The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-12-15

Case-Two weak Corps in town decided to
unite and form one strong Corps, as did also the
Posts to whom they were auxiliary. Both Corps
had good Presidents. elected last December
Mrs. A. and friends generously waved her po
siton and elected Mrs. b. President of the new
CORPS. Now Mrs. A. desires Past Presidents
badge, and asks can she have a voice in mex,
Department Convention. She did not serve out
her term. but was an excellent President and did
Order and the new Corps. 1t seems pity she
cannot have all the rights of a Past President.
Can anything be done in such a case?
Opinion.-The article In Rules and Regulations,
page ID, naming members of which Department
Conventions composed. clearly states the serv-
ice that must have been done by Past Corps
President Past rank is secured In but two ways:
by rule and by exception. The rule Is full years
service. The exception, partial service being a
provision for emergencies, the conditions being
explained upon which partial service is rewarded
with the same honor as full SERVICE the amount OF
work not being stipulated but he 1t little or much
it must continue until the regular term expires.
When a member takes obligation at annual
installation to serve as President. she assumes the
protection and guardianship of that Corps for n
certain period. Should she from any cause resign,
during that time, sic resigns everything connected
with the office. She frees herself from the further
discharge of duties and responsibilities, and in so
doing ust necessarily forfeit all attendant hOnors.
These are transferred to the elected to fill the
vacancy who accepts and assumes all unfulfilled
duties, together with any advantages that may be
Both Mrs. A. and Mrs. b. forfeited past rank by
leaving the old Corps. and Mrs. b. secured the
ward of partial service by being the elected 10
serve the new Corps the remainder of the year.
The solution of how the Corps may provide equal
rights equal rank and voice in next Department
Convention for both, Is very simple and only "A
matter OF little time. BY eecting Mrs. A. Presi-
dent at annual election in December, she will ap.
pear at Convention as President and Mrs. B. as
Past President. ta''1
OPINION VII. OCT. &C. 1891.
Case-National President requests an official
understanding of Sec. 30. General Orders No. g.
current series.
Opinion.--The question before the Convention
was this: Shall Potomac Corps remain auxiliary
to the Department of Potomac, GAR, origi-
nally created; or, inasmuch as q Department
WRC now exists in the District of Columbia
shall il be made to bear the same relation to the
GAR and Department W.R.C as do all other
Corps and cease to be an exception?
The decision of the Convention upon this ques-
ton is clearly shown by the wording of Sec. 80,
"That the incoming National President be in.
strueted by the ninth National Convention to use
her prerogatiye and place the Detached Corps of
Potomac i'm the Department OF Potomac
This section contains Two important features
instruction and command. The command is to
place the Detached Corps OF Potomac in the De-
partment of Potomac leaving the National Presi-
dent no option in the matter. The instruction is
the free use of her prerogative the manner of
carrying out the command
A prerogatiye is defined by Webster as An ex-
elusive or peculiar privilege; prior and indefeasi
bic right which may be asserted without question
and for the exercise OF which there is response
of its exercise. Hence, IN the performance OF the