Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1889-04-23
G.. A. R.
SECOND ANNUAL ENCAMPMENT OF
THE DEPARTMENT OF IDAHO,

THE DEPARTMENT OF IDAHO.
Conclusion Of the Proceedings OF the
Second Day.
Miss Emma Lindsey then advanced
to the Commanders station, and dc.
livered the following poem by Cap
tain Jack Crawford, the Poet.Scout.
1t is entitled
THE WEEDS OF THE ARMY.
Some OF the papers tell us that the Boys of the
G. A. R.
Never smelt powder in battle or went to the
front in war;
They brageingly tell Us our roster bears only
the names Of those
Who paused at the roar Of the conflict and North
ward pointed their toes;
They say that the true, brave soldiers have never
entered our ranks,
That we were never known to muster but . lot
Of political cranks.
As one of the papers put 1t, we are but the
weeds Of the crop,
But loafers, and shirks, and towards, who never
heard muskets pop.
Pray, who are these trsitoreus writer's who are
casting their venomous slime
Ger the men who gave all to their country At
that trying and terrible time?
They are the poor, cringfhg towards who never
dared 60 to the front
And stand with our brave peerless soldiers and
help bear the battles brunt.
They chung to the skirts Of the women and Is
soon Is our backs were turned
Our dag. our cause and our country the coward
ly miscresnts spurned.
Go seek them wherever they loiter. from the
Gulf to the northernmoet lakes,
And you will ind them but trescherous, venom.
Gus, coppsrhe ad snakes.
Let us pause on q shaded corner and see . pro.
cesstoh pass
OF . great Grand Army reunion when the vet.
Grams form . mass.
Just note the dismembered bodies, the crutches,
canes. and scars,
That mutely tell the sad story of the bloodiest
Of wars.
See the tattered flags they are bearing all rid.
died with shot and with she'll.
The flags they carried undaunted right into the
gates OF hell.
See the bodies bent and disabled, made SO by
the battles fierce blast.
Are these the weeds Of the army at whom these
insults are east?
Brave Garfield, our honored martyr. wore tb'
badge of the Boys in Blue,
And Hancock. the mighty soldier. was a comrad'
tried and true,
And Logan, our own loved Logan. undaunted il
peace or in war,
Was proud to be called a member in the rank
of the G. A.. R.
And Grant, that Intrepid chieftain who was hon
ored in every land,
Stood up in the ranks Of veterans . conrad
noble and grand.
And Sherman, our "Uncle Billy" God bles
his grizzly head.
Rejoices being comrade Of tho boys he 30 gal
lantly led.
Go search DER the whole broad country for tn
! heroes who fought In the war,
And you will find on each notable bosom tn
| eagle, and flag and star.
| It 10 worn as the badge of honor Ger hearts tha
are loyal and true,
And is worn by the greatest soldiers that eve
the bright sword drew.
Just glance Ger the mighty roster and pause q
| each honored name,
And reflect for . passing moment DER eac
| heros deathless fame;
Then answer me this question if you md it i
| your power:
II these the weeds of the army, in God
| name where are the flowers?
REWARD OF MERIT.
Captain Gum then stepped in from
of the altar, and with a few we'll
chosen remarks presented Conrad
Charles A. Clark, the retiring AS
slstant Adjutaut General, with
valuable sword, as a slight token Q
the appreciation of the services b
had rendered the Department sine
its organization.
Comrade Clark, taken by surprise
was So overcome that he could nc
speak, and was compelled to bow hi
acknowledgements.
THE SCAMP FIRE"
The comrades. their relatives an
friends then adjourned to the Alturs
Hotel, to attend the camp fire.
.The;large sample room OF the He
tel had been suitably decorated fl
the occasion. The walls and ceilin
were literally hidden by festoons an
wreaths of evergreens, bunting an
flags, and large portraits of Washing
ton, Lincoln, Grant. Garfield an
Harrison. The sign "Headquarte
of the Woman's Relief Corps" WI
prominently hung on the rear wa
and two long tables OF 40 cove
each groaned beneath the weight
good things supplied and prepared
the mothers, wives, sisters al