The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-04-21
AT CHANUTE.
Grant w. Harrington, Division
Commander,
Of the Sons of Veterans DeliV-
ers His Address.
HAS MANY NEW IDEAS.
Not a Court Martial Held Dur
ing His Term.
Charters Have Been Granted to
Ten New Camps.
HAS MANY NEW IDEAS.

Chanute, kan, April 21.-Grant W.
Harrington, division commander of the
Sons of Veterans of Kansas delivered
his annual address to the fourteenth
annual encampment of the organlza-
ton, which is now in session in this
city in conjunction with the G. A. r.
w. r. c. and Ladies of the G. A. r.
Mr.. Harrington has Incorporated some
new ideas in his address which are at
tracing very general attention and
consideration not only among the mem
bers of the order, but among the veter-
ans and others interest in it
In beginning the address Mr.. Har-
rington called attention to the har-
mony which has prevailed in the di-
vision during the year now drawing to
a close and referred to the fact that
not a single court martial had been
held during his term of office. Taking
up the organization he said:
our order from the very day of its
birth has been passing through trans
1tiOn stage. Founded upon the noble
sentiment that the memories and
graves of our ancestors should be kept
forever green, it was launched with
seemingly little idea as to the mode
and manner in which its plans were to
be fulfilled Hence our past history
has been a checkered career in national,
division and camp affairs. We have
drawn regularly upon the new blood,
just coming to manhood for our re-
cruits, but have failed utterly to hold
these same boys when they became
men. Our membership has lacked
staying qualities and our legislation
has been of the eXpediency character
as this or that favored measure has
been presented as the panacea for our
ills. but the burning question, What
must we do to be saved?' is still I'M
To If fl,e
greatest mistakes We have made in the
past is in trying to build up a ritual
istic organization. We are, in fact, an
honorary organization. Membership
in our order is predicated upon birth,
and the trend in the future must be
toward an organization modelled after
the Sons of the American Revolution,
in which the ritUalistic work is discard
ed aud an honorary society. pure and
simple, is established The logic of
events points cOnclUsively to such a re-
suit as We get further and further away
from the events of 1861 to 1865, as Time
with heavy hands strikes from our
midst the veterans and we see them no
more. as the magnitude of the struggle
and the results bequeathed to poster
ity become more and more apparent.
then. indeed, viii the citizen be proud
TO declare himself a son of veteran
and our order will grow with undimin-
ished luster.
Under our present system of perma-
Quartermaster performing also the du-
ties of adjutant, the routine work of
the order IS taken out from under the
supervision of the commander This.
as a matter Of course, removes him
from close touch with the camps and
makes his position largely an honorary
one. Whether this is wise or not is a
question that the next encampment
Will doubtless be called upon to answer
for then the subject of again locating
headquarters and electing quartermas-
ter viii have to be considered. The
plan certainly has its advantages, but
/ question very much whether they are
sufficient to justify a continuation of
the present system During the year
charters have been granted to ten new
camps. at Westphalia, Fort Riley. Kins-
Strawn, Kirwin, Dunlop and Parsons,
and all but one give evidence of per
manency that IS gratifying.
1t is fitting that the attention of
this encampment should be called to
the death of Clay D. Herod. No more
enthusiastic and loyal Son of a Vet
eran has ever belonged to the Sun
flower division As commander of the
division he helped to put life and en-
ergy into the young organization; as
representative to the COMMUNICATIVE
chief he helped to give US a standing
In that body and as adjutant general
upon the staff of General Webb he con
tlibuted materially to the success of
that administration. His advice has
always been eagerly sought in our en-
campments, and in his untimely death
his brethren have cause to mourn I
would recommend that suitable reso-
lutiOns be adopted by this encampment.
showing the appreciation of his dfstin-
guishable services
In conclusion, permit me to offer
my sincere thanks for the honor con-
ferred upon me one year ago and to
make public acknOwied cement of the
work accomplished during the wear bv
the members of my staff. The reports
collected and compiled by Surgeon
Brewer, Chaplain Morse and Inspector
w K Ward Of Topeka are models of
completeness and careful preparation.
Livery effort was made by each of them
10 induce every camp in the division
10 perform its whole duty in the matter
OF reports and the camp that finds itself
without representation in this BODY
because Of its failure to perform the
plain duty prescribed for it in the CON
stlIutlon, rules and regulations has
only ITS officers to blame Adiutant
HauDer mas proven himself an enthlIs-
1aStic ofneer whose advice has always
been timely and good Ouarterr77s s+ar
Graves, as in the past has shown him
self to be the right man in the riob+
place, and the other members Of fbe
STAFF have, at all times. been ready ana
willing to perform any duty ASSIGNED
@@@2422zz2zzl-