The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-10-07
THE GRAND HRMY.
What Veterans Are Doing for tho
Good Of the Order.

The Commando of Seward Post, 81, Auburn.
n. T., seuds timely article on suspension. in
which be says: THE report Of the Com
mander-in-C Chief, at Buffalo. showed that a.
36O comrades are under suspension IN the sew
eral Departments. IL Is matter that con-
Germs Us all, and IL there is a way to ge. rid Of
the list, why not do it? If we are to reeruis
the ranks until every bonorabI I'd discharged
soldier Is on the descriptive book and every
suspended eomrads 10 again touching elbows
with his fellows, we will have TO start at once
There may be few of this large number OF
suspended comrades who are Indifferent to
their membership, but it is not true that the
large majority on the outside because the
burden OF equal dues was more than they Hero
ahls to bear and their pride was such that they
chose TO become suspended rather than 20 ask
for remittance of dues.
Has not the time arrived in the history Of
our Order when il should be the great pleasure
OF those of our comrades who have been fav-
ored by fortune, in justice to the right, to come
cut and take the burden Of the cost of MAIN
tanning the organization from their less favored
comrades? In the matter of direct taxation.
and also of church relationship, the cost of
membership IS upon the basis Of property pos
sesscd. Why ought not the same rule to apply
as TO the management OF Grand army Post?
only ought TO abolish the suspended list en-
tirely, but bring in the many eiigibles who.
from one cause or another. not in the
fold at all. and thus make the Grand Army
OF the Republic what it was intended TO be-sn
Order TO preserve and strengthen those kind
and fraternal feelings which bind
Having had two years experience in our
Post, in accord with the above ideas, We are Of
the opinion that the popularity of our Order
may be increased. that the suspended list will
be n thing of the past, and that the majority
will be in instead of out of our Order. by
the adoption OF a rule permitting each comrsds
to make his own assessment, and to feel that
he is just as welcome IN the showing Of will
inguess to help little toward the expenses OK
the Post as il ne did more.
1T is matter of sentiment that holds Us
together-one that a eomrade who is poor feels
just the same as does the more favored one.
Good attendance at Post Encampments, where
all are welcome to take part, makes one feel
that it is worth while so attend, and lively in
terest usually follows. We believe that the
time has arrived in GAR matters when every
barrier should be removed that has in any way
a tendency to prevent eligible comrades from
being in full utilization, for the time is near AZ
hand when shall be dropping out, not one
By one, but by companies and regiments"
A COMMANDERS APPEAL.
Department Commander E. b. Gray, of Wis.
eonsin, in latest General Orders, calls upon the
comrades to maintain the present membership,
and to add to the rolls every eligible veteran
in the State. lie says: 1.-THE losses from sus-
pensions and delinquent reports in the Depart
nent during the past year have been 1908,
while the deaths number only sl2-shat is
over four times as many have been dropped
from the rolls by suspensions and deinquens
reports as have died. At this rste, the De-
ant onld 70 isf of fhao and Of
years.
Just now, more than ever before. in har.
dred different ways, all the people of the land.
without regard TO religion, 2 Iitics, or social
conditions, are manifesting deeper interest In
the Grand Army.
1T is not time yet, by many years, to furl
our flags, surrender our charters, and close up
our Post-rooms. All patriotic peoplc-the very
childreE-would cry shame upon such al IN.
gallant surrender. True though il be THAI
times have been hard and taps have been
sounded for many OF our comrades, there yes
remain. enough sturdy veterans IN WISCONSIN,
to keep our Department banner waving for an
other quarter of q century if united irons OK
the survivors is maintained.
There are Is. 900 eI-soldiers in the Stats
not members Of the Order; from these can be
recruited enough u replace the death losses for
many years 10 come. The causes of depletion
lust be eeTree tt Post officers must be mora
attentive add faithful to their duties in making
returns. Dropped comrades must be impressed
with the fact that they can be placed in coed
standing agaia by simply making application
and paying this amount of one years dues. aud
wiihou, any ceremony or reobligation." Conn
mander Gray also recommends the establish
mens of Picket Posts"
LESSONS OF THE NATIONAL EScANPMENr.
Past Chaplain-in- Chief r. H. Hagorty. So.
Louis No.. writes: The sound of the measured
footstep, rattle of the drum, and shrilt notes of
the life having died away from the streets OF
Buffalo, we may well stop now. in calm de-
liberation and ask ourselves: What of all this
assembling of veterans. coming as they did
from shore to shore, plsIn and mountain peaks
of our broad and happy country?
Much, We are glad to say, every way. First,
we are convinced that the old fires of patriot
ism that burned in the breasts of the boys in
61 are yet all aglow in the lives of the veto
rams in 81. Elasticity Of step may have gone
in many instances, the fire of the eye may
have become dimmed, but the heart-throb for
the welfare of the Old Flag and the country
it represents is yet as great as in years gone
by.
Look Mt that march in tho streets OF
Buffalo, any person that questions this state
ment! Peg legs and empty sleeves were there.
but no listless or careless marcher. Every man
was deeply interested.
Again. it demonstrated that the Encamp-
ment can and does call out the largest as
sembIsge of any cause in the Nation, redeemed
and sent out on the highway of prosperity far
the centuries 30 come. Again, it proves what
has been declared often before that the GA. Z.
calls out the most orderly crowds Of people Of
any other civic body of men.
That body of men stood by the Christian
Sabbath, the day of the Nation. the day OF
their fathers, and did themselves great credits
in so doing. / was proud of the 3lss National
Eneampment OF the GA. r.. ]"