Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-08-20

Army alone can give them, and the
inspiration Of a full realization of the
great responsibilities which are be-
Queathed to them. The south is the
best field they have for active service,
and it is the most neglected"
Memorial Day rs a Holiday.
The chaplain-in-chief, ID. B. Shuey,
said in his report:
There is growing danger that
Memorial day viii be used by some
as a holiday in the sense of pleasure,
and thus lose sight of its sacred sig
nificance. Baseball games and all
kinds of amusements ought to be pro-
hibited on that day. and every effort
has reached all parts of the republic
and its dependencies. The tendency
toward the enactment of laws direct
ing patriotic education and reverence
for the flag is encouraging and com
mendable.
contributions to Il limited extent
for the home at Mountain Springs,
Ala, have been received from every
part of the country.
Maj. Falkner. the chairman of the
to the commander-in-chie The fra
ternal feeling and the kind sentiments
expressed by the different q. y. T..
posts and the individual members
thereof throughout the north has
touched and softened the heart of ev-
cry confederate soldier in the south
Pension Rules Improved.
The administration by the board
of pensions of the pension laws, that
for SO many years had proven so veN-
atious and unsatisfactory, seems to
have been adjusted to degree of
satisfaction. / believe the present
commissioner is earnestly endeavor-
ing to discharge the duties of his
high and important 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 complaints are not so nu-
merous or so vigorous as in the re-
cent past. and yet they are sufficient
to warrant our earnest and careful
attention and consideration. Com
plaint will never entirely cease. nor
will cases of injustice be entirely
eliminated from the administration of
such great trust, but by an honest,
| fair and liberal administration of the
| laws we may reach the minimum of
complaint and of injustice. Is not
the time at hand when wisdom and
| Justice both warrant such an adjust
ment of the pension laws as will meet
the conditions that exist by providing
| E., pf
month? | believe it would be wise to
appoint committee whose duty
would be to frame a proper bill and
present the same to congress, provid-
| ing for a pension of not less than $12
per month for all honorably dis
charged soldiers, sailors or marines
who may choose to apply"
Union Men In Southern Graves.
The report of the junior vice com
mander-in-chief, James T. Averill, was
devoted to the federal dead who rest
in the national cemeteries in the
south IT was in part as follows:
"The graves of union soldiers in the
north will continue to be remembered
by kindred organizations when we
have all answered the last roll call
The graves of the confederate deaC
will also be the natural shrine of de
votion of loving kindred spirits foI
generations to come. But to whom
can we bequeath the sacred duty OF
dropping a blossom and sympathetic
tear Memorial day upon the graves
of the 100000 federal dead who sleeI
on southern soil, and teach the lessor
of patriotism, associated with them
to future generations of the south
There is scarcely a home in the nortl
but is represented by one or more o
these. fallen heroes, and to thei1
kindred and friends this is certainly
a question of more absorbing inter
est. 1t is evident that the main de
pendence in perpetuating our Memo
rial dav in the southern department.
must be our Sons of Veterans, th
Woman's Relief Corps and other kind
red patriotic associations which ma.
combine, inviting all syinpathizinl
people to join them in the formation
of strong and permanent memoria
associations as auxiliary societies
These organizations are naturall.
weak in the south, and the presen
tendency is not toward increasing
strength. They are in great need o
, the aid and stimulus, which the Gran'
| Continued on Eighth Page.