Evening star., 1902-08-04
Memorial to Be Erected in
q, 4 Washington.
OMM1TTEE NAME D
HONOR IA MEMORY OF EARLY
.a5 VI GRAND ARMY MAN.
Comma ndetain Chief Torrance and the
Order He Represents Deeply
Interested in the Project.


General Torrance, commanderin-chief Of
the Grand Army of the Republic, has en-
tered actively into the matter of the erec-
ton In Washington of the statue to the
memory Of General B. F.. Stevenson, the
founder and first provisional COMMANDMENT
chief of the Grand Army of the Republic
he mas appointed committee of five men,
oers who are to organize and push the
work to as speedy conclusion as posi-
Die. The committee is as follows: Thomas
LAWYER. Illinois, past commander-in- chief
chalrman; Thomas Hopkins. District Of
Columbia; James Tanner. District of CO.
lumbia; Louis Wagner, Pennsylvania, and
John McElroy, District of Columbia
The Grand Army of the Republic is now
IN its thirty-seventh year. 1t was organ
lied in the little town Of Decatur, ILL.,,
April 8, 1856. a few days less than one year
after the surrender at Appomattox. The
organizer was Major B. F. Stephenson,
late surgeon of the 14th Illinois Infantry.
OF the twelve charter members Of Decatur
living
The first department encampment. then
called Convention was held June %.
1866, at Springfield, ILL.,, and the state of
illinois was constituted department Of
the Grand Army of the Republic. General
John M. Palmer, late a senator from 1lli-
nois. was elected department commander.
The national body was organized at Indian
apolis. November 20, 1866, with General
stephen A. Hurlbut as commander-in-chief.
1t VIII thus be seen that DR.. Stephenson,
while the organizer and founder Of the
great military organization was never hon
ored with an elective Office In it, and 1t Is
said that his heart was saddened for years
by this failure to recognize his vast work
for the organizat ton, which he and two or
three others planned and dreamed out In the
closing. days of the war. when they saw
that separation was not far on. DR..
Stephenson has always been recognized as
the first provisional commander Of the De-
partment of Illinois, and the provisional
commander-in-chief of the national organi-
cation, but it; is said that he has received
scant recognition for his services up to this
time.
Not What Its Founder Intended.
The Grand Army Of today is not what its
founder intended 1t should be. General
Robert B: Beath. who was one of DR.. Steph-
enson's aids in organizing the national body
at indianapolis, and who has since been
commander-inzGhief. says of General Steph-
enson: fHe had dreamed of grand organi-
zation offvetefans, moving en- masse. a po-
tent influence, 4p molding and fostering pub
hc sentiment I'm favor Of those who had
borne the battle; that should secure recog-
milton o. theirss services in places of honor
and profit; and while preserving and
strengthening 1.-THE bonds Of comradeship,
should be help to all who had followed
the flag, and to the widows and orphans OF
the dead ~hSineed helping hand and a
sympat htzing, frtend.'
The rules Of the Grand Army of the Re
public as they stand today strictly forbid
, all political adiScussions in posts or encamp-
ments, ahd dfscountenance all attempts to
use the Grand Array as political machine.
have thought that DR. Stephenson should
have some lasting recognition of the great
service he rendered his comrades when he
organized the Grand Army Of the Republic,
the like of which has never, been known in
the. history of the world, The thirty fourth
national encampment adopted resolution
to erect statue to perpetuate the memory
Of DR.. Stephenson as the founder Of the
order, and Congress last winter. passed a
bill granting the use Of some public reserva-
ton in Washington, providing the statue
with pedestal should not cost less than
$4,000. The enabling act directed that the
committee to select the ground be the Sec
retary of War, joint committee of the Ii
brary, superintendent of public buildings
and grounds and committee from the G..
chief The act further provided that when
all the provisions had been compiled with
the statue was to be presented to the people
Of the United States by the Grand Army Of
the Republic.
The Committee Of Five.
In accordance with this act Commander
in-Chief Torrance has just appointed the
committee of five members of the Grand
Army. Gen. Lawler Is a resident Of Illinois
and was an Illinois soldier. He has been
the commander Of his post in Rockford for
over a quarter Of century, and Is past
commander-in-ch Of the Grand Army.
The senior vice commander-in- chief John
McElroy, was an Illinois soldier, and at
the particular request Of Gen. Torrance has
Thomas Hopkins Is a past commander of
the Department Of the Potomac. Gen.
Louis Wagner is a Pennsylvarian and a
past commander-in-chief. James Tanner
Of the District Of Columbia is ex-commis-
sioner of pensions.
The committee will probably organize at
once and prepare to begin the vast work
By direction of Gen. Torrance all funds
general of the Grand Army. and will there
be held as the Benjamin F. Stephenson
memorial fund" 1t will be disbursed only
on vouchers approved by the commander
in-chIef, and until instructed by the ma
tioual encampment the commit ee is not
authorized to enter into any contract or
dncur any Indebtedness until funds shall
have been raised, according to the proyis-
ions imposed by Congress.
Under these conditions 1t will be impos-
sible to dedicate the statue in October, as
49,