The National tribune., 1910-02-24
II ~
POTOMAC ENCANIPMENT.
President Taft, Commander-in-Ch Chief
Van SAINT and Many Other Distin-
puiShPl CHESTS. al

Veterans of Department. HOnored by
President Taft, Commander-in- Chief
Van SAINT and Many Other Distin-
guished Guests. a.
The Department of Potomacs Grand
Army of the Republic, held one of the
most successful Encanipments in the
history of the organization in Washing
ton last week, and retiring Department
Commander Holbrook is corresponding
ly happy. The Encampment had as its
guest of honor Commander-in-Ch
Van SAINT. Grand Army Hall had been
very handsomely decorated with flags
and banners for the meeting of the En-
campment, splendid music had been
furnished and patriotism was at high
tide.
Wednesday evening was given over
to q banquet n honor of the Command
erin Chief and the business sessions
were again taken up on Thursday even
ing and brought to happy conclusion
in a wave of red, white and blue enthu-
siasm. Commander-in-Chief Van SAINT,
in addressing the veterans on the first
evening, congratulated them upon the
apparent prosperity of the Order in the
District of Columbia, and commented
upon the patriotic environment Of
men who had from time to time made
the National Capital their home
The address of Department Com
,mander Edwin Holbrook was happily
expressed, and gave in detail his work
during the year, and this was supple
mented by the reports of other officers,
which showed that the Department had
had not only prosperous but a peace
full and harmonious year, with the
finances in good condition and the Posts
holding their membership quite well up
to the usual number.
Immediately following the Command
er's address Past Department Com
mander Geo. H. Slaybaugh was recog-
nized to place in nomination for Com
lmander-in-Chief of the G.. A. r., to be
elected at Atlantic City in September
John McElroy, of Kit Carson Post Col.
lSlaybaugh was greeted with cheers as
he came forward, and every sentence of
his ringing Endorsement of his candi-
date was greeted with prolonged ap-
plause as he recited the military career
Of Comrade McElroy and the hardships
and sufferings he had endured as a
prisoner of war. He also recounted the
manifold obligations which he believed
the Grand Army to be under to McEl-
roy for his long service as editor of a
great paper, The National Tribune, in
which he had vigorously and consistent
ly advocated the rights of the veterans
and the duty owed them by the Gov
ernment. At the close of Comrade
Slaybaugh's address the nomination, al
most before it was presented to the
Encampment, was enthusiastically and
unanimously indorsed.
Comrade McIGlroy in a few brief SEN
tences thanked his comrades for the
honor they had conferred, and de-
clared that while most of his energies
had been devoted to the interests of his
comrades, it had been labor of love,
and that If he was elected Commander
in-Chief he would only redouble his ef-
forts in every direction.
Banquet.
The banquet rendered to Commander
in-ChieE Van SAINT was held in the great
banquet hall of the historic Arlington
Hotel, which was enveloped in flags and
enriched with the perfume of many
flowers. Over 200 veterans and their
guests were present at what was gcner-
ally conceded to have been one of the
most successful banquets ever held by
this Department. During the evening
all the old war songs were sung, with
the veterans joining in on the chorus.
and Mr.. Emil Lang gave with splendid
effect My Dream Of the q. s. Az Gee,
It's Great to Be a Soldier" and several
other of his inimitabIe brass-button,
red -white-and- blue songs, much to the
delight of all present.
Just before the banquet began dele
cation of the Daughters of Veterans of
Ellen Spencer Mussy Tent appeared and
presented to the Commandment a
magnificent bouquet of American Beau
ty roses. They carried American Flags,
and went into the banquet room to the
tune of mar,.ai music. In presenting
the bouquet Miss Spencer. President Of
the Daughters of Veterans, said:
Commander: We bring you greetings
of the Daughters of Veterans, whose
fathers fought shoulder to shoulder
with you and your comrades in the most
bitter war of all ages. 1t was you heroes
who made this a free and united coun-
try, under one flag, the beautiful Stars
and Stripes-'Old Glory the best Flag
of the best country of the entire world.
I'VE appreciate the honor of being
here tonight, and we ask you to accept
these flowers as token of the love and
esteem of the Daughters of Veterans"
Commander Van SAINT Replies.
The Commander-in-Ch answered in
appropriate words, and as the Daugh-
tiers marched out to the air of "Ameri-
ca" the comrades stood and cheered.
Assistant AdJt-Gen. o. II. Oldroyd
escorted the Daughters to the banquet
hall, and presented them to the Com
mander-in-C Chief.
The crowning glory of the evening
was the presence Of President Taft, who
when invited declared that he was de-
lighted to be so honored by the G. A. r.
The President was escorted into the
room by Commander Holbrook, Col. e.
r. Campbell, John McElroy, Thos. j.
Hopkins, Il. Z. Janney and Burton Ross.
His entrance was the signal for vol
leys of cheers from the veterans, and
tho his address was the last on the pro-
gram the veterans remained to the end
to hear it, and he was often obliged to
pause until the applause permitted his
voice to be heard. President Taft was
presented to the veterans by Col. Israel
Arrangements and Past Commander Of
the Department.
President Taftindorsed the civil PEN
sion plan for superannuated or disabled
Government employees, and declared
that eventually Congress would be edu-
Gated up to the point where 1t would
see that this policy was just as good
from business standpoint for the Gov
ernment as it was for the large rail-
roads and other corporations in the
country.
Speaking of the criticisms that had
been directed against his Administra-
ton, the President said that he was not
much disturbed by 1t, as he knew that
every Administration, with the possible
exception "of that of my distinguished
predecessor in Office, who was an ex-
ceptiOn to all rules" has been severely