Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-19
Assembling Of G. A. R. Vet
Grams at Atlantic City.
COL. HERBERT'S PROPOSAL
Great Meeting With Wearers of the
Gray to Be Considered.
SESSIONS TO OPEN THURSDAY
Commander-in-Chie Van SAINT and
Members Of His STAR Busy Com
pleting the Preliminaries.

ATLANTIC CITY, n. j.. September 10.
The innumerable activities of the ma
tional encampment Of the Grand Army
Of the Republic began today. when the
national headquarters were formally
opened on the ocean pier at the foot of
Tennessee avenue. The weather was not
all that could be desired. The tempera-
ture was pleasant enough, but the heavy
clouds that rolled In from over the ocean
made the air damp and indicated rain.
Things were early astir at the pier.
Veterans who had not seen each other
in many years held impromptu reunions:
there were expressions of joy to see old
comrades again. and many moments of
sorrow when some soldiers found that
dear old friends had gone to their final
rest.
The big crowd already here was swelled
by the inflow OF thousands of veterans
from all parts of the country on the
morning trains. The greater number
came from distant points. and. while
weary from travel. Joined with the same
spirit of old in the activities Of the day.
Meeting Of Blue and Gray.
The reunion of the Philadelphia Bn-
gade on the steeplechase pier, at the
foot of Pennsylvania avenue, and the
meeting of Col. Hilary A. Herbert, a
member of President Cleveland's cabinet.
and Confederate officer, with Com
nander-in-Chief Van SAINT and Cen.
Sickies Is still the talk among the hun
1t is probable that the proposition MADE
by Col. Herbert to bring about a great
meeting of the Blue and the GRAY will
be considered during the week, with the
object OF carrying out the suggestion.
Inc national headquarters on the ocean
pier were opened with the first meeting
OF the executive committee of the ma
tional council Of administration.
Completing the Preliminaries.
Commander-in-C Chief Van SAINT and
members Of his STAFF were early on hand
to lend their aid In completing the pre-
liminaries incident to the opening of the
encampment sessions Thursday morning
Several committees Of the Woman's Re-
lief Corps also held their first meeting
The work OF arranging for the big parade
Wednesday, always q sreat and diflicult
TASK "a us Is processing splendsdiy accordips
the middle Atlantic and New England
states are expected to make up q greater
part OF the big procession. Thousands
or these are already here, but the larger
number OF them will arrive in the next
twenty-four hours.
Corps Commanders Meet.
OF the thousand and one little incidents
that go to make grand army encamp-
ment such q joy and delight to the old
soldiers, there was one that aroused es-
pecial enthusiasm today. This was when
Gen. Granville NJ. Dodge OF Sioux City
and Gen. Sickles. the only two living
corps commanders. met on the Ocean
pier. One from the east and one from
the west. they clasped hands with a
grasp that seemed loAth to break, while
the big throng swirlinx around the reg
istration desks to and fro in the spacious
foyer gathered and cheered Justify.
Indications are this year that the sur
vivors of the revenue cutter service who
did yeoman work In blockading and pre-
venting smuggling during the civil war,
will at last be taken into the Grand Army
For years the veterans of this Imperial MT
department have sought vainly to be al
lowed membership in the g. A. R.. but
have always been refused.
Art,n &c -