Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1915-03-16
ANNUAL MEETING OF
THE STATE G. Al. r.

DEAR Pilot:
l overheard a conversation between
two gentlemen in hotel lobby in
the southern part OF the state recent
" that interested me. Each of these
men wore the bronze button on the
lapel of the coat that designated
them as men who had served their
country in time of need and their
conversation turned upon the annual
encampment TO be held in WauSau
this year. One of the gentlemen said
he had heard great deal of WauSau
and he presumed that this city would
provide an entertainment that would
be record breaker. He stated that
he looked forward to the coming G.
A. X. encampment anticipating a
good time in good town. His COM
rade applied that lie hoped that there
would be no disappointment but that
he knew Wausau and that ii was a
good town to go to, if the visitors
provided their own entertainment.
That it was beautiful city, but
that, as entertainers, he did not look
upon Wausaa people as a bowling
success,
Naturally as citizen of Wausau,
the writer was interested and began
TO investigate the probable truth of
the statement made by the second
gentleman.
What do we really do for conven-
tions? We make them a lot of prom
lseS year in advance and the day
before they get here the city officials
put out a lot of discouraged flags on
the lamp posts and hang an electric
welcome sign on the court house.
When they arrive, there will be lin
tied music by the band, the mayor
VIII make the same old speech, one or
two gentlemen well known locally for
their ability to pull the tail feathers
out of the national bird will make
self satisfying orationS the visitors
will get free ride out of the city as
far as the street car runs south every
body but visitors pay full fare), but
we may feed the visitors and accom-
panying orators, few automobiles
will be placed at the disposal of those
who wish TO see "our beautiful city,"
etc. On the last day of the conyen-
ton each visitor will be backed up
against the wall and made to acknowi-
edge that this is indeed wonderful
OAtN dliu UOiu " ~ llOu1b.
There should be something more in
this han the dollar mark at the end
OF the street car line. There can be
some real decorating done. The nag
decorations on the lamp posts are all
right as far as they go. 1t runs in
the writer's mind that when the
ornamental lighting system was in
stalled there was promise of colored
globes for decorating when we wanted
TO put on our good clothes. Red and
blue globes with the present white
ones ought to make hit on this par
ucular occasion.
Something real should be attempted. |
Some way should be found to vary
our time-honored and moth-eaten way
of doing these things.
This is one of the last eneanp-
ments the Grand Army OF the Repub-
lie Will be able to hold. Surely Wau- |
Sau can never hope to entertain them |
again. In ten years but very few of |
them will beleft and in twenty, none. |
| would like to make a single sug-
gestion. There are in this city a |
large number of semi-patriotic lodges, |
for example the Masonic bodies, Odd |
Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Knights |
of Columbus, Elks, Eagles, Moose, |
Owls and Il came near saying the
rest of the Zoo others. Why cannot !
each society appoint one live member
TO make up general arrangement |
committee to take this encampment |
In hand and do something worth |
while. The G. A. r. is entitled to
and should receive the very best that
Wausau can give. If such commit |
tee could be formed-one order could !
become responsible for the reception, |
one for the decorating, another on en- |
tertainment and each would vie with |
the other to see who could make the |
best showing.
If you leave the arrangements to
the usual citizens committee or to |
the usual city committee or to zeal |
Gus volunteers who are looking for !
the lime light you will get from it
just what your effort cost you, namely |
nothing. Yours truly,
BUTrINSKL