The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1911-08-19
Program Begins Monday, Big Day
Being Wednesday When Old
Soldiers Parade.
PROTEST AGAINST LEE STATUE
Union Soldiers Object to it Being
Placed in Hall of Fame-Women
Fight for Office.

Red. white and blue colors plaster
this city today. Countless flags wav-
ing in the breeze from every flag
staff in the "Flower City," in the
many miles of bunting with which
public buildings and housefronts in
general and particularly those along
the line of march, are profusely dec
Grated and in the thousands of in
candescent light bulbs, strung in
garlands across the streets or massed
at the crossings of the most promi-
nent thoroughfares. This display is
pleasing the grizzled veterans of the
civil war who are arriving here with
every train to attend the national en-
campment of their organization
which will be held here next week.
Former Governor Van SAINT Of
Minnesota, who also is eX-cOmmander
in chief, was one of the early arriv
ais
Commander in Chief Busy.
The headquarters Of Commander
in-Chief Gilman Of the Grand Army
of the Republic. was opened at the
Hotel Seneca this morning and all
day long the rooms were filled with
visitors, among them many depart
ment officers who came to pay their
respects to the commander-in-chie
The headquarters of the other pa
triotic organizations which will also
hold their annual encampments in
this city next week, have been op-
ened. Among them the WOman's Re-
lief Corps, the Ladies of the G.. A.
R., the. Sons and the Daughters of
Veterans, eX-Prisoners of War and
Amy Nurses
Next Weeks Program.
Next Monday will be devoted to the
reception of the arriving veterans
and other visitors, to an exchange of
visits at the various departmental
headquarters and to business ses-
sions of the executive bodies of the
various organizations.
On Tuesday the various organiza-
tions, excepting the Grand Army Of
the Republic will hold sessions for
the transaction of business during
the day and in the evening all will
attend the semi-official opening of
the G. A. R. encampment at Conven-
ton Hall, presided over by Comman-
der-in-Chief Gilman. The trooping
of about 100 old battle flags, under
the direction of J. Payson Bradley,
chief of staff to the commander-in-
chief, will furnish the spectacular
feature of the gathering.
Wednesday will be a busy day.
Wednesday the Big Day.
The grand parade of the Grand Army
veterans and of the allied organiza-
tons will start at 10 o'clock in the
forenoon and will travel over a line
of march two and one-eighth miles
long, leading through level, we'll
paved and shady streets. The re-
viewing stand, having a capacity of
1000 seats, is on Clinton Avenue
south, and there the column of vet
Grams will be reviewed by Comman-
der-in-Chief Gilman, President Taft,
Governor Dix and Mayor Edgerton.
1t is expected that the parade will
last about five hours, quite a task
for the old men, many of whom are
quite infirm.
Big Camp Fire Planned.
On the evening of the same day
the veterans will have their big
campfire at Convention Hall and
there they will listen to stirring mu-
sic and to addresses by distinguished
comrades and pay tribute to the
memory of the former comrades who
have gone to their last rest during
the past year. ~. ...-
The business session of the en-
campment will not begin until
Thursday. Several important sub.
jects will come up for discussion,
among them the protest against the
placing of the Gen. Lee statue in the
Hall of Fame. The question of elect
ing new commander-in-chiefd does
-; Continued from first page).