The National tribune., 1897-01-07
LET THEM WAIT.
Past Commander Claxton, Of Fairbanka
Post, Department Of Michigan Does Not
Favor Consolidation.

Past Commander Claxton, Of Fairbanks
Post, Department Of Michigan, Does Not
Favor Consolidation.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: 1 ind you
are devotiug much time and space to the up
building of the Sons of Veterans, aud take tho
liberty to write you my views on the question
of admitting them to our Post meetings. FOR
several years the question las been brought be-
fore the Grand Army of the Republic at Post
meetings and Ut Department Encampments.
While I am in hearty sympathy with the
Order / am not ia favor of the consolidation
scheme. see no good to come from it. either
for the Sons of Veterans or the GAR, aud 90
far it has found but little favor with those At
tending our State Encampments.
In the ritual of their Order their duties and
work are well defined. They are to hold them
selves in touch with the GAR, and be ever
ready to render such assistance'as may be re.
quired of them. When the Grand Army shall
be obliged to lay down the gavel and the work
attached thereto the responsibility OF handing
down our memories and our work must fall on
the sons. Until then let them wait patiently.
There are various ways in which they could
be of great assistance to the veterans and IN
doing SO get themselves before the public.
The GAR. would be pleased to have them
offer their services as escort at our bnrial ana
Memorial Day services. and especially at the
distribution of flags and flowers on the graves
of our dead comrades; also, in many other
ways where energy is required.
1t is true. we are getting old Tour present
average is SD At times we feel that We are
wrecks of the rebellion, and that the last roll.
call which shall call the old veterans to join
the great majority is near. But as for me. l
do not want my sons, or the Sons OF Veterans
as body. to do my work just yet. except as
may direct.
In the State of Massachusetts,. the Order OF
Sons of Veterans has been brought before the
public by the one act of applying for the privl-
lege and furnishing the flags necessary to
decorate the graves of the heroes who died in the
prison-pens of Andersonville. The Division is
now under agreement to provide flags each
year, and has for the last three years furnished
1902 flags each Memorial Day. This is an
object lesson for ali Camps or Departments to
follow, and when they take up such like work
my word for il they will be in closer touch with
the Grand Army of the Republic and the pub
lie generally.
Sons of Veterans soon lose interest in their
Order because discouraged aud surrender; and,
perhaps they should not be expected to enter
into the spirit OF patriotism that imbued and
inspired their fathers no more than in any
other matter that is not OF direct interest, but
should they ever be called upon they will then
show their patriotism and valor, as did their
fathers in the sixties, and we do not wish to be
considered wall flowers just yet, and rs such to
be relegated to the walls of our POst-rooDs, as
we certainly would by consolidation. Let them
wait.--WM. G. CLAYTON, Past Commander OF
Fairbanks Post, IL, Department OF Michigan
GAR. Detroit, Mich.