Little Falls Herald

GRAND ARMY REUNION
Annual Encampment at Minneapolis One of Greatest on Record.
Estimated That More Than One Hundred Thousand Strangers Have Reached the Mill City and Everything Possible Is Being Done for the Comfort and Entertainment of the Immense Crowd.

Minneapolis, Aug. 14.—The rush of visitors to this city for the annual encampment of the G. A. R. continues unabated, and the present prospect is that the meeting will be one of the most successful ever held by the Grand Army. According to the estimates of railroad men fully 100,000 people have so far arrived, and dozens of trains running in two and three sections are still on the way.

Minneapolis has risen to the occasion in magnificent fashion and it is difficult to mention anything that could be done for the entertainment and comfort of her visitors that has not already been provided. Numerous committees have been appointed to receive the veterans at the depots and a man has but to mention who he is and declare his desires. The remainder of the programme is handled by the committee in the most capable fashion. At nearly every corner in the business section of the city is situated an "information booth" which is tenanted by a young man who is capable of answering all sorts of questions in a satisfactory manner.

City Handsomely Decorated.

The city itself is decorated as though every man had made it his personal business to see that Minneapolis looked her bravest and best. Flags and bunting are everywhere from roofs to sidewalks and banners are swung in endless profusion across the streets. The decorations, lavish as they now seem, are still in progress and will be increased until Wednesday, when all the business houses of the city will close in honor of the great parade.

The contest for national commander is growing warmer, although no great amount of electioneering has so far been done. The friends of Captain P. H. Coney of Kansas are making what is outwardly the most aggressive campaign and claim to be fairly confident of the election of their man. Other candidates whose names are being pushed are R. B. Brown of Zanesville, O., and Charles G. Burton of Missouri. There is no contest worth mentioning for any of the minor offices.

It is expected that considerable debate will result over the recent law passed by congress driving the canteen out of the old soldiers' homes. Commander-in-Chief Tanner is in favor of the passage of a resolution deprecating the passage of this law, but a strong element in the organization is against such action.

Another Contest Probable.

Another feature that may crop up is the old fight over the proposed erection by the women of the South, of a statue of Henry Wirz, notorious for his atrocities while in command at Andersonville prison. This matter came up in 1901 and has been more or less alive ever since. All members of the Grand Army are opposed to the erection of a statue to Wirz, who was hanged for his crimes.

The social features of the encampment, which are numbered by the hundreds, began with regimental reunions, and a reception given by Governor Johnson at the new capitol in St. Paul to the visiting veterans. The building, which was especially decorated with bunting and electricity for the event, presented a beautiful appearance. In the receiving line by the side of Governor Johnson stood Commander Tanner and other notables of the state and of the Grand Army. Several thousand veterans made the journey from Minneapolis to St. Paul for the occasion.

A grand patriotic concert was the evening feature in this city. E. V. Tilden, of Antelope county, Nebraska, an old soldier, died of fatigue induced by the journey from his home.