The National tribune., 1888-11-01
SONS OF VETERANS.
The Differences Between the Camp and Post System
COneiselY Stated.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In THE Ma
TIoNAL TRIBUNE of Oct Is / noticed an &C
count of the first annual Encampment of the
Sons of Veterans, GAR In that article is quoted
part of a speech delivered at that time by Asst
Adi't-Gen. Williamson, describing the differ
enees between the two organizations of the
Sons of Veterans, which is a libel upon the
Camp system.
To one who is cognizant with the truth of
the matter it makes little difference, but to
those who have not had the opportunity to
learn differently it is very misleading. For
the benefit of the latter [ would say that the
only differences in the article in the COnstitu-
tions of the two Orders, a copy of each of which
l have before ne, on the eligibility of members
is that the Camp system does not admit sons
under IS years old, while the Post system ad-
mits those over 10 years; that the Camps allow
the admission of sons whose fathers died in
the service of their country, and does not allow
son who has been guilty Of an infamous
crime or who has borne arms against the
United States, neither of which the COnstitu-
tion Of the Posts mentions; and that the Camps
provide for pepetuating the Order by allowing
the sons of members of the Order to join at
the age of q, which the Posts do not
l think this is sufficiently clear to show the
incorrectness Of the statements about the
"stepsons nephews and other members of the
family" as Brother Williamson has it. AS to
the respective age of the two Orders am
not prepared to state, as l have no data at hand
with which to back my. statement. This 1
will say, that while the Posts, at the outside,
have not more than 5000 members the Camps
have 0,000 and if the Posts are the older, then,
to their shame be it said, younger organiza-
ton is outstripping them by having III two
thirds of the time gained II times as many
members.
The charge that we modelled our Camp after
the Confederate Veterans system Is so foolish
as to be hardly worth noticing. If Bro. Will
hanson can tell US how we might model a
semi-military organization, such as the camp
system protessedly is, other than the way 1t IS
modelled, we might take some steps in that
direction; but do not believe that he can. AS
| every member of the Camp system knows the
| sO-called shoulder-stTaps were done away with
! at the last National Encampment. The fact IS,
| that for q number of years we have had no such
! thing rs shoulder-stTaps We have used The
! cOllartag," such as are in vogue IN the United
/ States Navy to-day. Camps armed and equipped,
! it is true, use the regulation straps If they
/ wish, but under no other circumstances.
To answer the last charge ] again turn TO the
Constitution, Rules and Regulations, of the Post
! system, and find there such titles as Depart
! ment Acknowledgement, Assistant Adjutant-
| General, Department Quartermaster General,
| Department InspectOr-General and Department
! Surgeon-General. This in an Order that pro-
/
| is ridiculous. For simplicity we will let any
person judge between the Senior Vice-Post Com
mander and First Lieutenant or Junior Vice
| Post Commander and Second Lieutenant.
This will, think, explain the truth of the
matter to those who were not in position to
/ know the facts. If our brother made the state
ments being ignorant of the truth, then let the
! charity which covers the faults of others, and
at the same time tends to their correction,
cover this matter as with mantle. If they
were made Intentionally, then for our brothers
sake we are sorry he could not find some
real flaw in our Order to which he could bring
! proof and at the same time help us on to per
lection. The recognition given the Camp sys
TEN by the National Encampment of the GA. K
in September should be enough to unite the
two organizations, and we fondly hope suct
will be the case before our eighth annual En-
campment in Patterson, n. j., next August
Jos. d. HUGHES, Captain, Camp 16, Division
n. j., S. V, Red Bank, n. J.