The National tribune., 1892-11-17
FOR GOOD OF THE ORDER.
Far-west Plea for the Abolition oil the
So-calIed House of Lords"

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: The 10Th NATIONAL
FcAmlament j. over aud its acts are now ~ pirt "l
the history Of the Order 1HF NATIONAL iiBoNE
has inrnishcd the many who ~ re una3e 10 ~
tend a most excellent and accurate report oil me
nroceedings which should be carefully read ana
most thoughtfully considered by every memocF "t
the Grand Army. AS a whole. IT Is a recorc OF
which every sol,icr should besproud, but there Is
one point that should receive orr earnest serious
consideration. The reports show a great i"ef
OF del!nquenls, aud the Commander-in-Chief re-
fers TO the nuu,her OF soldiers who are not mem
bers of the Order
several reasons are given for this and various
remedies suggested a majority being 10 reduce
amount IF dues remit The dues aitogcther IN
certain cases. This may do some good but mink
Ihere is more ia ihs ihan a question oil dues. me
old soldiers are thinking men Inc recruit u .oLu
al the altar that equality without regard TO former
rank j. the broad foundatlonstone on wbich me
Oder rests But how does lie find II as lac be-
comes familiar with Tie workings oil The orc'f
He finds the law making power entirely beyond
The control of The rank and file and In the hamcs
of a few comrades who hold this power solely oy
viItue OF their former rank as POSI- or Departheht
Commanders. True. tho lay members elect repre-.
seutatiyes TO the Department Eucampmenis, Hnd
they ia turn elect delegates to The National >i-
campment, Gut in each case those elected 10y ING
members are ou!numbered by the ex- oiilcio dele
gates, and although they are now IN great ma
inrtv their number increases each year. while the
elected representatives will grow smaller year ny
year and there is remedy for this u:,iess the
sense of Justice shall be found stronger than the
love of power in these cx-ofhclo comrades
But lhe report of the Goth En2aini:neit shows
no such strit. When appeal was made TO Inc
majority of the number gave notice that as TINS
same appea had been ade la vain for three success
sive Encampnienis he would Introduce a irso-n
ton prohibiting thi- question from coming up III
the aext three Encanpments. They do not pro-
pose TO even allow representative oil The rank
and file 20 appeal 10 Them FOR fair play, quar-
rights and Justice for three wears least. by That
time there will be over 100 more added to Inc ms
jeriy x-Uffico. while the number OF elected repre-
eentatives will be less :han now.
But you may say, these comrades have the good
of he n
&c advance its Interests. That all may be true pui
tfIey are in power for life, and beyond all control
by the constituents they represent. ii delegate
does not properly represent his constituents they
have the power 10 elect another, but THESE ex-
oflicio representatives independent OF The
wishes of the masses and can only be removed by
death.
This is contrary To The spirit OF liberty, and in d.
rect contradiction of the boosted tenets OF the
GAR. Give these comrades all the honors their
high positions enlitle Them TO; let each Post and
Department Commander have a seat and vote III
the Encampment next succeeding ms term oil
Office; that is while he holds Office aud one year
thereafter and then have no further vote unless
elected representatives.
IL is reported thai Past ComBiander-iIi-Chlel
Robert b. Be:sth of ie opinion that The Grand
Army cannot increase ills membership rs the ratio
ofdeaths will rapidly increase each year, and the
number OF veterans outside * of course growing
smaller through tie cause anu then. nIeiti-
bers dos so much about baitonhoilHg t!itse
who hive been oniside al these years while they
have fcetr doing the work oi The organization his
is SCI YET find when buitonhole veteran, whether
he ila- ever been inside not, the answer i'lne
times out Of 10 H. q Too much raui, file, or
words to that effect ] believe this very thing
takes more out and keeps more out than any
other.
Comrades. what do you think OF il?