The National tribune., 1901-07-25
OREGON LADIES OF THE GAR.
Many Grand Army Comrades obligate al
Forest Grove Convention.

| EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: The Conven-
tion of the Ladies of the G.. A. r., Depart
Ore, June 25-2s. Department President
| Elizabeth Wands presided The attendance
was large. The Presidents address was en-
couraging and showed that the Department
is forging to the front slowly but surely. The
President was the recipient OF many bcauti-
| ful presents, and the ladies of the Convention
presented the Commander-in-Chief, Leo
Rassieur, magnificent bouquet of roses. The
Ladies of the G. A. X. realize that this Con-
ventiOn was perfect success. speech
made by the President before the Grand
| Army Encampmcnt opened the eyes of hun
dreds OF comrades who had received erroneous
| impressions regarding the Ladies of the G..
! A. r., and they came by scores to be OBJ
liGated. The reports show that the Order is
doing a grand work among the needy COM
| rades and families Mrs. L. Il. Wands's ad
dress at the G. A. II. Encampment was as
| follows: ut Is again my privilege to convey
| to this Encampment the greetings OF the
Ladies' of the q. A. r.. Department of Ore
gOn. Standing as do ut the head of this De
partment, / feel 1t incumbent upon me to
| fully explain to this honored Convention
who and what the Ladies' of the G. A. II.
are, and the material that compOses our
Order There is very little difference in the
w. Il. c. and Ladies' Of G. A. r., the aiIis
+. c. & L. The w. X. c. Is the older Order,
and is auxiliary to the G. A. Il. The Ladies
of the g. A. K. is an independent. sef-sup-
porting Order composed of the soldiers blood
relations In 1883 the National w. Il. C..
voted on amendment to their Constitution ad-
mlttfng to their Order all loyal women. The
result of that vote was new and indepen-
dent organization, founded upon the or ginal
Constitution Of the w. Il. C..
''The ladies contend that II the G. A. II.
would not admit even their own sons ms
honorary members, why should their anxIi-
larry admit other than soldiers families.
Commander, you have been told that
were trying to crowd out the w. X. G.,
and that our highest ambition was to become
mis-
take. If, at this time you would say to me,
Mrs. President, we are tired of our auxiliary,
we shall cast them aside, and we most
earnestly request your Order to become
auxiliary to the G. 4. r., my answer would
to you he this: 4 thank you, my brother, but
beg to decline the honor; we would not do so
under any consideration Do hear some one
ask why? Simply because we are something
nearer. We belong to the c. A. X. We are
bone of your bone, flesh of your flesh, and
are the only Order in existence that can
perpetuate the name of the G.. a. X. All
other auXiiaries to your patriotic Order Will
become memories in history. Our Order VIII
live on and on; its principles are the same as
the Daughters of the Revolution. None but
women through whose veins runs the blood
Of the boys who wore the blue can join this
Order. The G. 4. r. is fast passing away;
by far the largest division are clmpcd on the
other shore. When the body ceases to exist
the work of the auxiliary Is done. WcbSters $
definition of the word Is Assistant, helper,
that is the relation they bear to the G.. a. Il.
If, as some claim, the auxiliary TO the
G. A. X. can never die let me ask this ques
tion: Who are they going to help and assist?
To whom are they going to report If the body
to which they are auxiliary Is dead? No, my
brother the auxiliary must die with the body.
And this Order to which I belong will Eve
on as long as there is n lincal descendant OF
the G.. A. r., and these beautiful words,
The Grand Army Of the Republic will not
only live In history, but will live on and on,
long time shall last"
At the close Of the address the comrades
of the Convention arose and gave three cheers
for the Ladies Of the G.. A. r. and from that
time on to the close of the Convention the
President was kept busy obigIting the com
radcs. Seventy-twO Joined the order. and
many others desired TO do SO, but time would
not permit. Mrs. Wands the recipient
of many beautiful presents. Among them
was the history Of the war, by Mary Liver
more, from Ord Post, with the names OF the
comrades inscribed, $50 gold piece, gold
pen, etc.
The following officers were elected: Pres,
Sarah Chapman Eugene; S. V. F., Mrs. f.
Butcher, McMlnnvllc; ]. V. p, Adda Hustis.
PortIand; Sec. Maggie Simon. Eugene:
Treas, katherine Smith. Eugene; Chap,
Katherine Sherwood, Salem; Counselor,
Elizabeth r. Wands, Salem, Council of Ad
ministration, Mrs. ]. Il. Fairbanks, Salem;
Mrs. Jennie Brown, Albany; Mrs. L. j.
Miller, Cottage Grove; Dele cgate-at-Large,
Elizabeth r. Wands; Alternate. Edith Car
roll.-MISS CLARA McDERMID. Depart
ment Press Correspondent, Salem, Ore.