Norwich bulletin., 1914-09-05
GRAND ARMY.

Local members of the Grand Army of the Republic, who are in spirit, if not in body, n Detroit this week. and who are indeed represented by Henry Hovew of this city, are interested in the doings at the Forty-eighth annual encam pment of the G. A. R., and us affiliated organizations that was oI- ficially opened on Monday.
 Even before the opening, there were five thousand veterans and their fam lilies and friends in the big western city, and by Tuesday night 30, 900 CIVIL war survivors and guests were on hand. It was a great and enthusl- astic gathering.
 Tuesday night at the Light Guard armory, when the veterans welcomed by Goveror Ferris and other citizens of Michigan. Responses were made by Washington Gardner of Alpian, commander -in-chief of the G. A. R., and others
 Boy Scouts, clad in khaki, were the first to greet the veterans and escort them to hotels or roorniEs houses. or to army headquarters. Just as at Gettysburg. the youngsters are per- forming splendid service.
 The parade on Wednesday was the big feature of the encampment. The route covered, a mile and a half through some of the principal streets of Detroit. and forty -four state de- partments, each led by it's commander, and totalling about 10000 comprised the parade.
 Before the parade, at the meeting Tuesday night. it was officially ar1- nounced that the Grand Army council which held an executive session in the afternoon, had upheld the commander parade ruling and that. concerning the manner of conducting business meet ings. The announcement said the council was unanimous in it's decision
 Commander Gardner had ruled that the women's organizations, associated with the c. A. R., were not eligible to march in the annual Grand Army parade today. He also had declared himself in favor of secret business sessions.
 Tt was not because I am not in sympathy with these organizations because am in sympathy with them, ' said MT Gardner referring to his par ade ruling But I don ot think it is the wish of the membership of the C.. A. R.. that we open the parade to as- sociated organizations. That is why I made the ruling"
 Governor Woodbridge N. Ferris, of Michigan. who addressed the meeting at the armory, spoke on the patriot ism of peace. A number of times dur ing his address, he was interrupted by applause which lasted several minutes
 Ynank EoQ5 m9mDerS Of the Grand Army, your forty eighth encampment is for the purpose of making more sacred the patriotism of peace," said the governor.
 A plea. for the perpetuation of "The Star-SpangleG Banner as the Amer jean anthem was made by the com- mander-in- chief, in his address before the encaLnpment Wednesday.
 He urged the old soldiers to join in a movement to pay special honor to this song, arld- to discountenance the practice of playing 1t in medley with such 'sfippantf and comparatively meaningless ditties'' as Yankee Doodle and When Johnnie Comes Marching Home He said there was something inspiring in an audience rising and standing uncovered at the strains of the national anthem, but it was 'incongruous, bordering even on the ludicrous" for the band to strike up some other national air in medley with this. and to observe the audience resume sitting in "an irregu- lar. half-ashamed manner" It were better not to rise at all when the na- tional hymn is played in medley, he said.
 A recommendation that permanent headquarters for the G. A. R. be es- abolished in Washington. was another point of his address. Chicago and Philadelphia had been proposed, but he preferred the national capital. and thought that if possible the necessary space should be secured in a govern ment building where the officers could keep closely in touch with matters be- fore Congress which affected the Grand Army.