Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-16
..HONOR GEN. GILMAN
Veterans Give Banquet to
G. A. R. Commander in-Chief.
:
PROMINENT MEN PRESENT
Services of Men Who Saved Union
Lauded by Speakers.
WOMEN PRESENT FLOWERS
Delegation Marches Into Banquet
Hall Clad in White and Wear
!. ing American Flags.

lion of the patriotic service of the vet
Grams of the civil war and the expression
OF hope of long life for survivors marked
speeches at the banquet in honor of
John j.. Gilman. commander-in-chief of
the Grand Army of the Republic. given
by the Department of the Potomac last
night at the Riggs House.
Speeches were made by Senator La
fayette Young Commander-in-chief Gill
man. Justice John Wendell Stafford of
Columbia former Senator Henry w Blair
sof New Hampshire and Representative
Charles E. Fuller of Illinois. Among the
guests were Gen. Nelson A. Miles. Gen.
John c. Black former pension commits
'sioner and civil service commissioner;
Senator William Warner of Missouri
James Tanner former commissioner of
pensions, now register of wills: many
representatives in Congress and other
prominent men
Flowers for Commander-in-Chie
\ bouquet OF roses was presented to
.Commanderin-c chief Gilman by the Mrs.
Ellen Spencer Mussey Tent, No L,
Daughters of Veterans. Miss Rose NJ.
.Sefton, president of the tent, headed an
escort of ladies. members of the tent, all
dressed in white and bearing American
nass. Mr.. Gilman responded to Mrs. Sef-
etons presentation speech.
An offering of flowers for the good
right arm of the commander in chief,
Mrs. Gilman was made by the Woman
Relief Corps Mrs Isabel Worrell Ball,
accompanied by Mrs. Ida \. Oldroyd.
past national Junior vice president of the
Woman's Relief Corps, and Mrs. Ida
j. Hart, past department. president. made
the presentation speech. Mrs. Gilman
was formally national president OF che
auxiliary. commandments Gilman
replied, expressing his appreciation of the
gift for Mrs Gilman.
George c. Ross. department command
er-elect. presided as POSTMASTER. Rev.
Henry n Couden the blind chaplain of
the House of Representatives. pronounced
the Invocation. Before the dinner began
the colors were presented and saluted by
the assembled guests.
Spoke for the President.
Senator Young. the first speaker. re-
spending to the toast. The President.
said that he had hoped that the expected
presence of Mr.. Taft would have relieved
him of the necessity of speaking by
proxy for the President Il sometimes
think 1 should likesto act for the. Presi-
uent, instead Oh speak IOl hin, he Sdiu
Prolonged applause and battle calls
greeted the announcement that Com
mander-in-chief Gilman would be the
next speaker. This evidence of the
love of his comrades. said MIR. Gilman,
made his life worth living
You are an army of liars. he SAID
The records of the War Department
show that the civil war was fought by
boys between the ages OF eighteen ana
twenty-one. Many Of them were
A., trr1,f nd inI
they might be able to fight the good
fight. / was liar myself
L am glad of that lie, glad that ]
am not younger. If I had been much
younger. 1 would not have the honor
10 wear that badge on my breast.
War a Step Forward.
THE Civil War Was One Step IN the
Worlds March Forward" was the
toast to which Judge Stafford respond
ed. Commenting on his own expressed
opinions. he said they might be con-
sidered strange by his hearers. but he
was born an abolitionist and had
never been reconstructed.
Ex-senator Blair said that the pres
ent occasion was the first assembly of
citizens he had attended in years. He
told of his early-to -bed habits. and
was sure that his presence might De
considered as a resurrection.
Senator Blair uttered warning
against sectional spirit, which he SAID
had precipitated the civil war. That
dominance which permits one section
of the nation to lord il over the others
does not bode well for the Union. he
said He urged the nation 10 guard
against that spirit, and to fight 1t
down before il obtained powe..
He deplored the growing disposition
70 disparage the cause OF the Union
soldiers and the men who fought III
the civil war He had no objection 10
the statue of Lee being put into the
Statuary Hall Of Congress, II that
would be calculated to allay the leei-
inys of sectionalism. but he would rath-
err see there the statue of that othet
great Nirginian. Gen. George ii. Thomas.
the rock of Cilickamauga.
Guest of the Veterans.
There were more than 400 old soldiers
NJ the table. Among the invited guests
were: j y. BIoodgood, DR.. VIM. Tindan,
: 8 Burdette James Tanner. Frank
Fierce Representative Cyrus Sui
iaway. ex-senator II. W. Blair, Chaplain,
H. A. Couden, Justice Stafford, Col
George c. Ross, Thos. S. Hopkins. Sena-
tor I.afe Young Secretary Charles Nor