The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-03
DEDICATION.


To the Editor of the indianapolis Journal:
Referring 10 your editorial in to-day's
Journal in reference to the monument dedi-
cation programme, you say that "a few
persons are criticising the work of the ex-
ecutive and other committees ito all
reasonable people it is enough to say that
all of the veterans who are not chronic
grumblers will be satisfied when they fully
understand" lit should be said that all
the complaining that has reached the ex-
ecutive committee of late has been made
by less than half a dozen men," Just so,
but few persons are criticising for the sim
pie reason that but few Indiana soldiers
fully understand the arrangement made
for them by the executive committee.
Probably not one out of 100 of them under
stand these arrangements, and when they
do understand that they are not to march
in the general parade in the afternoon uh-
der their old battlefags and as regimentaI
organizations there will be many more
than "a few criticising persons or half a
dozen complaining men, to be heard from
along the line. 1t has been for more than
a year and is now understood by the old
Indiana soldiers all over the country that
at the dedication the regimental organiza-
tions would be permitted TO march in the
general parade and carry their old battle
flags in the real parade, mind you, not a
side show at an unreasonable hour in the
morning, before the time for the arrival of
the trains upon which many of them will
arrive, but the big show in the afternoon,
under the big tent, alongside of the Grand
Army of the Republic, the National Guard,
the Culver Cadets, the
veterans and all other attractions rhof 1rn
provided for under that tent. THE march
of the flags in the morning will be a dis
unctive feature, and as arranged by the
Will be full of meaning" The
last march of the Indiana soldiers by regi-
mental ORGANIZATIONS under the battlef1ags
they followed so Loyalty for four long years
should be the distinctive feature Of the oc-
casion and not subordinated for any other
feature. That is just what we are con-
tending for and all we are asking. We are
not asking that the Grand Army ''be
ignored in one of the professions" Not
one OF the criticisms printed or that I have
heard demands or hints at the ignoring of
the Grand Army lin one Of the process
sions," but the regimental organizations of
Indiana soldiers demand that they be not
ignored lin one of the PROFESSIONS where
the Grand Army, the National Guard, the
Culver Cadets, the Spanish-American war
veterans and others are OnOred-namel
the procession of the day, the big parade,
the. procession" that is arranged for the
afternoon. the procession that will be seen
ny III uS pSOpIS, III we NOulu not nave
the Grand Army ignored in this procession.
but given the position of honor next to the
Indiana soldiers and sailors, for whom the
monument was erected. 1t is eminently
right and proper that the Grand Army
perform the dedicatory service and that
they be accorded a prominent place in all
the professions, and 10 this l am not MAX
ing the slightest objection. The committee
should not lose sight of the fact, however.
that the @. A. r. and Indiana soldiers and
sailors are not synonymous; that there are
thousands of Indiana soldiers and sailors
who are not members of the G.. A. r., and
many thousands of other States soldiers
who are members of the G.. A. r.. Perhaps
the complete programme, showing just
what organizations are accorded places in
the procession, there would be a better I'M
d~erstanding of the matter and less cause
for criticisms.
With reference to your allusion to
chronic grumblers' l presume 1 am
classed as one of the less than half a
dozen who alone have criticised the ac-
ton of the executive committee" as / was
the first heard in your columns, on the
2Sth of April. AS an excuse in e~xtenuation
of this crime 1 would state that for two
years and nine months 1 marched under
the colors OF my regiment without the loss
of one day. Was under and with them in
engagements where, according to official
reports, "a, ACC men were killed and
wounded. besides serving six months in
Andersonville Prison. L confess that 1
have a just pride in the old flag and my
regiment, and if l seem to be afflicted with
the dreadful disease, Chronic grumbling,"
why, L am sorry. S. MEAD.
Spencer, Ind, May 2.