Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-09-01

should ask our legislatures for the enact
ment of laws making such use illegal.
Touching upon pensions the command
er-in-chief said
The committee on pensions have given
much attention to this branch of the
work, until quite lately with but little effect.
Within the last few months the latch strings
have been lOOsened and many Justly-entltled
pensioners have had their cases acted upon;
others, stopped without cause, have been
restored to the rolls, and the machinery or
that great department of the government
seems to have been oiled with the oil of
human kindness and honest obligation and
to be running much more smoothly and with
much less friction than before. l believe it
will not be long until every case properly
made up will be reached and receive atten-
ton.
In relation to the story of the war as
taught to children in the books of the
public schools, and which has recently
come in for large share of public atten-
ton, the commander-in-chiefs said:
No subject in which the Grand Army is
interested is more important than that the
truth Of history should be taught to our
children. The committee of eminent COM
radeS appointed by me to consider and report
upon this subject have given much time and
thoughtful consideration to it, and do not
their findings, and | feel sure you will ap-
prove their report and recommendations. 1t
is certainly not the object of the Grand
Army of the Republic to keep open the
wounds of the war, but Of this we are de-
termned that one side Of that great strug
gle was right and the other side wrong-and
we were not the wrong side and we don't in
tend that our children shall be taught that
we were. | hope the report of this commit
tee will receive the careful consideration Of
this encampment, and this Il similar COM
mittee be kept at work until school histories
in use in our public schools tell the truth.
The commander-in-chef placed himself
on record as opposed to the proposition TO
change Memorial day to the last Sunday
in May. On this point he said:
| am not one of those who believe that a
day established thirty years ago by our be-
loved Commander-in-C Chief Logan, and since
made holy day and holiday by legal en-
actment in majority of the states, should
be changed simply because lot of hoodlums
or thoughtless men and women, desecrate it
by games and races. large majority of
our people are observers of the Sabbath day
and they do not consider parades and demon
STATIONS Seemly upon that day, and their
wishes should be respected, for we look to
moral support we need If games and races
cannot be suppressed on such sacred day by
moral suasion and the effect of its participa-
ton in it's sacred work by vast numbers Of
our best citizens, then no change of day
could effect such result.
The report of Adj.-Gen Charles E.
Burmester was listened to with close at
tention. 1t was as follows: By muster
statement, 11207: by delinquent rein
gregate, 73,639.
Loss: BY death, 7515; by honorable
discharge, 1857: by transfer, 4642; by
suspension, BOTH; by dishonorable dis
charge. Ali; by delinquent reports.
1881; by surrender of charter COG; total
loss, ga, 1873. In good standing June
30, 1897, 319, 456; remaining suspended,
1880; total membership, 362. S16.
Archbishop Ireland of ST. Paul was
mustered into the Grand Army of the Re
public last night. He has been popularity
considered as a member of the @. A. r.
but it was not until last night that he
really became a comrade He has been
a member of the Loyal Legion for many
years.
Buffalo, n. Y. Aug. 26-Cincinnati
has been selected for holding the next
encampment of the G.. A r., The unof-
fetal vote is: Cincinnati, 526; San Fran
cisco 214