Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-06-09
IOWA DEPARTMENT IN ANNUAL
SESSION WITH LARGE
ATTENDANCE.
POLITICS AMONG VETS
UNUSUALLY INCONSPlcUOUS
Comma nder Ward and Staff on Hand
Ladies of G. A. r. Tender Recep-
ton in Honor of National Comma nd :
err David J. PaImer-Nationa Presi
dent Arrives Unexpectedly.

/ North Is III POSSESSION u oiouA lily
! today. Marching to the music of fife
| and drums, the detachments of the
! veterans visited the hotels. the COM
mercial club and the court house
Some erect and soldieriy still, many
bent ana stiffened by age, all exuded
the spirit of 81. minus the serious note
of those troublous days.
In the lobby OF the Martin hotel.
where the c. A. r. of Iowa and its
auxiliary the Woman's Relief Corps,
have headquarters, hundreds of COM
rades were renewing ancient acquaint-
ances The mezZanine floor of the
hotel was given over to the women OF
the relief corps and their soldier
friends.
At the commercial club the Ladies
of the g. A. R.-wives, sisters. and
daughters of veterans-gathered in the
lobby. There too were to be found
many of the veterans. Again at the
court house where general registration
is being made. groups of blue uni
formed old men in the rotunda and on
the lawn added a touch of unwonted
color.
1000 Are There.
The day was given over almost en-
tirely to greetings" Tho no sessions
of either Of the three orders are on
schedule for earlier than late after
noon delegates and visitors to the
number of more than two thousand
had arrived.
A boy scout company was cheered
as it Unanswered about the veterans
and saluted before proceeding north to
the Y NJ c. a. to enter the service of
the c. A R., in capacities of messen-
gers.
Department Commander Byron C..
Ward. of Des Moines. and members of
his staff arrived with the early train.
With him came Col. S. c. Spear. of Al
COMA. an aide to Commander Ward.
and serior aide of the national COM
mander. Colonel Spear is one of the
best known veterans in the United
States He is father of Mrs. George
c. Cali. of Sioux City Gen. NJ n.
Byers. assistant adjutant of the de-
partment of Iowa, was another of the
distinguished early arrivals. General
Bvers is chief oil inspector of the state
of Iowa
Activities in Ladies' Society.
Politics in the G. A. r. is of very
mild variety. 1t has been practically
settled that John +. Merry. Of Man
chester will be chosen department: COM
mander by reclamation. 1t is SAID about
the hotel Hobbies. No opposition to tina:
plan has developed and no otha- candi-
dates are in the field. Other officers
to be selected are: Senior vice presl-
dent, junior vice president, chaplain,
advocate general, and medical director.
The commander appoints his adjutant
general after the organization of the
convention has been effected. The
adiutant is the only salaried position
in the department.
Ladies of the G. A. r. are arriving
in large numbers and 1t is predicted
that at least 400 delegates will register
before tonight. The department has
1850 members. The Sioux City camp,
organized by Mrs. Lillian c. Carey. de-
partment president, last February, has
now a membership of forty.
Ten past president of the department
are present Last evening at o'clock
the Ladies of the G. A. r. Will hold their
first session of the convention. 1t will
be a reception in honor Of Col. David
j. Palmer. national commander and
other distinguished guests of the three
Byron c. Ward was a guest Of honor.
| The gift of a picture of Abraham
Lincoln to the Commercial Club was
feature of the reception. Mrs. Lillian
lC. Carey, department president. made
the presentation address, following a
pretty ceremony, in which the ten past
presidents of the department took part.
| The past presidents formed an arch
of Ia in the sneaker. and
while patriotic air was p'"ved by an
orchestra, Mrs. G. ". CeWald, Of
Waterloo, and Mrs Fred Garrabrand
led a party of color bearers thru the
arch, bearing the picture of Lincoln.
Establishing Homes.
Homes for widows and orphans of
veterans are being promoted thruout
the nation by the Ladies of the G. A. r..
and discussions of ways and means to
! accomplish that purpose in Iowa will
| have place at the convention. Mrs.
Carey. department commander. has
| travelled in thirty states of the union in
| the past year, giving instruction to
| circles. She is patriotic instructor of
| the national organization, beside being
| president in Iowa.
Mrs. Carey is a candidate for cleo
| ton to the office of president. It is not
| yet known IL other names will come