The Topeka state journal., 1911-09-28

ohe-halI males, including boys and old
| men, Only two men in Kansas paid
Communication to escape service
Reunion Ends Today.
The reunion of old soldiers and sail
| ors of Kansas in celebration of the
| hftieth anniversary of the state will
close with the campfire this evening.
1t has been great occasion for the
boys of '61." The cornerstone of the
Memorial building which is being erect
ed in their honor by the state was
laid by the president of the country
they struggled SO strenuouSIy to save,
and the campfire oratory and drum
corps music has given them the old
time enthusiasm.
Hundreds of the veterans left the
city late Wednesday night and today
hoping that it will be again possible
to answer to the call of the campfire
bugle. Their absence was noticeable.
The new arts and mercantile build
ing was Inadequate to accommodate
Grams, and wives and sweethearts We'd
nesday. In the afternoon the hall was
suffocatingly hot and standing room
was at a premium Hundreds could
not hear the speeches.
Curtis Given an ovation,
At the campfire in charge of the Sons
Of Veterans which was held Wednesday
evening Senator Charles Curtis was
given a great ovation by the old SOL
diers for whose interests he has fought
came forward to the front OF the plat
form with one accord the veterans
stood, and waving hats and handker-
chiefs gave three cheers that could be
heard all over the grounds.
II have heard one thing about this
reunion that L hope is not true began
Senator Curtis. Il have read or heard
it said that this would be the last
in Kansas. 1 hope this is not true,
and that you will continue to have
statewide reunion as long as there is
an old soldier the widow of an old
soldier or the son or daughter of
veteran in the state.
This is a great day for the old SOL
diers. This is great reunion for the
soldiers. Out of money advanced by
the patriotic state of Kansas to arm
and equip her soldiers at the time of
war, and which the government has
returned, q building is to be erected.
The cornerstone was laid today by the
honor of the Union soldiers of KAN
sas. AS long as cement, brick and
granite last there is a monument to
you up there on the corner of Tenth
and Jackson streets.
But even without this memorial
you will not be forgotten for those
who read in history of your achieve
ments will have for you warm spot
in their hearts,
The speaker then paid Col John Nc
Elroy a high tribute. Tomorrow I
want you all to come and hear your
friend. I will say it in his presence
as he is entitled to it. The old soldiers
can never repay him for the work he
has done for them. He was a Union
soldier and he has fought hard to get
measures through congress.
"a great writer said and 1 feel it
was true that God held the country
back and then used it to open the eyes
of the world. Do you imagine it was
a mere accident that caused the pio-
neers to come to Kansas in 1S60-that
caused the advance agents of liberty
to come to Kansas and lead in the con-
test for the liberation of the slaves.
oh, no!
s'The pioneers came here and there
was something to come from it. Kan
sas was made an issue. 1t was some-
thing more thanF party politics.. 1t
caused the people Of the nation TO
turn their eye to one of the noblest
men that ever lived and elect him
president of the United States. Lincoln
viii be remembered by people as long
as the English language is understood
in any part of the world.
Grant and others were also eulo-
gized by the speaker.
Then Senator Curtis turned his at
tention to the work in the senate in
the interests of the old soldiers, de-
scribing in detail the fight made to
get the Sullaway bill before congress.
In the course of his remarks he took
occasion to give Everybody's magazine
a hot shot for an article published
comparatively recently which he
claimed misrepresented facts.
''The magazines are paying a lot of
men to write articles and they get pay
for the stuff they turn in: said Sena-
tor Curtis Every body's magazine
misrep epresentsd the facts of the provi-
sions of the Sulloway bill in regard to
the widows who would be able to get
pensions and the amount of money
the bill would carry. These things
were printed in the magazine. 1t shows
the kind of slush that is being given
to the people of this country and the
time has come for the people not to
believe everything they read"
The final address of the evening was
made by Colonel John McElroy who
further discussed the question of pen
sions for soldiers. He told the veter-
ans present that he firmly believed that
a bill would be passed in the next ses-
sion of congress which will be ad-
vantageous to them.
Congressnlen Not Present.
D. c. Tillotson was the first speaked
Of the evening. Ex-Congressman
Charles Scott and Congressman Dan
Anthony who were on the program |
and Mr. Ti1lotson was asked to take
the place of the former on the pro-
gram.
of the G. A. r. began Mr..
TilIotsOn ''but I wasn't born soon /
enough. I share with you the grief of
not being able to hear Congressman
Madison. He was one of natures
1eblemen. He didn't have to tell you
he was patriotic-he was doing the
.hings patriots always do.
"You came back from the war
heroes. When I say that a man is
nero, I mean that he is supremely hu-
nan When you fellows whipped the
.ebels you whipped the greatest army
sver known except your own. Brave
nen are not uncommon. Is there any