The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-08-20
WITH APPLAUSE.
The Grand Army Hears Report
of the Commander.
An Increase i'm the Cash Bal
ance Is Shown.

this morning at the Grand opera house
COMMANDMENTS Chief Thomas j. Stew
art read his annual report, which was
received with applause.
STEWARDS REPORT.
The report of Thomas J. Stewart, the
chief, contained the fol-
lowing:
For the second time in its history
the Grand Army of the Republic has
1ourneyed to the Pacific slope to hold
ITS annual encampment. When we met
in the city of San Francisco seventeen
years ago, the eastern shores of the
Pacific ocean marked the western boun-
dairy of the republic. Since that time,
the foes of other days, the men who
wore the blue and gray in the greatest
war known in all time have marched
together under the flag of a united
country, and carried it forward in the
march of civilization and of progress.
Today, as surviving soldiers of the war
for the suppression of the rebellion and
the preservation and continuance of
the union, we rejoice in the added glory
or the flag, and the greatness and the
power of the nation, all of which en-
phasizes the grand results of the war
In which we bore a part. and the
GROWING glory of which was the in
estimable blessings conferred on the
human race.
THE gains in membership the past
year were by muster 8.1S3, transfer g.
6OS, reinstatement 1672; the losses, by
death 1896, honorable discharge 100,
transfer 1880, suspension 1858, dishon-
orable discharge rs, delinquent reports
5,O22; net loss, 7.245.
THE observance of Memorial day
was of character to assure us that
the heart of the oeo9le of the land is
still in sympathy with the beautiful
and Impressive service. There have
been. s there always will be- some
who Will disregard the obligations that
rest upon all the people to pay tribute
70 those whose valor secured them the
blessings and the security which this and
future generations will enjoy and share.
We cannot but hail with delight the
participation in the ceremonies of the
school children of the land. / believe
tnat in this direction is one of the ways,
IL not the SureSt way, to perpetuate the
day. We must invoke aid in the work
Our numbers grow less, and the sacred
mounds increase in number with each
passing year. In many localities appro-
pirate services are held in the public
schools, and the children told the story
OF the days of the war and the mean
ing of the service of Memorial day.
what more impressive sight than to
see the children of the land gathering
from fields and garden, hill and valley,
the sweet flowers of springtime to lay
them lovingly upon soldier and sailor
graves, or with song cast them upon
the waters in tribute to our brave ones
who sleep in the gardens of the sea.
Let them in childhood strew the
flowers and sing the songs, and they in
turn will teach their children to do the
same and thus truly will our dead be
remembered by our children and our
children's children, through the gener-
ations vet to be.
The Women's Relief Corps continues
with undated zeal the splendid work
to which 1t is devoted and for which it
is organized. The Ladies of the Grand
Army is none the less earnest and ac-
tive in the work in which they are so
lovingly and loyalty engaged. The name
Sons Of Veterans. is full of meaning
They feel that theirs is a heritage of
glory-that they stand apart in a meas
ure from the young men of their time.
Bring the boys up nearer the Post
room. nearer the Grand Army and they
will form the new line of Union loving,
patriotic men. whose flag and purpose
and altar will be that of their fathers.
The response to the general order
requesting contributions to aid the
comrades in the southern department
in the work of celebrating memorial
day have been liberal
THE noble and laudable effort of the
Grand Army of the Republic to place
love of country and flag prominently
before the youth of the land has been
eminently successful. and has reached
all parts of the republic and its depen-
denotes. The tendency toward the en-
actment of laws directing patriotic ed
ucation and reverence for the rag is en-
couraging and commendable.
Contributions to a limited extent for
the Home at Mountain Springs, Ala,
have been received from every part of
the country.
Major Falkner. the chairman of the
committee on ways and means. said to
the commander-in-chief. The fraternal
feeling and he kind sentiments express
ed by the different G. A R posts and
the individual members thereof through
out the North has touched and softened
the hearts of every Confederate soldier
in the South
fssThp fra fiou nv tho hoard Of
pensions of the pensions laws that
for so many years had proven so vex-
atious and unsatisfactory. seems to
have been adjusted to degree of salts
sioner is earnestly endeavoring to dis
charge the duties of his high and i'm
portant office honestly, literally and
justly, and yet he is not able to satisfy
the many who feel and assert that the
government has not dealt and is not
dealing justly with them. The COM
plants are not so numerous or so Wig
OrOuS as in the recent past, and yet they
are sufficient to warrant our earnest
and careful attention and considera ton. |
Complaint will never entirely cease, nor
will cases of injustice be entirely elimi-
mated from the administration of such
great trust. but by an honest, fair
and liberal administration of the laws,
we may reach the minimum of COM
plant and of injustice. Is not the time
at hand when wisdom and justice both
WdIIdil SuCil ali adjustment VI the peU-
sion laws as will meet the condition
that exists by providing for a fixed
amount of pension per month";. 1 be-
lieve. that it would be wise to appoint
a committee whose duty would be to
frame proper bill and present the same
to congress, providing for a pension of
not less than s12 per month for all hon.
orably discharged soldiers, sailoFs or
marines who may choose to apply"
The report of Senior Vice Comman-
der-in-Chief William NJ. DIN was then
presented His principal duty during
the year had been to represent the ma
tional encampment at the dedication of
the equestrian statue of Major General
Joseph Harper on the state grounds in
2OstOn.
AVERILL'S REPORT.
The report of the Junior vice comman-
der-in-chief, James T. Averill, was de-
voted to the federal dead who rest in
the national cries the south