The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-05-09
LET Them HAVEI
Startling Innovation by WOm
ans Relief Corps
Of Blue Rapids-WilI Decorate
Graves
OF DEAD COMRADES,
On May 29th Instead Of Decor
alton Day.
Horse Races, Baseball Games
and JubilatiOn
Now MOnOpOlize and Desecrate
the Sacred Day.
WHY NOT TAKE IT UP?
Let the Grand Army Spurn the
Day
That Has Been Stolen by Sports
and Choose Another.

The Woman's Relief corps of Blue
RAPIDS kan. has taken up the ques-
tion which has hned old soldiers from
one end of the union to the other with
fndianation. and have fairly and
squarely decided that if Decoration day
is to be desecrated by horse races,
base BAN games and fishing picnics,
they viii abandon the day to the un-
feeling and sporting element and viii
decorate graves on May 29, instead of
May go. They viii thus be able to
mourn their dead without the bawls
OF base BAH rooters ringing in their
ears or the yawps of the tin-horn
sports with bloodshot eyes who attend
the Memorial day horse races Decor
alton day which was originally intend
ed for solemn day Of mourning has
become q Wild and awful period OF
shrieking brass bands, beer jamborees
prize fights, excursions, noise eXplos-
ions. drunkenness and debauch.
The great mass of people who get out
of shop and Office on that day make OF
lit am unseemIy holiday which it's
founders would never have asked con-
gress to convert into a national holi-
day. had they known what was to be-
come of it. The Woman's Relief corps
Of Blue Rapids does not intend to
take too long q step in the direction of
reform all at once. Fit viii not decor
ate the graves OF dead soldiers on May
%, this year. but viii conhne its decor
ating Efforts to the tombs of sons of
veterans and mem bers of their own
order. But these women of Blue Rap
ids have sOwn the seed that may be-
come a great national movement. They
have suggested am idea Why not
abandon the 30th of May to the horse
racers, the bicycle scorchers, the fish
ing picnics and the railroad excursions2
Let the clerks and mechanics have
their holiday, (they set few enough Of
them3 but let the Grand Army of the
Republic cover the graves of their
comrades with flowers ON the 29th of
May let them show their rightful in
dignation by simply Withdrawing from
the day that is annually desecrated and
give their parade on the day before the
one now made festive by the public at
large without regard TO sentiment or
good taste.
If the Grand Army generally should
do this merely as matter of
protest. tit might be an eye opener to
the gay and thoughtless rabble who do
not appear to care the snap Of their fn-
gers for the blood and suffering and
misery and horror that has made it pos
sible for them to enjoy their holidays ia
peace.
Public sentiment on the subject of
Decoration day has actually fallen so
low in this country that some years
ago Memorial day ball Cd was pro-
posed in Topeka and tickets were is
sued for it. Had such things been
permitted to 30 ON we might soon have
seen dancing platforms erected over
the graves of the dead soldiers.
People who have no regard for the
sentiment of Decoration day ought to
have it beaten into them by law They
N Hrra rr-
exhibit their disregard for the pro-
prieties.
The desecration of Decoration day
has furnished the text for resolution
of the national G. A. r.. and the general
order issued by National Commander
Walker calls attention to the matter bv
the following statement:
Special attention is called to the
nineteenth national encampment in re-
gard to the desecration of Memorial
day by making it an occasion Of amuse-
ment by games of base ball. races. etc.
Memorial day is the choicest in the
calendar of the Grand Army-a day of
sweet remembrances, dear TO every
loyal heart, and any violation of its
sacredness by making it an occasion of
frivolity and amusement. such as
characterize the Fourth of July. should
be treated as an indignfty to the com
rades who died that this country might
live"
Commander Whitney of the Kansas
department said to a Journal reporter
on this subject.
Base ball games. horse racing end
making the day one of JOY and cele-
bration is not in line with the original
intention of the men who founded the
custom Of honoring the dead. on day
set apart for that purpose Tt should
be a day for h0noring those who have
passed away and should not be devoted
to general sports
II the day must be given over to
sports and general rejoicing as it has
been, especially in the larger places. let
the old soldiers initiate the example of
the ladies at Blue Rapids and give the
people who desecrate Memorial dav
full sway Let them have the day. ana
maltreat, mutilate and murder it.
4he old soldiers and their millions