Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-04-15
1000 WAR VETERANS
HEAR LEADERS TALK
OF LIFE OF LINCOLN
General Nelson A. Miles
and Admiral G h e ter
Among Old S o d iers
Here for Loyal Legion
Meeting.

Philadelphia. the birthplace OF American
. liberty has witnessed many scenes Of
war. hut today the city gave itself
up in Unconditional Surrender Grant
| style to an army OF more than 1000 vet
Gran officers OF the Union army of the
civil War. who came to celebrate the
5Oth anniversary of the founding of the
Military order of the Loyal Legion Of
the United States They are the guests
Of tho Philadelphia Commandery.
The three days celebration, which be-
| gan unofiicially Yesterday, VIII be for
mally opened tonight with a monster iubl-
Ice at the Academy of Music. Mayor
Blankcnburg and many prominent offl-
cials have promised to attend. and the
meeting undoubtedly will be one of the
most notable gatherings OF wartime lead
crs held in this city IN many years.
Many prominent Philadclphlans are
doing all in their power to make the cele-
hratiou a success and to make the short
stay uf the visiting Communicates an
enjoyable one. Loyal Legion members
arc coming from 81 States.
Many Of them we're captains and lleu-
tenants 20 years ago today. on April 10,
lS65. when the news OF Llncoln's death
was received In this city. Nearly all
have risen I'm rank and few are gem
erals today, while a few are admirals
but all-morc than 20O0-have gathered as
brothers in the "Clty OF Brotherly Love"
to attend the jOth anniversary celebra-
ton.
Many of the visitors already have re-
ported for duty Communicates from
Washington and Boston arrived this
morning Included in the list or roll-can
are such men n 8 General Nelson A. Miles,
admiral Chester. General Joseph S.
Smith, General John G. Black, General
G. A. Woodward Lieutenant Colonel G..
&. Eniffen, commander of the District of
Columbia Commandery, and Captain
Thomas H. Mckee.
"Rations" were distributed in many
of the leading hotels and many of tho
Loyal Legion members, or companions"
as they arc called, are blleted in the
Union League. The committee at the
Union League includes John w. Bubb
Charles l.. Cooper, Thomas b. Harper
Horace Neide. Paul G.. Lttlefield. j. II.
Barr, b. +, Rittenhouse, Louis II. Car
penter. Arnold II. Hord, John f. Coma
way, r.. NJ Boyle. y. Franklin Belts, o.
NJ. Bosbyshcll, II. G.. Cavenaugh, John
W. Geary, George r. Lambert, William
n. Nelson, Noah n. Swayne, 3D. w. A.
Wedersheim, Arthur b. Huey, Edwin G.
Pcndlcton.
Minus uniform, gold and braid. but
wearing the priced tricolored legion ro-
sctte-the envy even OF European army
Otllcers-the stately veterans are enjoying
of days gone by and with visits to his
toric places. Few, perhaps. think OF
the future, at least today or tomorrow
though the number of the original COM
panlous" is gradually decreasing. There
are about 1000 now. 1t is a consolation
however as one of the companions"
remarked that direct male descendants
are cliGible to membership. The good
work of the Loyal Legion may thus
60 on.
The feature of the three days celebra-
tion will he the jubilee in the Academy
of Music tonGht. one mass of color, and
with "Old Glory" reiGnng supreme tine
historic walls of the Academy will rock
with patriotic and inspiring addresses
and songs. The United States Marine
Band which is in Philadelphia especially
for the occasion. will play the Jubilee"
"'rhe Assembly" and ITO the Colors,"
while the LOYAL Legion members, wearing
formal evening dress and their full In
sigma will stand in dress parade forma-
tion and give their simple but impressive
salute