Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-01-24
WANT NO NEW BLOOD,
G. A. R. Men Opposed to Ad-
mitting the Eldest Son.
DISPUTES MIGHT ARISE.
The Veteran Organization Was
Made to Dwindle and Die.
VIEWS OF LOCAL SOLDIERLEADERS

Ihere was movement on loot some time
ago in the Grand Army to admit the eldest
son of each member to the various posts as
an active member, and thus infuse new
blood into the organization which of necess.
itY must otherwise die out. The reason fol
restricting the membership to the eldest son
was to make the qualification in such a
shape that too much of food of new blood
should not cause apoplexy at the head.
This same proposition, it is said, will be in
troduced at the next Department Encamp-
ment for recommendation to the National
Encampment. As the question may arise
the opinions of some of the most prominent
soldiers in Grand Army circles On the ad-
visibility of such move were consulted.
The universal verdict, with but few excep-
tions, was against such change. The only
argument urged was in favor of the new
blood, which is the very thing not needed
in the ranks of the Grand Army. The or
ganization is one which is intended to die
out as will be seen by the statements of the
comrades quoted:
DEAD SET AGAINST IT.
Major joseph f. Denniston, City Treas
urer, said when spoken to on the subject:
81 am not in favor of such a movement.
The Sons of Veterans is very nice orgsni-
zation, and is calculated to perpetuate the
memories of the ''old boys" when they are
gone. 1t ought to be kept up until the son
of the veteran should be as white haired as
his father is to-day, but to make q sort Of
entail in the Grand Army honors would, I
think in the present view, be unwise. The
organization of the Grand Army is unique.
No body of men has ever before been gath
cred together for such an object, nor is it
possible to do SO in any country but free
Republic. The original idea was that it
should stick together until it died out from
old age, and 1 think that is the best way to
let it decede.
N'I recognize the fact thoroughly that posts
are getting weak, both in numbers and in
funds, but think the cure for that is con-
solidation. Let two or three of the posts
which begin to feel through paucity Of
membership the hall rent, the Adjutant's
expenses for postage, etc., growing cumber
some get together and make a combination
post of the Grand Army.
WON'T LOSE IDENTITY.
'Lose their identity? Not necessarily.
It is Just following out the tactics of the
field where we all have been. When a regi-
ment got decImated in the service it was
consolidated with another, and was mustered
in without a murmur on the part of officers
who lost their rank to some extent by doing
so, or that of the men whose only object in
the volunteers was to serve their country in
her necessity. Regiments, brigades and
even corps, as in the case of the Second and
Third Army Corps, were consolidated, and
no objection was raised, so that think the
men who fought together, when they see
their ranks thinning, ought to double up
against death, as they have no other enemy
to fear lust now, instead of seeking rein
forcements from their. sons, who have only
life before them" -,r
This statement from Major Denniston, who
is regarded as the next Department Com
mander, is very significant, and places the
Grand Army organization in light in
which it has never yet been viewed by the
outside public.
NOT TO LAST TOO LONG.
Harry Bengough, another well-known
Grand Army man, was seen on the subject
and he also objected to extending the mem
bership qualifications beyond those who
fought during the Rebellion. He thought
it would make the organization last too
long for its own good. He said: "You re-
member in the early DAYS OF the orgsniza-
tion it struck a rock upon which bad
split was made, that of politics. That
has now all been eliminated from the
order, and to introduce new elements
with modern ideas, not bound together by
the ties of soldierhood when we had to stick
together in front of the rebs, would be to
bring in an element of discord. I know
Republican fathers who have rabid Demo-
cratic sons, and Democratic fathers who de-
plore the fact that their sons know more
than they do, as all boys imagine
they do, and to introduce such an element
now, even if it only were the eldest son,
would be to slay the first born of our great
struggle for the Union, the Grand Army, for
without the binding ties which hold us to-
gether and outnumbering us as we die off it
would be impossible to say what would re-
suit. would be decidedly opposed to any
such rejuvenation of the Grand Army Of
the Republic"
AN ADDITION OF 10000.
There are at present from As, 900 to 90, 900
members of the Grand Army in the State of
Pennsylvania, and the addition Of the eld-
est son of each soldier would bring in from
30, 900 to IS, 900 more members, so the logic
IN either side is very evident. On the one
side the infusion of younger blood would
seem to strengthen the institution, while on
the other, according to the old military
maxim of "old men for counsel, young ones
for sction," it would be impossible to say
which way the action would tend, as the
young men of to-day are not particularly
noticeable for taking action on the counsel of
their fathers.
Some eight other representative Grand
Army men were spoken to, but re-echoed
the sentiments expressed by the two quoted.