Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-09-14


and this state of things has long called
for some recognition of the active promoters
OF the good of tho order, who cannot join.
The Woman's Relief corps, after long strug-
gle, secured recognition as an auxiliary to
the Grand Army. Posts, however, had such
relief corps before the legislative bodies sane
TONED it by formal action and they would
have continued to havo them had such sane
ton boon withheld The constitution of tho
order does not forbid and cannot well forbid
auxiliary corps, or such memberships as have
been talked about undCr tho namo oi honor
airy and contributing memberships. What
ever the constitution does not forbid, posts
will do if they find it eXpedient. Tho con
stitution prohibits everything that would re-
veal the secret work of tho order or place
men outside of the order on plane with the
actual members in the matter of privileges,
and no one has been rash enough to propose
to ignore these prohibitions. The strongest
case in point is that of Philadelphia
post that invited Gen Joseph L. Johnston,
of the Confederate army, to become a
contributing member. A post in Brook
Ign took similar action about the same
time. The examples set before the Grand
Army boys by men to whom they are accu1-
toned to look up has much to do with this
unusual libcraity of sentiment Grant fra
ternized with tho southern generals and
urged tie rank and file to wave the olive
branch of peace. Confederate officers were
conspicuous at the funeral of Grant, and
were there by his own WISH as it is understood.
At the dinner at Delmonico's last April on
the anniversary of Grants birthday there
were several Confederate officers, and others
who could not attend received forma, inv
tations from Gen. Sherman, who was at the
head of the movement to honor Grants
memory in this way. Tho comrades of tho
Grand Army look upon their stated gather
ings rather as social festivals than otherwise,
and it is common for them to remark that a
good Johnnie" Confederate is better than
II bad "Yauk." BY "a bad Yankn they
mean northerner who did not go to the
front at all
RELIEVING THE VETERANS.
The Grand Army came late into the field as
advocates Of pension measures. The reason
of this was that at first the work of relief
was done by finding employment for needy
veterans. But as years go by and growing
disabilities begin to make labor more difficult
for those who are injured, the order quite
properly has taken up the question of pen
sions. Pensions are certain to be granted,
are Of value in determining the business and
applicability of pending measures. Perhaps
the most obnoxious pension measure vet pro
posed originated in the committee on pen
sions of the national encampment. This was
the so called ''pauper" or dependent pen
sion," and it was vetoed by the president
The bill was then Immediately submitted to
the Grand Army posts, and it secured very
hearty Endorsement. but the sequel proved
that while the veterans wished to applaud
the committee for vigorous effort in
the right direction, they did not ON
second thought approve of tho measure.
The bill was vetoed at the close of the
session of 1SS6-7, and congress failed
to pass it over the veto, notwithstanding the
inspiration given its friends by the practical
Endorsement of the posts when appealed to
through Grand Army headquarters. At the
last encampment tat st. Louis, September,
1850 the committee on pensions reported
their efforts and their experience with this
bill. The committee explained that the bill
was not i'll all respects satisfactory, but after
several vain attempts at having it amended
it had urged its passage upon the senate COM
mittee of lSSG-1 because "thc bill would at
least have moved from the public pauper
houses of tho land $4,000 veterans and pro-
vided forfully as many more dependent upon
private charities, making these people pen
sioners instead Of paVpeis.'