Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-08-24
March Of Veterans Feature
Of Today's Session Of the
Grand Army Encamp-
ment at Rochester, N. Y.
CONTEST TOMORROW
OVER NEW OFFICERS
Friends Of Editor McElroy
OF National Tribune Draw
White House Denial by
Claiming Taft Support.

Rochester N. Y, Aug, 23.-The fast
thinning ranks of the G. A. r.. gather.
ed IN Rochester for the 45th annual
lencampment, passed in review before
the president this morning.
The remnant of the unions defend.
ers walked rather than marched. many
| OF them haltingly and with apparent
effort. AS they endeavored to keen
step to the music they presented 4
ls1ght that stirred the hearts of thou.
sands OF spectators to pity. Not all of
the veterans were equal to the task
of covering the entire line of march
and scores OF them dropped out before
the parade reached the stand in WASH
fngton square where President Taft
reviewed the slowly moving pageant.
The parade halted at frequent inter-
vals to give the veterans an oppor.
tunity to rest and mop their perspil:
ing brows.
President Taft arrived at g O'Clock.
Entering an automobile and escorted
by the 10th infantry u. 8. regulars
from Ft. Porter, the president was es-
corted through the main streets.
Bombs were fired at intervals during
the progress OF the parade. IA the
reviewing seaud switfi -~the president
were Adjt. Gen. Verbeck, State Com.
marlder George Aldrich. Commander
In Chief Gilman, Justice VIM. -.
Werner, Gov. Reid OF Vermont and his
military staff. President VIM. B.
Eastwood Of the Rochester chamber
OF commerce, Congressman Danforth
and prominent citizens.
Parade Starts on Taft's Arrival
Not In several years have the
Grand Army veterans turned out ia
as large numbers as for todayD par
ade. More than $4,000 had register.
ed up to last, night and early morning
trains brought in additional grand a.
my posts. The parade began to move
as soon as President Tart had taken
his seat.
Awaiting the presidents arrival at
the New York central station was the |
escort, consisting of the 29th battal. |;
ion u. 8. regular from TT. Potter.
Grand Army officers and the local re- ,
ception committees. After review
ing the parade, President Taft was
diven to the residence OF former sem |
iator Thomas B. Dunn, escorted by q
motor cycle detail. Early plans for
the president entertainment included
an automobile ride about the city at /
4 p. M He will later go to the east |!
avenue residence Of Henry A. Strong
where he will be entertained at din
ner with senator Dunn and q few
other guests. He then leaves Mr..
Strong's residence at $3.50 D. m. for
convention hall to attend the camp
fire and address the veterans. AT the
conclusion OF the services at Conven.
tion hall the president will 60 direct
to his car at the New York Central
station. He will leave Rochester at
1855 p. m.
Taft Not Taking Sides In Election.
The first business session OF the
national encampment will be held to.
morrow when the election Of officers
will be held. A mild sensation was
created by the charge that General
McElroy, candidate for commander In
chief. was claiming the support OF
President Taft in his canvass. This
brought prompt denials from Washing.
ton that the president was taking sides
in the election and had expressed any
choice.
The affiliated organizations are hold.
ing daily sessions. The union veter.
ans reelected James "A. Hard, OF Roch.
ester, commander in chief. The na-
tionaI association Of union ex.prisonerr
reelected last years officers. Cen.
tralized government was abandoned
and home rule adopted by the Army
and Navy union.
The National Woman's Relief corps
will hold their first session today.
Dix Pays Tribute to Soldiers.
In his address to the veterans of the
G. A. R. Gov. Dix dwelt upon the sacri
flee and the heroism Of his hearers
and next to Lincoln and Grant for
their magnanimity and loyalty. Con.
tinuing he said:
"You soldiers of halt century ago
would say to the others why COM
rade did only the natural thing
I'VE OF today, with respectful ap-
probation say to you, the survivors OF
the saviours Of our nation, that you
did the heroic thing in the
past and to our finite vision, impos-
sible OF excelling in the future.
"Let US not forget, that upon this
same altar Of sacrifice were placed the
Continued on pa1a IA