The National tribune., 1900-08-30

arguments in its favor. As to season. the
last Sunday in May would be generally
acceptable, for the flowers bloom every
where in our Union then, and the lessons
nature so wonderfully teaches through
plant and bud and flowers are almost uni
versal. And as we now front face IN one
line of Christian American citizenship, one
in love of the Stars and Stripes. and one
in loyalty to the Union. we can well unite
on one Memorial Day for our dead, when
the mournful and yet sweet memories of
our departed dear ones may be fttingly
and lovingly remembered as our heart and
tastes point out the way.
THE woMAN's RELIEF CORPS.
This noble organization has been tow
er of strength during the past year, and
stands for the largest influence as an aux
iliary of our Order. The devoted loyalty
of its members to all the inspirations of
patriotism and good citizenship are too
well known and appreciated to call for eX-
tended reference at this time. Wherever
there is Woman's Relief Corps a good
Grand Army Post will always be found.
Their work is one noble in its aims, rich
in sympathy, and unceasing along all fra
ternal lines. The generations to come, in
our great country, cannot fail to rise high
| er and higher in love Of the Union and
loyalty to our American civilization with
such 4 womanhOod as is now found in the
ranks of our worthy Woman's Relief Corps
and similar organizations. In their fnan-
| cial aid, also, we are greatly their debtor,
and in behalf of the Grand Army our best
thanks are rendered them.
| THE LADIES OF THE GRAND ARMY.
What is true of the Woman's Relief
| Corps applies largely to the Ladies of the
| Grand Army. Their object is mainly the
| Same and in oil that StraD hons loyalty
and patriotism they are on an equality.
| These and other loyal women's OrganiZa-
tions working for the culture of righteous
ness and valOr among all the people de-
serve the fullest confidence and merit the
unstinted praise of lovers of true liberty.
| May God bless these useful and worthy
organizations having the best interests of
comrades and the youth of the Nation so
| warmly at heart!
| THE SONS OF VETERANS.
| The nearest approach to privileged sons
| of our soil is found in the Sons of Vet
Grams. TO be the worthy son of worthy
veteran of the Union Army or Navy is in
| deed n proud distinction. And the deep
and abiding interest which stirs the heart
of every veteran in behalf of the Sons of
| Veterans is evidence of regard and affec-
| ton of a commanding character. AS to
| how the Grand Army can best aid in the
1
zation is a perplexing question. Naturally
so long as the Grand Army exists it will
| hold first place in the hearts of our cOun,
| trymen. The Sons of Veterans, with all
| their claims to public regard, will have
| to occupy a secondary position until the
| veterans of the COS have passed away.
| The recommendations of the committee ap-'
pointed by the Department Of Massachu-
sets to consider the question of what the
| Grand Army could do to favor the Sons
Of Veterans is well-thOught-Out review of
| the situation, and has the full concurrence
of your Commander-in-C Chief. A special
| report on this subject will be made by
Comrade W. Fl. Armstrong, Chairman of
n committee appointed on Dec. &, 1899, at
Chicago, at a meeting Of the Executive
| Committee of the Council of Administra-
! ton. AT that time COmmander-inC Chief
Jones, Of the Sons of Veterans, appeared
before the Executive Committee, in COM
pany with two other officers of the Order,
and full conference was held, resulting
in the appointment of the aforementioned
committee to consider and report upon the
questions at issue. The whole matter is
submitted for action of this Encampment
| with the assurance that the subject is one
| very near the hearts of our comrades, and
| that all the encouragement possible at our
| hands is due to ''our boys" A copy of
the report of the Department of Massa
| tuuSellS accompanies EtpDEt.
| Commander-in-Chief suggests the appoint
ment of strong committee by this En-
| campment to specially consider this i'm
portant matter and report to the next Ma
| tional EncampmeDt.
WISE ORGANIZATION
| The experience of the year now about to
end leads me to impress upon our Grand
Army the urgent necessity OF prudent and
wise organization. In union there is
strength, and in harmony Of effort there
| is victory. In division there is failure.
Your administration has devOtedly worked
| to accomplish what was possible for the
| interests of our Order in the way of leg
| islation, through oneness of purpose, TO-
| cussed upon the amendments to the act of
June 81, 1896. The happy passage of this
| most important measure was the result of
! the efforts put forth under conditions
which, when they are fully understood.
| would command the liveliest gratitude and
enthusiasm of every cOmrade. This was
| brought about by impressing the country
| and National legislators with the view
| that all we sought WAS justice. and that
we would not be content with anything
| less. President William Mckinley, from
the outset of our efforts, assured us OF
his abiding sympathy and deep interest in
our behalf, and his record as a private SOL
dier and as q commissioned officer in the
| comradeship and tender memories for all
| who, like himself, stood behind the guns
in their youth.
There can be no doubt that the only
safe and right way to approach the Con-
gress for needed National legislation in
| the interests Of our Grand Army is
| through the regular committees and Off
cials of our organization. Hundreds of
pension bills were introduced in the last
Congress, the vast majority of which failed
to pass. In such confusion there is weak
| ness, for out of the mass of these bills
| some are found to be so drawn as to shock
| the reasonable judgment of prudent peo-
pie, and thus our position and claims as
veterans and comrades are prejudiced in
the minds of many would-be friends.
Your administration was laid under deep
obligations to the Congress by the unani-
nous passage of their Grand Army amend
ment bill. for this action eliminated all
partisan irritations, and substituted a
broad patriotism in its consideration. Our
thanks are due for this harmony and JUS
tice-unmixed with politics or policy, and
based upon broad view of the righteous
ness of our desired legislation. 1t should
be our anxious aim to so conduct the af-
| fairs of our Grand Army in the future as
to merit continuance of the happy rela-
tinpS now ta hIicbnd botwaop tho CnD