The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-29
10000 VETERANS
OF G.. A. R. FIGHT
TO HEAR WILSON
Storm Hall in Washington and
President Has to Halt
His Speech.
EXECUTIVE EXTENDS
FREEDOM OF THE CITY

wAsHtSGToS, Sept. 2S.-Ten thousand
o,her visitors to the @. A. II. encamp
nen' stool outside OF Camp Matthew q.
Emery tonight clamoring for admit
t.rre WI lie President Wilson was maxi
o. 4 speech TO about 1000 persons in
ride ne building. This situation re-
Sod frcm some confusion OF the local
arrangements and a misunderstanding
on the par, Of veterans and their friends.
President Wilson was compelled to
suspend when he was half way through
his speech on of disorders In
the rear OF the hall caused by a demand
from those outside that they be ad-
mitted. The President accepted the stu
alton with every evidence OF rood humor
MIR Guide, chairman of the citizens rom
mittee, n one of the ushers In the rear
OF the hall carried or "A colloquy mt the
top Of their voices as to whether those
outside should be admitted. Empty
oats we're numerous In the hall, and
when the word to this effect was passed
out II seemed to Increase the tumult.
Finally the doors were opened and man
persons were admitted.
Mr.. Wilson kept his seat for at least
ten minutes. md whom he resumed his
speech he was in such good humor thai
the veterans rose to their fest and gave
three cheers for MIN. When he concluded
lis speech generous applause greeted the
President, n veteran shouted:
That was n rood speech. Woodrow"
Only 5000 seats In Hall.
Camp Emery. In which the exercises
were held. has a seating capacity of
about 1000. There are at least 30. OOO
visitors in Washington. most Of whom
are members of the Grand Army or of
the auxiliary organizations. Many OF
the veterans are accompanied by their
wives.
The committee on arrangements had
given notice through the newspapers that
no one would be admitted tonight except
on ticket. Tickets were issued this
morning to the exact number OF the seats
provided In the hall.
After the local committee had been
supplied the other tickets were dis
tributed among the various department
commanders representing state organi-
cations OF the @. \. r.. and they were
expected to make a distribution among
the veterans of their respective States.
Long before the exercises were to
begin 1000 or 5000 civil war veterans
mad assembled outside of the building,
most OF them without tickets. They
found the doors locked and guarded.
Thu ga..,NAl 20 rnSanf tho 49, nf
armed guards.
one man made a fiery speech. in which
ne declared that Washington had called
cut the militia to keep the old soldiers
from hearing the President speak.
President Late In Appearing.
President Wilson was scheduled tC
appear In the hall and speak at :3(
O'clock. but the train that brought him
from New Jersey. where he went Il
vote. did not arrive In Washington unit
s o'clock and this delayed his appear
ance at the meeting Shout thirty
minutes. Meanwhile the visitors inside
were entertained by the United States
Marine Band, and the larger crowd or
the outside listened to harangues from
4ngry men who could not get into the
hall
When the President entered the build
,ug he got "A very cordial reception. the
Ectrrans rising to their feet while the
band played "The sta S%pangled Ban
rer." When the President stepped
forward 10 make his address he was re-
ceived with wild cheers.
Tho Presidents address was fire.
pucnt,y Interrupted by applause and his
emugks seemed to appeal strongly to
his hearers. His speech was pitched In
patriotic key without the slightest
refor,nce to the European war. ma
ouu. defence or governmental policies
The address, which lasted probably
weuty minutes. was in the nature of a
oI"Ome to the veterans from the
..t.On's chief. who extended the free
dom Of the nations capital.