The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-05-26
OUR WELCOME.

OOuu -
CONTINUED From Page Onel
comrades and citizens In commerora-
ton OF the brave men and boys VINO
left their peaceful homes In obeyanoe
to their country's call. from 81 to S6.
Left father. mother. sister. brother.
wife and children with tho aatner 2
blessing and their mothers Bible TOT
the seat OF war; You can all recall
or most Of you, a parting OF this kind
in many, many instances, never 70
meet again. On arrival at some des-
ignated rendezvous, we were formed
into bridages and divisions, some go.
ing in one direction and some. anoth-
4r-to form the grandest and greatest
army that history records.
ION arrival at camp, came drilling,
ruard and picket duty. Midst storm
and sunshine. come what would, tnat
duty must be performed. Then came
the long and tedious marches with
two or three days rations and the
regular forty rounds of cartridges,
going we knew not where. Perhaps
At the end of a long days march,
when helted for a few moments rest
would come the sound of firing on the
picket lines, when would come the
attention ana Iorwaro
march, and ere many minutes had
passed, you were in the midst OF a
skirmish or perhaps a terrific battle,
where shot and shell were flying like
hail, and so it went through the long
years Of that terrible war.
Nearly fifty years have passed
since its close Now, il we are to
have any leisure time for enjoyment
and pleasure, we had better COM
mence AS mayor Of the capital city.
we extend to you the hearty welcome
and best wishes of every citizen Of To-
peka for pleasant and enjoyable
meeting. In token of this welcome,
we present the great key OF the city
to that noble Roman, your depart
ment commander, Col. J. N. Harrison.
1t will unlock the great gates Of the
city and the hearts Of its citizens.
And when the duty has been per-
formed. lay it up in the archives of
that beautiful building OF granite and
marble at Tenth and jackson streets.
which we are about to dedicate as an
everlasting monument to the soldiers
and sailors Of Kansas. as a memento
of this occasion.
with kindly greeting Of comrade-
ship to the Blue and the Gray"
The parade tomorrow will bring
thousands of Kansans to Topeka Sol
diers OF the Civil war. soldiers Of the
Standardization war. soldiers in
readiness for the Mexican war-all will
be in line behind q half dozen bands,
as many drum corps and the bearers
of American and regimental flags and
banners. It will be q statewide mill
tary parade, one of the largest in the
history Of the state.
The reception to be rendered Com
mander-in-Chief Gardner in Memorial
hall this evening will be a notable event
in Kansas. Washington Gardner 10 tho
chief officer of the Grand Army Of the
Republic. The reception tonight in his
honor will be attended by notablesL Of
the Jayhawker state. It is the social
flcers Of the National Guard Of the G.
A. R., the Spanish-American war vet
Grams, the Ladies of the c. A. r., the
Woman's Relief Corps. the Sons of
Veterans and state officials and their
wives will be in the receiving line.
The magnificent Memorial hall, rich
in its permanent decorations, will not
be plastered with temporary frills for
this reception. Decorators decided that
no touch could improve the natural
beauty Of the buildings interior.
The program for this afternoon, to-
morrow and Thursday follows:
Commander Gardner Here.
Commander Chief Washington
Gardner spent "a hours in Topeka be-
fore the men in charge of the Topeka
encampment knew that the national
head of the G. A. r. was in Kansas.
Commander Gardner arrived in Topeka
Sunday evening, went to the National
hotel and enjoyed a rood nights rest.
Monday morning he took a long ride
through Toneka's princinal streets ana
spent the morning Iounrin< in the no.
tel lobby. Net a word did he send to
Commanded ]. N, Harrison of the Kan
Sos q A and a. the heodCusrter.
in the state house plans were made
for receiving the national commander
when he arrived in Topeka this morn
ing.
some one slipped tho tip to Col Har-