Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 May 1909 — INDIANA VETERANS IN BRAVE PARADE [ARTICLE]

INDIANA VETERANS IN BRAVE PARADE

Grand Army Men Begin Crawfordsville Encampment. Crawfordsville, Ind., May 21.—Keeping step to the martial music of a half dozen bands. Indiana veterans held their annual encampment parade through the principal streets of Crawfordsville The parade was the dis tlnctive feature of the encampment week. Apparently all roads in Indiana have led to Crawfordsville, and. with more than 20,000 encampment vistors in the city, Crawfordsville is packed and jammed.

Scores of old soldiers who play the fife and drum have their instruments with them, and encampment visitors are entertained with plenty of music. It seems to be a tossup between Colonel Chester G. Thomson of Lafayette, and O. A. Somers of Kokomo, for department commander. It is likewise a tossup between South Bend and Terre Haute for the 1910 encampment. There was some talk that M. M. Lacey of Fountain City, might go before the convention as a candidate for department commander, but if his naflre is presented today it is thought he wilt receive few votes.

Northern Indiana veterans are pulling for South Bend, while those from southern Indiana wish Terre Haute to get the next encampment. Many badges bearing the inscription “Terre Hause. 1910,” and “South Bend, 1910,” are worn.