Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-08-20
Lessened Numbers Shown
In Report of Of
ficers.
NET LOSS WAS 7,245
Touching Incidents in
Connection With Yes
terday's Parade.

San Francisco, Aug. 2O.-The 37th
annual encampment of the Grand Ar
my of the Republic opened this morn
ing at the Grand opera house. Com
mander-in-chief Thomas j. Stewart
read his annual report, which was re
ceived with applause. In it he said:
For the second time in its history
the Grand Army of the Republic has
journeyed to the Pacific slope to hold
its annual encampment. When we
met in the city of San Francisco II
years ago, the eastern shores of the
Pacific ocean marked the western
boundary 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
d united country and carried it for
ward in the march Of civilization and
of progress. Today, as surviving sol
diers of the war for the suppression
of the rebellion and the preservation
and continuance of the union, we re-
joice in the added glory of the flag
and the greatness and the power of
the nation, all of which emphasizes
the grand results of the war in which
we bore part, and the crowning
glory of which was the inestima bic
blessings conferred on the human
race.
The gains in membership the past
year were. by muster, S,1s2, transfer
3,6OS, reinstatement 1853; the losses,
by death s,366. honorable discharge
73O, transfer 1890, suspension 1888,
dishonOrable discharge 76. delinquent
reports 5,O22; net loss 7,245.
Pleased With Observance.
The observance of Memorial day
was OF a character to assure us that
the hearts of the people of the land
are still in sympathy with the beauti-
full and impressive service. There
have been, as there always will be,
some who will disregard the obliga-
tiOnS that rest upon all the people to
pay tribute to those whose valOr Sc
cured them the blessings and the Sc
curity which this and future genera
tons will enjoy and share. We can
not but hail with delight the partici-
patton in the ceremonies of the school
children of the land. | believe that in
this direction is one of the ways, if
not the surest way. to perpetuate the
day. We must invoke aid in the work.
Our numbers grow less, and the sa-
cred mounds increase in number with
each passing year. In many locali-
To boI ~
the public schools and the children
tell the story of the days of the war
and the meaning of the service of
Memorial day. What more impressive
sight than to see the children of the
land gathering from fields and gar
den, 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
generations yet to be.
AuxIIiaries Commended.
''The Woman's Relief Corps contin-
ues with unabated zeal the splendid
work to which it is devoted and for
which it is organized. The Ladies of the
Grand Army are none the less earn
est and active in the work in which
they are so lovingly and Loyalty en-
gagged The name Sons Of Veterans
is full of meaning. They feel that
theirs is a heritage of glOry-that
they stand apart in measure 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. pa
triotic men, whose flag and purpose
and altar will be that of their faith
ers.
''The responses to the general orde1
requesting contributions to aid the
comrades in the southern depart
ments in the work of celebrating
Memorial day have been liberal.
''The noble and laudable effort o
the Grand Army of the Republic t.
place love of country and flag promi
nently before the youth of the lane
has been eninently successful, ant