The National tribune., 1883-05-10
WOyAN'S AUXILIBRIES
Suggestions for the Organization of
a National Order.


no opportunity Of urging upon his comrades of
the q. A. II. the importance of calling in the aid
OF such organizations. One of the first acts
OF his administration was TO commend officially
the work that women Were already doing TO
supplement the efforts of the Grand Army in
deeds of loyalty and charity. BY circular and
letter and in eloquent words addressed directly
10 the old soldiers of the Posts throughout the
Union, as he went about in his grand tour of
inspection and recruiting, he made strong,
manly, loving appeals for the women of the
war and the recognition of patriotic services
now as i'm the past.
Nor have his iniHnctions been ignored or his
advice disregarded. In response TO circulars
sent out from Department Headquarters rich
harvest of results is even now garnered. Nom-
ans Auxiliaries may now be found dotting our
grand and beautiful country, from Vermont on
the east to California ON the west: while the
loyal heart of the Staunch Northwest is pulsat-
ing with the fresh current of loyal womanly
zeal which is cheering the weak and scattered
frontier Posts.
TIE NATIONAL TRIBUNE did new and vail
ant service for the veterans of the Union when
il came forward with its inspiring rallying cries
and Encouraged the soldiers wives and mothers
and swoethearts to band the members together
for united exercise OF patriotic duties As l
write, unanswered letters lie before me from
numerous correspondents, dating back but a
few days, expressing the interest of the writers
IN w0man's work and what it is TO accomplish
for one and all concerned The large number
of letters coming from New York and Pennsyl-
wanna are particularly noticeable, and makes
one wish that not only the old Empire State and
the Keystone State had their State societies,
but that every Department Commander in the
Union could be baptized with the same spirit
rs their large-heartcl and chivalrie Chief at
Omaha
firmly believe, remembering the sources of
in his circular and estimating the number of
inquiries as 20 forms for organizing, in response
TO those circulars, or instigated by THE TRIB-
UNE, that working Auxliaries can now be
numbered by the hundred where there was not
one year ago. When take up my list and
mark the post-offices and States from which
they come, say: Here is the white harvest
for the Grand Army. They need only TO put
forth their hands and bind the sheaYes for the
day of glorious ingatheringr
The COmmander-in-Chief is fully alive to the
possibilities Of the hour, and in recent letter
to the writer Of this paper expresses himself as
follows:
81 shall invite representatives of Woman's Relief
Corps and Auxiliary Societies 10 be present the
Grand EDcampment AT Denver with the view of
forming national organization. j shall be very
glad if you viii write what women have done for
the soldier since the war; what they did then is
written Ia Heaven. ann doing all can. but be-
lieve that of the brightest leaves in my present
the loyal women. God bless You all who have
worked so nobly. shah be glad TO see YOU all in
Denver"
PLAN FOR UNION.
The Commander-in-Chief viii. no doubt.
pardon the liberty taken by the writer in
quoting SO literally from private letter since
the sentiments expressed do honor to both his
head and heart Ny object in doing so was to
institute inquiry as to the objects TO be accom-
plished at that meeting and as TO just who viii
be entitled TO participate in its deliberations
Massachusetts, Maine New jersey, and New
Hampshire also, if / am rightly informed, have
their State organizations 1t is very easy to
decide as TO whom their delegates shall be-
There are strong independent societies in New
York, Pennsylvania and Ohio. There are asso-
Citations, more or less strong in Iowa Illinois
Indiana, Wisconsin, Kansas, Michigan, Ken
lucky, Nebraska, New Mexico California,
Arkansas, Vermont, &c. But how are these to
be representede
Should the Commander-in-C Chief issue a gen.
eral invitation TO the loyal women of the coun-
try, there would no doubt. be responses enough
TO secure a whole city full of jealous, enthusi-
astic women. But would they know anything
about their subject when they got there, or be
able TO contribute anything 10 the common in
formation without first having gone over the
subject thoroughly? The difficulty to be met
at the very first step is lust this: " VIII the
New England be willing to set aside their
forms and ceremonies for the Tsonce and meet
on terms of fellowship the independent rangers
of the great Mest2" Or will they say: We
represent the only thorough organizations of
the country. Those who cooperate with us
must fall in with our plans and associate them
selves together under conditions that viii
recognize our work and our manual
Now, IL seems to me that if the Commander
1n-Chlcf would appoint certain number of
delegates from every State Department bv con-
ference with the Department Commanders or
otherwise, and ask such delegates TO meet to-
2etheF at Denver 70 agree upon basis of
union, that very speedy and efficient work
might be done within the year to come. 1t
might be found possible for all the various as
sOeiations 10 work together under a common
constitution, leaving il to the States TO adept or
reject such parts of existing orders as they shall
see Mt Or better still, compromise securing
more homogeneous order may be agreed ufon
which sh3ll be the same in its workings In
every State in the Union. Ny own views have
already been plainly expressed, and look TO a
plan of union which shall be as free IN its
workings from red tape rs it is possible 20
make IT. At the same time recognize the fact
that maiorities rule and that it is for the hest
good OF ali that the subject should be examined
ia its widest bearings.
COMMISSION on UNION.
in order 10 bring the matter more prorni-
nenty before the Grand Army of the Republic
your correspondent would recommend that the
Commander-ln-Chief appoint commission con-
sistIng Of not less than five ladies fron%cach
State represented IN the @. A. R. who shall
take the subject Of national organization nm
der special consideration. examine all existing
Auxiliary and Relief Corps work, and make
such recommendations and mature such plans
as shall secure united, uniform and efficient
woInans work IN connection with every De-
partIncnt and every Post In the land The
country is full Of grand executive woman who
either now or in tho old war days have worked
shoulder 10 shoulder for the soldier and his
family.
There Is Mrs. Eoge, Of Chicago foremost in
the Old Sanitary Commission days and now the
able President Of the Northwestern Board of
Missions. There is the cleaf-headed and tai
eHted Mrs. Logan, wife of General John A.
Logan, once Commander-in-C Chief Of the G.
a K. Coming TO Ohio, We find Mrs Lucy
Webb Hayes, whose heart beats warm and
strong for the poor and the unfortunate and
whose syInpathies are only equalled by her
ability 10 execute what her ready wit projects
Aud there, too, IS Mrs. Edward L. Moves, wife
oi our oae-legged ex-governor and ex-minis-
1es 10 France, whose capabilities and discern
mont would be Invaluable IL any deliberatiye
body. Leaving out Mrs Garfield whose heart
rs yet too sore 10 go beyond the holy quiet of
her bcreit household, and Ohio is still full of
these capable, earnest women: Mrs ex-Cioy-
ernor Cox. Of Cincinnati, daughter Of the great
II .ts..fF tNa,fs~, Ezl4l, "a