Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-09-12
1000 VISITORS ARRIVE
IN OTTAWA FOR
HOME COMING
CH|CAGOANS IN LEAD
eIC DELEGATION ARRIVES IN
SPECIAL TRAIN - PARADE IS
LED 6Y TWO BANOS-MEET.
lNCS AT CHAUTAUQUA PARK.

Ottawa today was in complete pO-
session OF the Stavanger Laget the
largest Norwegian society in the
United States. Visitors to the annual
Homecoming began arriving early,
and by 10 o'clock the business district
was swarming with strangers who
halted from all points of the com
pass.
Careful estimates fix the number
OF participants In the three days con.
vention who already have arrived at
1000 and this number it is expected,
will be doubled before the last day of
the home coming. Judge II. W. John
son, George q. Grover, Prof. Laugman,
b. o. Berge and other prominent Nor
wegians of the city were on hand
early this morning to receive the dele
gates and to direct them to quarters.
where they will be housed during the
three days. All hotels are 0verrun
with members OF the association and
visitors were dispatched to private
homes for Oms-prOvisiOns having
been made by local committees for
entertaining a thousand guests in this
manner
The parade this morning was a fea-
ture OF the convention. Headed by
the Story City, Ia, band automobiles
numbering a hundred and marchers
numbering two or three hundred pro-
ceeded thru the loop" streets under
very adverse circumstances. The
streets OF the city are anything but
conducive OF orderly parading, but the
marchers did well considering this
one serious set back The largest
delegation In the procession was form
ed by the Chicago representatives
who arrived at 1896 over specia
Rock Island train, accompanied by
the Norwegian Turner'S band, which
occupied place at the head of the
procession.
Banners, more than score in mum
Der, all In brilliant colored silks and
containing paintings of scenes abou
Stavanger. made a pretty spectacle
as the parade moved thru the streets
Each Of these banners represented
some particular community in or neal
Stavanger, in Norway, where the so
ciety gets its name. Each township
or Amt as 1t is known in the native
tongue, is keenly contesting with the
other to have the largest delegation
at the homecoming and as resul
there is lot of friendly rivallr,
among the delegates. All the visi
tors are either native of Stavange
Amt or are descendants of parents
who came from there
Meet at Chautauqua Park.
After the dowr town parade the visi
tors who were not driving their owl
cars. were provided with transporta
ton over the Interurban to Chautau
qua park, where the days meeting
will be held. Their President Re,
c. ]. EastvOld, of Minneapolis, MINI
presided The address Of welcome
were delivered by Mayor r. F. Brad
ford and President Clarence Griggs
Of the Chamber of Commerce. Bot
gentlemen enthusiastically welcome
the visitors while the mayor in hi
characteristic way turned larg
golden key over to Rev. Eastvold syn
bolic Of the city's hospitality and al
n0uncing that while they were
town the city belonged to the Lage
The response was delivered by Pres
. dent Eastvold who thanked the OFT
wa officials for their hospitality an
voiced the sentiments Of all his hea
ers In expressing their gratitude ft
the warm welcome that had been I'll
en- them by Ottawa.
The Program.
The programs Of the conventio
which were printed In the Norwegi,
language, became lost somewhere
the shuttle and at 800 O'Clock I'll
afternoon the local committee was n
prepared to give out detailed ~
opEis Of the convention routine
summarized program was given G
as follows:
Wednesday, 3 p. m.--Dedicaton
banners. Addresses, songs and mus
Thursday Forenoon and Afternoon
Oddresses, songs and music
Thursdays p. m.--Crand concert
srmory for benefit OF Red Cross
This afternoons addresses at |