The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-10-08
LETTER FROM PAST COMMANDEE-IN-
CHIEF WEBB.

with much pleasure several editorials in The
NATIONAL TElBUSE during the last year, and
especially since the 10Th annual meeting Of
the Commaulery in Chief, held at Minueapo-
lis in August last, concerning the Sons Of Vet
Grams. The many kind words the Sons OF Vet
Grams received from Tbs NATIONAL TEIBUSE
during my administration assisted very largely
in the wondrous gain Of new members during
the last year. ! 10 not hesitate to call upon
the officers and members Of the Grand Army
Of the Republic, the Womau's Relief Corps aud
the Ladies Of the Grand Army Of the Republic.
Being a veteran myself aud having twice
served as a representative from this Depart
ment in the National Eucsmpmcnt, felt justi-
fed ia appealing 10 those organizations for
assistance to build up the Sous Of Veterans.
and did not ask in vain. Many comrades of
The Grand Army do not understand the priEci-
piles and objects Of the Sons Of Veterans, and as
stated TO COMMANDMENT. Chief Veazey, the
substance Of which was printed in The Ma
! TIoNAL tribune, the sons Of Veterans do not
ask for any assistance from the Grand Army Of
the Republic except its moral support. The
SONS would not do anything 10 detract from
/ the records made by their fathers, and desire
only TO preserve those records, pcrpctuate the
| memory Of their fathers by the proper Obsery-
/ ancc OF Memorial Day and to assist the Grand
/ Army Of the Republic and its auxiliaries in
their charitable work for their needy and
/ destitute wards In doing this the Sons
OF Veterans DO not claim to be more pltri-
otto than other citizens. nor DO they claim
any honors which belong to their fathers.
/ There can be but one Grand Army Of the
Republic, and when that is gone who
more fitting 10 receive the mementoes and
relics Of The war hanging upon the walls Of
The thousands of Posts Of the Grand Army Of
The Republic, than tic sons Of the men who
comprise the Grand Army or the Republic, and
by virtue Of whose services these cons enjoy
The blessing Of free Government, an undi
vidcd Republic, aud one nag? IT the men,
hersHl the Grand Army Of the Republic will
consider these few facts there can be but
one result, and that is that the Sons OF Voter
ans shall have the moral support and eucour-
agemeut Of the Grand Army 0! the Republic
anf1ts auxiliary societies st Minneapolis the
Sons provided for military rank with strictly
military titles FOR uniformed and equipped
bodies, and wiped out al other military titles,
and adopted new constitution, 20 that here
after the Objectionable features, such rs military
titles aud uniforms by those who had no com
maud, was done away with.
II comrades would reflect for a moment they
would see the necessity Of such an orcauiza-
ton as ours. To illustrate, let us take the state
Of Illinois which a few months ago appropri-
ated $4,000 FOR its National Guard Tor "a single
year Ina that State there are many more Sons
of Veterans than National Guards. and the
former are just as fully prepared to take up
arms in defense Of the Government as the lat.
Ter. There are IN Illinois some 10 or II uni
formed, armed aud equipped Camps who com.
pare uyorably with the National Guards any
where in the country, yet they have not cost
the State Of Illinois nor the General Govern
mcnt one cent. If necessary the Sons Of Vet
Grams could furnish 10 the National Govern
ment 5000 men in 10 days time, every one Of
whom is well drilled, and thousands Of them
could command companies aud hundreds
OF them regiments, and many Of them
armies; and yet up 10 this time neither the
General Government nor any State has ex-
pended ono cent % arm, equip. and drill these
young men. In 10 days time the commanding
officer Of the Sons Of Veterans in tho State Of
Kansas could collect an3 put into service moro
men than there are in the National Guard Of
this State, and as fully prepared for military
service as the National Guards. Two years ago
J said in tho National Euclmpmcnt Of the
Grand Army Of the Republic at Milwaukee
that II President Lincoln, in April, ls5l, had
had at his command the Sons Of Veterans
whom then represented in asking for recUg-
milton at the hands Of the Grand Army Of the
Republic there would have been no necessity
for second call FOR troops. aud this, too. with
out any reflection upon those Of our fathers
who answered 10 the first call to arms. The
men who answered 10 that first call We're not
prepared Tor military service; they did not
understand the use Of q muskct; they did not
know the manual Of arm5-iH fact they were
not prepared for war and they had to learn.
whereas over 100000 Of the Sons of Veterans
today are fully prepared for any emergency
which may arise in which the General or auy
State Government may call for troops. In view
Of these facts think it is the duty not only
OF the Grand Army of the Republic but Of the
National aud State Governments TO encourage
the Sons Of Veterans in their laudaJIe under
taking. In gomc States, notably Massachusetts
and Missouri, the Sons Of Veterans arc not per-
mitild TO carry arms In Missouri. only two
years ago, the members Of firing squad Of
Sons Of Veterans who were assisting the Grand
Army Of the Republic in the Observance Of
Memorial Day were arrested for carrying arms
and lriuga salute over tho graves Of the dead
heroes Of the Republic; and while The Ma
TIoNAL TRIBUNE is saying good words for the
Sons Of Veterans please use your influence for
the repeal Of all such statutes as those referred
TO-
IL has been charged by certain newspapers
that the Sons Of Veterans is political organ
ization. That statement is best refuled and
shown TO be false by the fact that last year the
CommaEder,in- Chief was Republican. and
this year the highest Office in our Order is held
by a Democrat. The Society Of the Sons Of
Veterans is no more political in its character
than were the Union armies aud nayies during
the war.
Yours in T., C., & T., LELAND J. WEBR.
TOPEKA, kansas oct. 9, 1891.
COL. POLIVs WAR RECORD.
We have received large number of re-
quests from our readers for the military
history Of Col. L. l.. Polk OF the Farmers,
Alliance. There have also been serions