Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-02-27
ADDITIONS NOT WANTED
Introduction Of New Blood Into
G. A. R. Organization
Strongly Opposed
WOULD MEAN ITS RUIN AND END
FondIy Hoped That With Death of Last
Survivor of War of the Rebellion, the
Grand Army of the Republic Shall
Perish, to Remain Nothing But
Glorious Memory.
Special to imes-Republican.


planning to perpetuate the G. A. r. by
the Introduction of new blood will look
in vain for encouragement in Iowa.
Persons outside of the organization
have been persistently seeking to let in
others than those who We're of the war
of the rebellion actual combatants in
that struggle, and some who are within
the Grand Army have been taken away
this idea. But the Iowa Grand Army
men will not at least soon favor open
ing the doors of the organization to
members of other societies. A few days
ago there was passed by August Wentz
post, No. l, of Davenport, the pioneer
post of the state and one of the strong
est, resolution setting forth the pre-
amble to the constitution of the G. A. r.,
and declaring that the Grand Army
of the Repubica can only receive as
members those who aided in the war of
the rebellion, and we hereby instruct
our delegates to the department en-
canpment to oppose by all lawful
means any proposition looking to any
change in the above preamble, believing
it would mean the ruin and end of our
organization at once" The Immediate
cause Of this action is stated to have
been a suggestion, in an interview,
made by Department Commander
Lindt, of Council Bluffs. with reference
to admitting either the Sons of Veter-
ans or the Spanish War veterans into
membership in the G. A. r. Whether
or not Commander Lindt will push any
such proposal is not known, but from
his utterances, the Grand Army men
believe he will make q recommendation
in his. annual address to be delivered at
the Cedar Rapids encampment, looking
to opening the door of the organization
Copies of the resolution by the post at
1ai -nport have been sent to posts all
over the state, and 1t is expected that
many others will take similar action. II
is certain that one or both of the large
posts in this city will pass similar res
olutions opposing any enlargement OF
the G. "A. r., as most of the leading
members have long been known as op-
ponents of any innovation looking to a
change or enlargement Of member
ship.
II certainly shall oppose any and all
movements looking to opening the door
of the Grand Army to Others said Adj
jutant General George Newman, him
self a past department commander,
when his attention was called to the
resolutions of post No. at Davenport.
Il was not aware that Commander
Lindt had any such views IN regard to a
change in the constitution Of the organ
ization. 1 hardly think there has been
anything more than a casual remark by
him in reference to the matter. But
the resolutions passed at Davenport
have my hearty approval, no matter
what others think. This matter has
been up before. AT the national en-
campment last year it came before the
body twice and was sat down upon good
and hard. 1t came up once in q report
of committee on the presidents ad-
dress in relation to the admission of
Sons of Veterans. 1t was voted down
by big majority. Then an effort was
made to allow the committee to con-
tinue so that it could come up again
not entirely as new business; but even
this was not approved by the encamp
ment. There was a sort of understand
ing that those who are in favor of
changing the constitution will go back
to the departments and try to get in
structions from them and work it thru
in that way. They will hardly be able
to do so. I can see no reason for 1t.
There is a strong sentiment within the
membership of the Grand Army looking
s,,r to- fN fta a
Some day we fondly hope to have the
record show that the last survivor OF
the war of the rebellion has died, and
with him perished the Grand Army OF
the republic-nothing but a glorious
memory, an organization unique and
Other organizations will
be formed as they have a right to be
formed, and other soldiers have their
societies, but the G. A. r. was for one
purpose, and only one"
The biennial apportionment OF the
school fund interest money Will De
made by State Auditor Carroll on Mon
day next. The total anount of lowa's
permanent school fund is now $4,loo'-
044.52 This is loaned to real estate
owners thru the counties of the state, to
each county in accordance with the
school population, but GONE of the
counties do not care for their share and
others are willing to take more. The
school enumeration, which forms the
basis of the apportionment of interest
es we'll as principal, shows 73O,S03 per-
sons of school age in the state. The In
terest apportioned amounts at this time
to $107, 7,062.64. Owing to the varying
demand among borrowers for the school
some of the smaller counties of
the state have sums largely in excess
Of their due; as, for instance, Winnie
bago county, has $215.2is.51, while Du-
buque has only $3.50; yet the former
county gets of the interest. in propor-
tion to its school population, only
$645.92, while the latter gets sS,OOS.97.
Polk county receives of tie apportioned
interest $4.23356; Woodbury. county.
S3,09S.91; Scott county. s2,4S5.37; Linn
county, $2.553.93; Marshall county, ST.
305.17, and others in proportion.
The department Of education has
been informed Of some valuable work