Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-01
OUR NAIL POUCH.

Private Dalzeli Tells What Was Done at
Boston Concerning the House of Lords.
10 the Editor of The Dispatch
As Ptrsburg is soldiers city, par excellence,
and thousands of them are deeply interested in
the subject matter of this letter, beg for a
orief space in your valuable columns to tell
tnem Wnat was done at the Boston National
Encampment G. A. r. with reference 10 the
House OF Lords
1t is the law of the Grand Army of the Re-
public that persons who are elected depart
ment commanders in the several States, re-
main members of the National Encampment
Tor life. The national commanders and some
others, usually generals, are also life members.
These constitute the House of Lords, which
mas grown to be a dominating power in the Su-
preme Council Of the order. 1t was not so in
Tended at the beginning but gradually from
year to year. as 30 odd retiring past officers go
mo the House Of Lords for life. they have
Solute control
Alarmed by this evil and its threatening con-
sequences, az the departmentsme settings both in
massachusetts, and Ohio, last spring resolutions
were passed instructing the delegates from
tnese two great States to go into the eneamp-
ment at Boston and demand the repeal of the
odlous IRE tenure and make the representation
there wholly elective hereafter.
was delegate from Ohio and obeyed in
structons to the letter. So did all the other
elected delegates from Ohio and Massachusetts.
But what an uproar 1t raisedl Almost 500 men
out OF about 1000 fairly rose up and howled us
down: We were not permitted to speak at ALL
and General Alger refused to permit our votes
protested and appealed. but the big bosses and
lords laughed at us, and treated our demands
with utter contempt and scoru.
Ihe public never heard this before,
They hear 1t now.
I was therei
This outrage was kept still. SO the House of
LORDS Is continued. They composed all the
committees; they held the floor when they
pleased, and we were howled and hooted down
Whenever we attempted TO get q hearing for
our two great States.
1t was the only unpleasant thing that occurred
at Boston. Everything else was grand and
splendid. But this was denial of the freedom
OF speech and of the ballot to US privaIes who
were elected delegates. which we still protest
was most cruel and objectionable. We are not
oone yet. The House of Lords must and shall
be pulverized. We want no lite members in
the 6, A. r. or in any American Office. This
is the cry OF the men who make up the posts
who form the G. A. R., and constitute its bone
and sinew, and who pay the money to run the
machine in the shape OF per capita taxes.
DO you know we poor fellows foot all these
bills? We are taxed, 450 900 of US, and taxed
heavily, every three months to keep up the
circus of the Generals. Yet we have no repre-
sentation in the national encampment. Our
money is taken in large sums to buy costly
clocks, candlesticks and badges of gold for the
lords. as they retire from office. but we are not
consulted. The first thing we ever know OF it
IS when some Big Boss makes the presentation
to another Big Boss. in our name, with our
money, and without our voice or vote.
It is all set up in advance.
We foot all the bills out of our miserable
pensions. We are taxed without representa-
tion. and If we protest are bulldozed out of our
delegated rights
An elective delegate is no good. He amounts
to nothing after he leaves his post room. The
bosses never enter post room. Oh, mol that
is too small They save their mighty powers
for the annual parade at our expense, and then
lnsolently ride over us rough shod. 1t is all
wrong and must be abolished. Our motto is:
"Pulverize the House of Lords"
PRIVATE DALZELL.
CALDWELL, O., August 80