Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-05-27
Ex.commander H. J. Green, S. Of ",
Delivered Forceful Address at En-
campment-Eloquence of Command
err 5Metzeer, Carries Away Audience.
From Saturdays Daily.l

members have been gained during the
past year, according to II. j. Green OF
DEBORAH, past commander OF the Sons
of Veterans of Iowa, in his address de-
hNered at the annual encampment held
In Des Moines during the past week.
The camps throughout the state, Mr..
Green said, have been stimulated and
aroused to new life and I believe that
they are today in much more sub
stantial condition"
Another important ind interesting
address was the one delivered by
George Metzger of Davenport, former
commander of the G. A. R., Iowa di-
vision. Mr. Metzger reviewed the.
work for the past year and outlined
the plans for the future.
II. J. GREEN'S Address.
Past Commander Green in his ad
dress said in part:
Believing it to be to the interests
of the organization to have smaller
number of good live camps, it has been
the aim of the officers to strengthen
and build up the organization through
out the state instead OF devoting too
much time to the organization of new
camps. Correspondence has been OPP
ened with several places desiring
camps and applications are now being
circulated, which will doubtless result
in the mastering of some live camps
within brief time.
There has been sent out during the
past year several persons who served
rs mastering officers for the organiZa-
ton. Judging from the results which
: followed these efforts we are lead to
believe that the most practical method
is to employ a competent, energetic
and willing brother. if some plan can
be devised whereby he can be paid a
fair salary. and give him full charge
of the field work, under the direction
OF the commander
The Memorial University.
ut is source of supreme gratifica
Il ton to be able to announce the com.
pletion of the collegiate building Of
Memorial University, and the open
Ing of this grand institution in Sep.
TENDER of this year. The dream of our
own honored Colonel Sortor is at last
living reality and within the Dor
ders of the great state of Iowa, on
Patriots Hi, at, Mason City, now
stands an enduring memorial to the
patriot sacrifices of our fathers and
mothers, which shall disseminate
through the coming ages the teachings
and Influences Of the purest, broadest
and most exalted citizenship in the
world. While we justly pride our
selves upon the location of this great
memorial within the confines of this
NJ division, yet we rejoice that it is ma
tional in it's character, and has onl.
been made possible by the mutual eff
forts of loyal Sons of Veterans in al
4. parts of the country
Mr.. Metzaer's Address.
Commander Geo. Metzger, in his an
nual address before the G. A. R.. en-
campment. spoke in part as follows:
Il find a growing sentiment whicl
is becoming universal, that it is impol
tant the remnant of the boys of g
and '65 should stand together, toucl
elbows again as in days gone by, whel
that touch gave us confidence and re
newed courage to face the bullets o
the enemy, to endure hardship and sui
fering in camp and hospital realizing
always that under whatever circun
stances We are placed our comrade
would be true to us. Today we nee
each other, as never before and | an
glad to say that | find enthusiastic re
sponse to the sentiment of comrade
ship wherever have gone among yor
AS result of the arduous work don
by my predecessor | found the depart
ment in good working order. Occs
sionally a post becomes too weak t
hold together, but considering the ay
erage age of the comrades it is II
markabIe so few posts fall by the wa,
side Eleven posts have surrendere
their charters during the past yea
and two have been reinstated Their
has been one post mustered at Moyill
with sixteen charter members, and th
report of the mastering officer wa
that there was enthusiasm sufficient t
insure success"
Continuing he spoke of the Wick
burg national park, the soldiers e:
emption from taxation, Miss Clar
Barton's pension and other pensio
matters and reviewed many other ma
tiers which have come up before tt
department during the past year.
(