The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-07-19
Choose the Best Han.
We are in receipt of the following lett

Choose the Best Han!
We are in receipt of the following letter:
PHILADELPHIA, July H. 1888.
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
In an editorial " The next Commander-in-Chief'
published in your issue of the 18th inst you say:
. Since the custom of continuing the Commander
n-Chief in Office for but a single term seems to be
now well-establshed by the precedents of the last
three years, the considerations which enter into
the contest are largely geographical, and the
claims of individual candidates are, therefore,
subordinate in a measure to the claims of local.
ties" Permit me TO suggest that your assumption
that precedent has been established by the cleo
ton of new Commander each year since 1878 is
not altogether warranted and, if blindly followed
may prove detrimental TO the interests of the
Order, since the occasion might very well arise
when its welfare would demand the reelection of
Commander-in-Chef. So far As / know, Com
mander-in-Chief Van Dervoort has not yet an
nouneed whether he viii or viii not be a candidate
for recollection at the next annual Encsmpment.-
probably he wiz be glad to retire from an Office
which has made such demands upon his time and
sirength,-but it certainly seems to me that what
youcall precedent ought not operate against his
candidacy in case his name should be brought for
ward at the Eneampment by those who would like
toseea longer continuance this year remarkably
successful administration. Ought we not in choos-
the good Of the Order without regard to the sec
lion of country from which the candidate comes.
or what the custom has been IN the past as to the
filing OF the Office? SUBSCRIBER.
There is good deal of force in our CORE
spondent's suggestion, but he is mistaken in
supposing that THE TRIBUNE is disposed to
regard the action Of the three last annual
Encampments as establishing precedent
that should be blindly followed. 1t is a
fact that very large number of onr COM
rades are in favor of limiting the term of
service Of the Commander-in-Chief to a sim
gle year, and doubtless this sentiment had
much to do with the choice of the last three
Commander-in-Chiefs, but each EDcamp-
ment is, of course, law unto itself, and the
action of one is not binding on another.
Besides, while at one time it might not be
wise to re-elect the incumbent. at another
time the interests of the Order might de-
mand his retention. What its welfare now
demands we do not pretend to say. There
s.AC o-1uS2NAOA-9oiJ may CoLAidNSS WIZ
possess both the zeal and the ability neces-
sary to the efficient discharge of the respon-
sible duties of the position, and, as we re-
marked in our last issue we are not at all
appTehensiye that the Encampment viii
make a bad choice, but we are no better in
formed th3n our correspondent as TO whether
or not it is the wish or intention of Com
mander-in-Chief Van Deryoort to let his
name 90 before the Encampment. He is
just completing year of the most exhaust
ing and absorbing sort of work, and, to say
nothing Of the mental thought and personal
anxiety entailed upon him, he has been sub
jected to physical strain such as none but
the possessor Of magnificent physique could
possibly have endured. He has travelled, we
believe, somewhere in the neighborhood of
! fifty thousand miles, in all sorts of convey
ances and exposed to all sorts of weather.
aud though the unanimous voice of the Order
should demand his continuance in Office an
othef term, ne might well be excused for
declining TO serve, on the ground that he
has already made as heavy sacrifices as
could reasonably be expected of any coln-
rade That he would really decline, how
ever we have no ground for asserting, and
we do rot hesitate TO say-without meaning
10 disparage in the least the claims of other
deserving and distinguished comrades-that
the Encampmcnt would make no mistake
in rejoicing leader who has shown him
SCI to be so we'll fitted to discharge the
dnties of his tcust and SO unselfsh in his
devotion to the Order.
With regard TO SThatourco correspondent has
to say to thewisdom Of looking solely to the
welfare Of the Order rather than 10 the partic-
ular section Of country from which the can
d4d4tc comes, it seems to Us that LIE is clearly