The National tribune., 1897-02-04
SONS OF VETERANS.
News from Various Divisions---Elec-
ton Of Officers. etc.
ATTITUDE OF THE SONS.

Capt. stanton. OF Illinois, Tells what II
Needed to Build Up the Order.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: have read
with considerable interest the views expressed
by different brothers in the column set aside
for that purpose. and as have few ideas not
exactly in accord with the ideas set forth, bog
to present the other side Of the case as see It,
Several Of the brothers have written on the
subject of our relations with the Grand Army,
and strongly recommend that the two organi.
cations be combined.
Now, that is question which has been dis
cussed pro and con for several years. and until
recently was as much in favor Of it as anyone.
But in reading over the Proceedings of the 18th
Annual Encampment held at Louisville last
September, / came across something which set
me thinking and I have been thinking ever
since, with the result that / agree thoroughly
with the action taken by the Encampment, as
given on page 159 Of the Proceedings
There are many reasons why the Grand Army
should not look with favor upon this move
ment. While the comrades are getting along
III years, and their ranks are being thinned out
constantly, still there is pretty large contin.
gent left and they don't yet feel the need OF
any shoulders to lean upon. lfanyone doubts
their ability to take care of themselves and
their affairs in manner thoroughly satisfac-
tory to themselves. let him select some Of the
veterans Of his acquaintance and tell them so,
and sec the result.
If they were to admit the Sons of Veterans
into full membership it would not be long be.
fore you would see something very much like
factional fight between the younger and older
heads for control. The Grand Army is a long
way from the point where it will be ready to
I'm Ion Ia
supported, spanked, and looked after generally,
and many of whom now at the smart age.
Now, look at it from the Sons of Veterans
standpoint. Are we willing to spend the next
~ or 10 years sitting around playing second
fiddle entirely? If we are well and good but
it has not been the writer's experience that the
Order is composed of such spirits to any great
extent Tho modesty displayed by candidates,
from Camp to National affairs. is not usually of
such q character as to hamper the candidates
seriously.
Furthermore. are we in such shape as to be
desirable acquisition or addition to the Grand
Army? Take your own Camp, for instance,
and figure out how many working members
you have and how many pay their dues prompt
ly; compare it with the total number of men,
bers and see the result.
1t is about timc we discontinued paving the
air aud talking about our grand principles ETC..
and get down to solid work for. the benefit of
our home Camps. It has often been urged by
Division and Commandery-in-Chie f officers that
each member exert himself to get just one man
to join the Order, but the record of the case in
which this was done hasn't been published yet.
Then go to meetings regularly and see if you
cannot improve the general condition of the
Camp By little individual effort. Study the
situation from business stand point. and apply
the remedy in the same way. IF you have any
duties to perform in connection with the Camp
work, do it in the proper manner, even if it is
little inconvenient sometimes. Ii you are
endeavoring to conduct the meetings on q
military plan, do it right; don't turn round
corners" salute as though you were ashamed
or didn't know how, and sit in your chair as if
you were too tired to move. If yOu have
uniform wear it at the meetings, and maybe
that will encourage some other brother to do
likewise. There is nothing very imposing in
the spectacle of man acting as Sergeant of the
Guard in a cntaway coat. Go through the
ritualistic work, in the manner in which it is
intended it should be, aud if you don't like it,
remember that there are others who have equal
rights in the matter and may hold the opposite
opinion There are dozens of points like the
foregoing that could be taken up if space per-
mitted.
And right at this point let me tell you what
Illinois Division is doing in the ritual matter.
A Special Committee OH Ritual has been ap.
pointed by the Commander aud that commit
tee will send set of blanks to each Camp in
the Division. These blanks will cover the
points in the ritual by series of questions,
most of which can be answered by yes" or
mo-" and when filed put will give clear idea
of what the Camp thinks of the situation and
its recommendations for improvement. The
replies will be combined in one report. which
will represent the wishes of the majority of
the Camps in the Division. This report will
be presented to the next Division Encampment
for tho benefit Of the Committee OH Ritual.
The expense is less than So. and is borne by the
members of the committee.
In conclusion, we must be very careful how
we use the privilege SO generously extended to
US by THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE. The paper
reaches very large proportion of the members
of the Grand Army, and an expression repre-
senting individual opinion is liable to be mis-.
taken for an opinion or intention of the whole
Order and in some cases do o great deal of
harm. Yours, in F.. C. and Lie. f. STANTON,
Captain, Oak Park Camp 254, Illinois Division.