The National tribune., 1892-07-14
STANDING BY aHE NURSES.


posed any general legislation for Army Nurses.
and held that woman who went out as an Army
Nurse with unselfish motives would ask for
pension, and that those who went for pay were not
entitled to any. His very bitter attack proved the
popularity of the measure. and the rejoinder OF
Congressman Smith, of Illinois. enthusastic-
ally applauded. In reply to Mr. Meredith's re-
mark that he stood by the people. Mr.. Smith said:
I will say to my friend from Virginia. that 1
regard II AS grander thing to stand up for woman
who is not entitled to vote and who cannot be heard
in person this floor. Laughter and applause.
They the first at the cradle and the last at the
grave. Laughter and eapplause.] Woman was
the mother Of the Savior of the world and OF the
Father Of our country. desire to say here that l
have sympathy with any one baldheaded or
otherwise tgrcat laughter and appiaussl, who can
American people. Laughter and applause.l For,
Mr.. Chairman, in our hearts mirrors their faces
shall ever be the farest. and when they stand on
the shady side of LIES hill with the shadows Of age
thickening around them. with the bloom and
bushes of youth remembered only as things OF the
past. with svered threads amongst the locks which
once were golden.hued, may hearts warm as
those who wooed them in the summer OF life, still
gather around them and cheer their spirits as they
take their flight TO the embrace OF those who. with
shadowy hands, shall beckon them on to the future
of their existence in the unseen world Whenever
my colleagues in this House may find ii convenient
or i'll accord with their feelings to say a word in
detriment to the ladies and the mothers Of the
American people, they will always find me stand
Ing opposing such sentiments. Laughter and APP
plause.
am in favor of the passage of this bill. strongly
in favor OF IT. We have been pensioning individual
Nurses OF the late war; and heard with pleasure the
remarks Of my colleague [Mr. Oates. of Alabama
in patriotic and beautiful language, advocating the
cause of the ladies who had rendered assistance to
those who wore the gray and those who wore the
blue. Il am unable to understand as q man and as
an American citizen how 1t s that any man, old or
young, should oppose pensioning these brave and
noble ladies who out during the heat Of battle
and ministered to those who had been wounded
during the late war. or who were suffering from
ein actnvn hot hat. nsvysnn hQ ~
my vote for this bill and not desiring to occupy the
attention tent OF the ; House longer lcries OF GO on
Laughter and applause.
STATUS OF THE BILL.
The Army Nurse bill is now in position to pass
both the House and Senate without further delay,
and there is no doubt but that President Harrison
will sign 1t and that the Nurses Of this class will be
pensioned before the 10th National Convention.
vast amount of work has been done for the
Army Nurse bill by friends OF the measure in and
out OF Congress, and by patriotic men OF all par
ties, and the loyal women of America may we'll be
proud of the recognition gained.
Past National President Annie Wittenmyer has
steadily held the ground, and was an anxious
listener during the spirited debate in the House.
Her work for the bill, both by voice and pen, has
been prodigious. In addition to her own pension
work, she was specially delegated by Kate B.
Sherwood. Chairman National Pension Committee,
W.RC.. to represent the committee upon the re-
turn to Boston of the Secretary. Harrette L. Reed
whose personal services were most important. The
correspondence of Secretary Reed, CROWN out Of
the bill, has been very exactng, and the number
Of letters answered has been beyond computation.
One of the pleasantest features of Army Nurse
pension legislation has been the prominence given
the Woman's Relief Corps In the counsels of the |
Nation. Their work was commented upon with |
favor in the debates aside from the prominence
given them by the committee. Mesdames Witten- |
myer and Reed both warmly commended the Com
mttee on Invalid Pensions for courteous treatment
and warm advocacy of the cause they represent.
THIS rs BUSINESS.
Department President Rothrock, Of Iowa. In |
of ninth Department Convention, some Of which |
are of vital importance. There should be some |
reward for faithfulness in work and some penalty |
for laxi,y. and IL Iowa secures prompter service |
from her officers by her careful planning. she legs
latea to some purpose. Following are among the
decisions:
That any Corps President who has not forward
ed her reports 10 Headquarters by the 10th Of the
month"; after the close of the quarter be suspended
good reasons have been given for the delay No.
tce to be given to the Senior Vice-President to act
In her place.
That the Department present ribbon badge 10
the members Of each delegation at the next De.
partment Convention. who have their reports at
Headquarters by the 9th Of the month. after the
member during the year.
That the incoming Department President dis
trict the State and arrange for District Conven-
tions giving full instructions to procedure. and
having a general supervision of the same. This
plan has produced excellent results in other De-
partments.
That all letters written TO the Department off,
GERS contain the full name, Office II any. Corps
number, and in cities the street aud number of the
writer. II this were carefully observed 1t would
save much Inconvenience at Headquarters and in
sure the safe arrival OF mail.
As we have heretofore recognized the Sons OF
Veterans and given 10 them our cordial support.
that we extend to the Daughters OF Veterans q
hearty Endorsement OF the spirit and motives that
prompted their organization. and bid them con.
tinue the good work SO we'll commenced.
That solicit the cooperation of the public
schools in developing principles Of patriotism, and
that committee be appointed TO devise suitable
methods Of procedure.
DEPARTMENT OF MARYLAND.
General Orders, No. 2, Of Department President
Mary A. ii. Gladden., of Maryland Is q model of
brevity and interest. Headquarters OF Maryland at
18th annual Convention will be established at $40
Pennsylvania avenue. All members of the Grand
Army and Relief Corps are cordially invited to
this retreat for the weary"
The Department of Maryland last year secured |
600 large size bunting flags for the decoration of
graves at the National Cemetery on Memorial Day.
number this year by the purchase Of 1900 more.
Their laudabe effort was responded to most gen.
erously by the following contributions: Depart
Dushane Post 3. SI5; Custer Post. 6, $40; Emory
Post 80 SO; Commander Morrison OF Post 46, SIS.
Total, So. The uniform tagging Of every grave
Is thus made possible for the coming year unless
the sickle of the reaper Death be unusually
keen.
The Department will participate in the exercises
at Mountain Lake Park. the Mountain Chautau-
qua" Aug %, where Corporal Tanner will be one
Of the speakers
Three Corps are reported newly organized,
viz John A. Logan, Baltimore; New Shining
Light. Tyaskin; g. X. Warren. Laurel.
DEPARTMENT OF WISCONSIN.
Past Department President Helen M. Puffer of
Monroe, Wis, remembers the editor with O copy !
of the Journal of Proceedings of Ninth Annual
recording another year of good work
by Wisconsin women for the Union soldier and his
sacred cause.
The Presidents address notes the addition of IL
Corps to the roster in the year 1s9l92 increase
of 42S in membership; or jump from $3.50 to
1905.
The relief records shows ,093 families assisted;
cash spent in relief. 1882 relief other than money
81 1856 43; turned over to Posts sIOl2.I7; total,
81 430l7 Department relief additional to the
amount Of S75 expended and Sl0i O6 sent to the
National Relief Corps Home. Madison. o.
For the Wisconsin Soldiers Home the Depart
ment expended Sl533l for a nurses salary and |
s3il SIS to the chapel fungi The value of supplies
to the Home amounts 10 1914 H. besides
704 yards Of carpet for furnishing,
WISCONSIN, ARMY NURSES.
Honorable mention Is matie OF Army Nurses re-
siding in the Department as follows Sarah Pringle
No. 81. Beaver Dam; M. Imogene Green and Juli.
eta Parker, No. 16. Milwaukee,; Mary Feather.