The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1890-05-14
THE OLD SOLDIERS.
They Hold u Campfire and Pre-.
sent the City schools with
Flag TO Float over Each
school Building.

Last Wednesday was gala day for the
veterans of Dodge City and Ford county.
Early in the morning they commenced
coming in from the country and every
train brought delegations from neigh
boring towns. The &. \. X. posts at
Lakin. Kendall. Garden City. Cimarron.
JetmOre. Ford. Bucklin. Larned, kins-
ley and Speareville were all well repre-
sented. Col. Coulter. of the H-estern
Veteran. arrived the day before. and De-
partment Commander IRA F. Collins. and
Past Department Commander Henry
Booth arrived at two o'clock.
The rink. which had been prepared
aud decorated. was opened ut six p. m.
A festOon of bunting encircled the inte-
rior of the spacious building land the stage
was enlarged to double its original size
by building ont in front. while canopy
of flags and bunting, decorated with
flowers and the pictures of Lincoln,
Grant and Logan. overhung it. In the
rear large tables were set. and Il soldiers
bill of fare-beans, bareback and black
cOffee-was served to all who had any
desire to know from actual experience,
even so slight rs this afforded. IF the
rugged life of a soldier.
At about 8: 80 order was called. the
audience sang America" and an invO-
cation was offered by Rev. w. H. Rose.
After another song Mr.. f. ID. Swan. in
few well-chOsen words extended the
hospitality of Lewis Post G. A. R., Of
city, to the department officers and all
visiting comrades. The speaker called
attention to that feeling of fraternity
possessed by those only who have fought
for the same principles and have faced
the same dangers under the same Rag.
1t is that fraternity that the Grand Army
of the Republic rests upon. 1t is that
fraternity that brought them together
to- night. and with that stern Joy which
soldiers feel, in the name of Lewis Post
and its auxiliary societies he bid them
welcome.
Col. Ira Collins, department COM
mander, responded, saying in substance:
You need not to have given us this
formal welcome. know that the Grand
Army of the Republic. the WOman's Re-
lief Corps and the Sons of Veterans
always meet with hearty welcome all
the sturdy pioneers who made Kansas a
free state and thus brought on the war,
or who helped bring that war to a sue
cessful issue and make national the prin-
ciples which they set up in Kansas. |
know something of the privatiOns you
have gone through with. but you people
here in Ford county are far ahead of
some farther east. Here the speaker
told an amusing story of his experience
in Cloud county, contrasting the cOndi-
ton of things six years ago with what
it is now, and said, it was the same pluck
that did this that rebuilt Lawrence and
bore all the evils of border ruffian-
ism and finally established freedom in
our state. But. said he. am here more
in business capacity than to talk to
you. | am an officer of the Soldiers
Home, located near your city. did not
want the position at first, but | took it
and am proud of it now; and | am de-
termined to do all can for the home and
for the boys who need such a home. l
told them at LeavenwOrth when l was
there last January. about the Soldiers
Home at Dodge City-then followed two
or three pathetic stories of applicants
for admission to the hOme-have told it
at every campfire since. and shall con-
tinue to do so. and to work for it. We
want you to send men to the legislature
that will work for it. We have start
now and shall ask for an appropriation
in proportion to the magnitude of the
undertaking. The last appropriation of
5000 was mere bagatelle. but we did
not have the grounds or buildings and
the whole thing was rather uncertain
but now everything is ready and we shall
ask for something reasonable.
Twas one that fell in battle and was
carted off to a rebel prison. They
punched us together like hogs, to feed,
ten men in a mess. ten messes in a COM
pany. etc. To-day. after twenty-five
years, met one of my old messmates in
man. found that he did not belong to
the G. A. r. and that is the only I'M
pleasant thing | have met with. But
uOt all tuC OIu SOluiCIS veal DduSC
although it is badge of honor. Jay
Gould has said he would give million
dollars if he could wear it honestly. but
money will not buy 1t. 1t will not be
many years before the last old comrade
will have been laid to rest. l don't often
touch on subjects that might be called
political. but | regard the service pension
bill that just passed the House, with very
little favor. 1t grants pension to all
veterans over sixty years old who do not
already receive pensions. Now the av-
erage age of the surviving soldiers of the
rebellion In this state is but fifty years,
so that One-half of them will have to
wait ten years before they are benefited
by it. In the post where belong there
are $50 members; of that number but
twenty are over sixty: eigteen already
have pensions and one has died lately,
so that out of that $50 but one will be
benefited by this service pension. BY
the time the boys can secure it they will
be in their graves, and on their tomb
stones may be inscribed ''Died waiting
for a service pension 1t might appro-
priately be called the grave yard pension