The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1919-09-05
RANKS OF CIVIL WAR VETER-
ANS CUT TO 1876, 1000
MEETINCISIN COLUMBUS
Affiliated Organizations will
Hold Their Annual Conven.
lions Next Week
Associated Press pispatch.l


Columbus, O., September 3.-Their
ranks reduced to approximately 1885,
600, members of the Grand Army of
the Republic, are about ready TO re-
tire from the stage of action and be.
queath their traditions to their sons,
veterans of the European war, now
organizing into the American Legion.
The fifty-th annual encampment
of the G.. A. R. which opens here
Sunday, September for one week,
probably will be the last great en-
campment of the old veterans, ac-
cording to James Z Campbell, former
governor of Ohio and chairman of the
local committee on arrangeents.
"Of course, there will be other en-
campments, but in all probability this
will be the last big one. This was
indicated at the last encampment,
when thousands of veterans in the far
West voted to hold this years en-
campment In Columbus in preference
to ST. Paul. Most of them were born
in the Central and Eastern states and
they wanted to return, as they ex-
pressed it, to pay a last visit to their
old homes and bid final farewell to
bell said.
What of the Future.
Governor Campbell expressed the
belief that the G. A. R. after this
years encampment, though maintain
ing its organization, will gradually
turn over 10 veterans of the Euro
pean war their activities. This, is
indicated" he said, "by the fact that
for the first time in its history, the
G. A. r. has invited veterans of an
other war, the world conflict, to par
tioipate in its annual parade and other
exercises this year. The G. A. r. has
been a very jealous organization,
never permitting any organization
except the Sons of Veterans to part
cipate in any of its activities, then
only in the parade. Now our own
sons are standing ready to take up
the work and they no doubt finally
will assume it,"
Besides the G. A. r. seven affiliated
organizations will meet here at the
same time. The are: The Woman's
Relief corps, Ladies of the G.. A. R.,
Sons Of Veterans, Sons Of Veterans
Arxiaiary. .Dauel1<<s ~ veterans. Ex-
Prisoners Of War and Civil War
Nurses
Union Religious Service.
One of the features besides the an
nual parade which will be participated
in by the G. A r., Sons of Veterans
and soldiers of the recent war, will
be a union religious service on SUM
day afternoon at Memorial Hall when
ministers of all religious denomina-
tons will speak and take part in the
exercises. In the evening a musical
program will be rendered at the hall.
In letter addressed to world war
soldiers, sailors and marines, espec-
tally those joining the American
Legion, Governor Campbell after
speaking of the general order of
Clarendon E. Adams of Omaha. COM
mander in chief of the G. A. r., in
viting world war and Spanish Amer
lean war veterans to march in the
Parade, says:
THE reason for this reversal of the
former policy is that the members. of
the Grand Army OF the Republic exult
in the existence in this nation of A.
100000 young men, largely the sons
and grandsons of old veterans, who
are able and ready to take up the
welcome duty of another half century
of keeping alive the fires of patriot
ISM"