The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-11-15
MISSOURI.

Comrade Albion P. Pease, Assistant Adiu-
tant-General of the Department of Missouri,
writes rs nnder date Of November B. as follows:
Sil.ee our encampment last March we have
more than doubled In number gaining sixty
six Posts and $500 members. This has neces-
STATED q great amount of additional work at
headquarters, which, think, is little appre-
ciated by the comrades who are at a distance.
It neeessitates the receipt and answer on an
average of forty letters and postal cards per
day, besides all other routine of organization.
We have grown so suddenly that, like the City
of Kansas where we hold the fort, we are
in constant dread of overreaching our capacity
TO clothe ourselves, 80 to speak, and by the time
another year rolls around you viii see the
young Missouri giant far outstrippfng older De-
partments in numbers and, hope, equaling
the best in discipline.
I personally organized Post at Jefferson
City, on the last Saturday night of October,
giving 1t the same name and number which
formerly belonged to the old Post there, which
died out last year, | am sorry 70 say, because Of
the inefheiency Of its officers and their manner
of administering their affairs. Five celored
Posts are on our roster, but as yet their status
is a conundrum to be solved by future develop
ment. I am not believer in separating the
line of color, and think that it is for the best
to have them in white Posts where they can
be fostered and taught, before giving over the
management 70 them exclusively, especially
here in Missouri, where the prejudice is 80
| strongly set against them; by this means We en-
courage them and strengthen their efforts.
However, seem to be in the minority, and
yield the point until the time when the mat
ter shall be finally settled.
In the West, and especially here find that
but few comparatively understand the routine
of duties which our obligations require of Post
officers, and am daily besought to do all the
n. l.
teImaster. Time will, however, regulate this,
and at the coming election of Post officers
| hope to see a more careful selection made and
men elected who can and will attend TO their
duties without shifting the responsibility. We
| have about twenty five Post Commanders and
| Adjutants in the Department who are thor
oughly posted as regarding their duties, and do
them. With these comrades to instruct Others,
1t viii not take more than two years to put this
| Department alongside of Massachusetts and
| Pennsylvania, to say nothing of Ohio.
| Senior Vice COMMANDMENTS Chief VIM. War
| ner, our Department Commander, is as untir-
/ ing and jealous as ever, and to him we owe
| much of the success of the Order, not only
| here, but in other Departments could mention.
Unassuming and retiring, he accepts whatever
| presents itself to be done and quietly does 1T.
| His indomitable will and perseverance are his
stock in trade, and the comrades everywhere in
/ the Department recognize him as their friend
| and helper, and my greatest pride is that he
| called me to be his Assistant Adjutant- General
in this great and glorious cause.
| We have applications for over thirty Posts
yet to be mustered, and I am happy to state
that those already mustered, with some half
dozen exceptions, are strong and healthy in
fants in our family circle.
| Custer Post, No. Z, of ST. Joseph, still main
| tain the supremacy as to numbers and finances,
| and also as to discipline.
| T. P. Blair Post comes next as to numbers
and financial condition. and. making due al
lowance for distance from headquarters their
| reports are, on an average, among the first to
/ be received This Post has the best Quarter
/ master in the Department, in the person of
| Major Arthur Dreifus, Assistant Inspector, az
Custer Post has one of the best Adjutants (if
/ not the best) in the person of Comrade John
i Harnois, Special MASTERING Officer. The emu
/ lation and healthy rivalry between thes Posts
!! has done much to bring up the Department,
and each watches the other for point. Col
| onels Cole and Striblen, the respective Com
| manders. are worthy of each others steel, and
| both are gentlemen as we'll as soldiers, and
| will do much in the near future, as they have
| done already, to bring up the Department to
/ the high plane of excellence to which already
| they have brought their Posts.
/ Comrade z. B. Howard, of Farragut Post, No.
! 3, of Kansas City, Is the best-posted Grand
/ Army man among the comrades, and has served
/ three terms as Post Commander in Chicago
! and is now serving in that capacity here. He
! never hes occasion to use the ritual, and his
/ manner Of conducting the muster-in ceremo-
/ nies are impressive and dignifed. / would
/