounded
; by the trumpeter. T.. H. Holbrook. de-
partment commander. made an address
, Introducing the toastmaster, Col. John
McElroy
Department Commander Holbrock paid
high tribute to Mr.. Davenport as a man,
) soldier and an official Of the govern
ment He said that no man could have
been appointed head of the pension bu-
reau by the President who would have
met with a warmer welcome from all the
. soldiers Of the Grand Army throughout
the country.
Frank Pierce, assistant secretary of the
interior, expressed the regret Of Secre-
tary Rallinger at not being present at the
banquet Mr.. Pierce spoke lovingly OF
, Mr. Davenport, whom he had known, he
Ia f%Jd
) anecdotes showing the regard in which
; Mr. Davenport had been held in tn old
days in New England. He said that he
considered Mr. Davenport of the best
: administrative officers he had ever known
and congratulated the old soldiers upon
having such a man to look after their in
terests
. state Representative Currier, delivered
. an address Of welcome to the new COM
missioner. He said that Mr.. Davenport
was known by all the old soldiers in his
; district and by them respected and loved
Responding to the toast. THE Nations
Gratitude to Its Defenders Gen. s. 8.
Burdett made an eloquent address. de-
claring that at least one republic had
, proved that republics could be grateful
Never in history, he said, had there been
such gratitude expressed by people as
had been expressed by the citizens of the
United States for the brave work Of the
( Grand Army. He said that he had no
use for the winners. who thought that
they had not been sufficiently rewarded
for going to the defense of their country
and declared that there were few such
men in the ranks of the army.
I Other speakers were Gen. John c.
, Black. civil service commissioner Public
Printer Donnelly, Jesse Z. Wilson, as
sistant secretary of the interior: Capt
Leverett NJ. Kelley. deputy commissioner
| Of pensions, and Gen. NJ Emmett Crel
who responded for the Spanish War Vet
Grams
At the guests table were Gen. George
| TT. Harries. Representatives Golden of
New York. Kennedy of Iowa and Currier
of New Hampshire: f. Dana Durand, di-
rector OF the census: William F.. GUIDE,
president of the Washington Chamber OF
I Commerce; Thomas J. Shannon, Francis
S r. Cross. James Tanner, Gen. John c.
. Black and Gen. S. S. Burdett
r Committees in Charge.
The committees in charge of the ban
, quet and reception were:
Reception Past Commanders-in-Chief
s. S. Burdett, John c. Black. John r.
: King. James Tanner. Past Senior Vice
;. Commander-in-C Chief John McElroy, Past