The Washington times., 1915-08-23
VIII Be Formed BY 500 School
Children Clad In Red, White,
and Blue Uniforms.
70 SELECT GRAND MARSHAL
Gen. Nelson A. Miles Is Expect.
ed to Be Chosen to Lead the
Grand Parade.

4 human American nag will wave
Curing the principal parade Of the
6. A. r. encampment. The flag will
be formed by school children clad in
red. white and blue uniforms. and will
be given motion by the intermittent
rising and sitting Of the 500 or more
boys and girls who form the national
emblem
Robert N. Harper. acting general
chairman. stated today that at the
meeting Of the executive committee,
which he has called for Wednesday
morning at II, in the Chamber Of Com
nerce rooms. he will advocate the
human flag plan, and he believes the
committee will approve 1t. He has
talked the idea over with several fell
low committeeman and they heartily
indorse 1t.
Pressed For Funds.
But one thing stands in the way Of
the human flag plant: that is the item
Of cost Of the stand on which the
school children will be seated. Mr..
Harper said today that the finance
committee, Of which he is chairman. Is
being closely pressed for funds at this
time because of the failure Of a large
pledges. He suggested that the 500
school children be assessed 80 cents
each to pay the cost of erecting the
stand. at the south side Of the Treas
1t Is peneved this nominal levy will
meet with the approval Of the chill
dren's parents, in view Of the fact that
the youngsters would have an ideal
location from which to view the grand
Another subject to be discussed at
Wednesdays meeting will be that Of
selecting a grand marshal for the
parade. 1t 10 generally believed this
honor will be offered to Gen. Nelson A.
Miles. former general L. 8. A., and
that he will accept.
$4,000 Veterans Expected.
AS the date of the opening of the en-
campment is put five weeks off. the
executive committee and the fifteen
committees on details will hold meet
ings weekly, or perhaps more frequent
ly, to shape final plans and complete
arrangements for the biggest and most.
elaborate encampment ever enjoyed by
the veterans.
At the office OF Secretary Thomas
Grant there were great piles Of mail
today, most Of the letters coming from
camps and individual veterans asking
tor hotel or boarding house reserva-
tions during encampment week. All IN.
dications point to the assembling OF
$4,000 veterants and an equal number
of other visitors during the encamp-
r,ent.
or particular interest to the veter-
ans Is the spirited contest now De
ing waged for the office of command
er-in-chief Of the G. A. r. and which
will culminate here during the ses-
ciona the onCanDment
The candi iates to succeed Gen. ID.
]. Palmer as commander-in-ch chief are
Elias r. Monfort. for sixteen years
postmaster OF Cincinnati; Orlando A.
Patterson. of Pittsburgh. and Frank
o. Cole. of Jersey City. Each cand!-
date is a past department commander
and has strong Endorsement from his
department..
The Office Of senior vice commanl-
er-in-chief is invariably given to a
member Of the entertaining camp.
This office undoubtedly will go to
George H. slabaugh. Of Washington.
whe !. without opposition. A lively
vice commander. This office always
goes to the South. The candidates
are John w. Stebbins. Of Norfolk. Va.
Prof. Levant Dodge. Of Berea College.
Ky. and Col E. X. Russ. OF New Or
leans. There also will be contests
for surgeon-general and chaplain-in-
chief.
Work Advancing Rapidly.
Work on the encampment plans Is
progressing rapidly. and there Is every
indication that when the curtain rises
on September q, the veterans and the
people Of Washington will witness an
event approaching an inauguration for
splendor. Everything will be done for
the pleasure. convenience and comfort
Of the blue-clad veterans and the time
Of their lives Is assured them. Deco
rations will soon be placed by the dec
Grating committee and individual citi-
zens and several days In advance OF the
beginning Of the encampment the vet
Grams will pitch their tents in various
parts of the city.
"Shpmates' c. c. Royce and A. g.
Fortier. of the Union Naval Veterans.
are calling attention to the fact that
the surviving sailors will take a con-
spcuous part in the G. A. r. encamp-
ment next month. Preparations are
we'll unde way for grand dog
watch in the old Census building ,on
the night Of September 90 Secretary
of the Navy Daniels and a number OF
retired naval officers have signified
their intention of attending the dog
watch" and all surviving naval vet
Grams are expected to be on deck.