The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-06-07
where 10 Draw the Line.


The circular recently issued by Coma
mander Stimson of the Department of Colo
rado, announcing the organization of min
ing company, in which @none but Grand
Army men are interested" and calling for
subscriptions to the stock from members of
the Order, has provoked, as we anticipated,
much adverse comment. The Springfield
(Ohio) Republic, in the course of an editorial
concerning the project, observes: This may
be all right and precisely as represented,
but it is not right nor for the good of the
Order to be thus using the G. 4. L. and its
badge ald high Offices for advertising pur-
poses, and in fhe name of 10000 comrades
Of Ohio the Repu5l5c feels Ike protesting.
# the enterprise referred to is a good one,
as it possibly may be, let it stand on its
merits, but don't make our great and glo-
rous G. a. r. organization responsible for
any grand failure and swindle by thus cd
vaTtising the latter in ifs Dame. This is a
very good place to drew the line"
Now We have not the slightest idea that
Commander stimeon, in availing himself Of
the facilities afforded by his Official connec-
tion with The Order to bring this project to
The favorable notice Of his comrades, ill.
tended 10 commit the Grand Army organi-
zatien itself to an Endorsement Of his COM
pony. Ills splendid record as Commander
Of ghe Colorado Department would be sufi-
cient in itself to silence such a suspicion,
and it is reasonable to conclude, therefore,
that, sincerely believing thai the mine in
which he was interested must prove a source
Of great profit to the holders Of stock tlereia
he sent ont his prospectus through the
Official channels Of the Order, simply be-
cause that was the quickest ard most
etIecenaI way Of letting his comrades know
what an excellent opportunity was thus
afforded to make aremuneratiye investments
It doubtless did not occur to him that
many comrades, purchasing stock under the
impression that The success of tie project
was guaranteed by the Grand Army, might
hold the Order itself responsible in case their
expectations should not be realized, or that,
in the event Of his success unscrupulous
persons might be encouraged to use the
same means to foist worthless schemes upon
our ex-soldiers, yet such would be the natural
| resUIt of such precedent, and furnishes,
therefore, a sufficient reason for its eonden-
nation. lit be right and proper to employ
Official mediums to advertise mining COM
pany, why not an insurance or land company,
q railroad or canal scheme, patent rights
OF patent medicines? There is, indeed, no
limit TO the mischief that would be done If
officers Of the Grand Army were permitted
to use their position to advance their bust
ness interests. While, etherefore, we are
| persuaded that in the case under congidera-
ton the intentions of all concerned were
entirely honorable, and they can be charged.
with nothing worse than thoughtlessness,
we are Of the opinion that Communicating
Chief Van Dervoort should make this the
occasion of special order, calling the atten-
lion of all officers of the Grand Army, from
the most exalted to those occupying the
hnmblest station, TO the improperly of
employing the influence of their position to
promote private business interests Of any
character whatsoeyer, and warning them of
the injury which may result to the Order
from such a departure from the legitimate
exercise of authority. As we all know, the
intEoduction of politics into the affairs Of
the Grand Army once brought it to the