Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-07-09
CUT LOOSE
From Generous BestowaI
t.ts+ .... 80 --.,.
Of Military Titles.
Suggestion offered by Colonel Stewart
Miller to G. A. R.
ITO the Editor:---

ITO the Editor:-- ~
''In -FOUR issue of June ~, appears
an article entitled, TOO Many False
Colonels and Generals" agree with
the article in question, there are too
many grandiliQuents today that never
saw live rebel during the Civil war
or participated In a single battle, but
today these fellows are heroes of the
Grand Army. sec now by the arti-
Gle that the. G. A. n. is about to cut
loose from the drift wood that has re-
tnrdcd It's progress these many years,
namely the fellows that boast of
title that they never earned on the field
OF battle but who have been playing
heroism ever since the close of the
war; men who were never In a battle
or heard the zip of d minnie bullet.
Honor belongs to the men who merit
1t is and as do not belong to any ex-
soldier organization, I believe that it
is not too late to show the present gen
GRAFTON who were true heroes of the
Civil war.
THE youth Of today do not know
by reading the press or history who the
heroes of the Civil war were or who
the name of II. G. Sanford man who
nation. 1t is true that during the
Civil war we had q Lincoln, who had
an eye single to.American loyalty, and
he promoted men according to their
merits and no soldier who showed that
his heart was III the preservation Of
this country, escaped the notice Of the
Immortal Lincoln. But what are you
going TO do with the grandiiiquents?
Perhaps you will say Stewart Miller
Ia one Of them. am called Colonel,
for this reason belong to an order
whose chief cxecuticc officers title js
| .o1a h. he 4 A. v,I
Army. who Is called comma nder. / al
so hold two commissions as colonel,
but when my time expired as president
OF the order then my title as colonel
! ceased, but willy editors of the press
still call me colonel, so that they and
the reporters are more TO blame than
the grandiliQucnts. For instance take
NJ. w. Hoyc he like myself was only
q private during the war. The reason
why we did not rank higher, was be-
cause we were not in politics then.
Since the war is over and Mike.i is the
politician you willy editors have not
only chrlstened him colonel. but you
have promoted him to the rank of gen.
eral.
Il think that the Grand Army should
so after these editors and not after
the men with titles. For example take
the name of II. c. Sanfnrd, man who
never was in the army. but upon whom
1.-THE editors have conferred the title Of
colonel Again take our able Senator
from this district, Geo w. Sieber.
For his title will not blame the edi-
tors of the press, the writer Is here
the guilty persoa. At n meeting of old
soldiers some eight years ago ] intro
duced the Scuator as Col. Sieber and
he has retained the title ever since.
Of course had an object !u view.
same as you editors hnve. thought
nj The time that George was one of the
coming men politically, of this district,
mud as he always expressed an undy-
Ing love for the old soldier of the war
OF the rebellion. thought that II
George shoult ever he Governor or
Senator he woulu remember me aud
secure an appointment as doorkeeper
OF any other old thing that an old SOL
der could do. After we elected Sen
ator Sieber. called on the colonel
and he said. I viii he only too glad to
do something for you. When get
to Columbus, I will see what / cun get
Tor you. Well, Col George did secure
three appointments. They were all
for civilians. And that Is what got
for conferring title on civilian. Mr.
Editor, look out whom you confer II.
Ties upon lest you share the same fate
as | did, for there Is nothing gained