The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-07-05

ley, to whom their letters were referred i'm
nlediately upon their receipt, is of the opin-
ion that the information which they contain
viii probably lead to the allowance of Com
rade Rizor's claim.
/ The Proposed Union of woman's AuxiIiaries.
The interchange of opinions which has
been going on in our columns, during the
past few weeks, between representatives of
Woman's Auxiliaries in nearly every section
OF the country, as to both the ACCESSIBILITY
and practicabiIity of organizing National
Union, has demonstrated beyond question
/ that the desire for such union is universal
/ and that the time is ripe for its eonsumma-
! ton. At the date of the publication of THE
! TRIBUNE's circular of inquiry, it was I'M
! certain, not only what degree of interest
in the proposition was taken by the Auxil-
iaries themselves, but whether it would be
possible to assemble at the Denver confer
enoe a sufficient representation from the va
rious societies to warrant definite action
/ The responses which have been made to
that circular, however, remove all doubts
on these points. The members of the New
England Relief Corps are evidently quite as
eager to have such union established as
4 their Western sisters and il is clear that all
/ shades of opinion VIII be represented at the
conference. 1t viii be seen by reference to
Mrs. Fuller's letter, printed in another col
umn, that the Massachusetts, Department
Woman's Relief Corps, has voted to send its
president, secretary and conductor as dele
gates to the conference, and, as one of our
correspondents points out, any plan of union
that commands the approval of the Massa-
chusetts Department is sure to be acqui-
esced in by the New Hampshire Depart
ment, since it is conducted under an identi-
cal constitution. The Western societies, of
which Forsyth Post Auxiliary, Toledo, and
Mccoy Post Auxiliary, Columbus, may be
regarded as fair types, viii also be well rep
resented and it is reasonable to conclude
that if the conference should fail of its pur-
pose, it viii not be on account of any spar
sity of attendance
But failure is not to be thought of for
moment IF the loyal women composing
these societies are really anxious, as they
seem to be, to organize under national con-
stitution and upon uniform plan of work,
they viii not let any petty difference
of opinion defeat that object If they are
sensible as they appear to be, of the import
ance of having central organization, by
means of which the order may be extended
to every Department of the Grand Army
and an Auxiliary established in connection
with every Post, they viii certainly not
allow any question of personal preference
TO stand in the way Of the accomplishment
of the union. The business of the confer
ence is simply to consider the comparative
value of the several systems under which
the societies are working and such new
forms of organization as may be suggested,
and from the number recommend for
adoption that which, judging from expert
ence, seems TO promise the best results.
There is only one condition which seems to us
really vital to the success of the union, and
that is the admission of all loyal women to
membership. 1t would be suicidal to reject
the aid Of any loyal woman, simply because
she did not happen to be the mother or
daughter. wife or sister of a soldier. We
were glad enough to have the aid of loyal
women twenty years ago, and we need it
now quite as much. Are the women who
sent their lovers to the war and whose
hopes Of happiness lie buried in Southern
soil to be denied share in the good work,
because, forsooth, they are not The relations,
but only the betrothed Of soldiers? All,
no! 1t would be heartless, as well as fool
ish, to exclude them. The rest matters lit
tie. Ritual or no ritual, open or secret
meetings; we have no fear that the union
VIII not be enduring, if there is an agree
ment as to the objects to be accomplished.
IF the pTeponderence of opinion fayors the
adoption Of secret work. notwithstanding it
has been shown not to be essential to the
success Of an Auxiliary, let there be no resort
to discretionary measures and, if it should
be thought best to dispense with all ceremo-
NAL forms, let there be no exhibition of dog
in-the-mapger obstinacy. If the plan of
union finally adopted should prove defec-
tive upon actual trial, it viii be easy enough
at any annual conference to amend it. The
essential thing is to organize practical,
working union, and that, too. at the earliest
| possible moment.
why the G. A. r.. is HIisrepresented.
1t viii be seen by reference to the CON-
munication published In another column