The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-03-12
SPOKE TO COMRADES
Address Of Department Commander
Perry starkweather at the G.
-, A. R. State Encampmeny.
Review Of the Years Work and
-. Praise for the Benefits of
:. the Order.
" Proceedings Of the day in state G. A. R. Ell
campment will be found elsewhere in this issue.

: Proceedings of the day in state G. A. R. en-
campment will be found elsewhere in this issue.]
Perry Starkweather, commander Of the
Department of Minnesota, Grand Army of
the Republic, at the thirty seventh en-
campment, begun to-day, delivered an ad-
dress, of which the following is a part:
: "a year ago, when by your kind favor
I was entrusted with the conduct: of this
department, L said that with your CO.
operation it would be possible to prove
that the time when the Grand Army Of
the Republic would be compelled to sit
down and submit to the inroads of decay
and death had not yet come. To-day, be-
cause Of your ready response to the call
for work, the truth Of the prophecy has
been conclusively proven: For the first
time in many years it is possible to re-
port net gain in membership. The work
is just well in hand and it may be easily
carried forward for many years to come.
In responding to- the call for more active
service, you did no more, my comrades
than T expected of you, for you but did
your whole duty, kindly, cheerfully and
quickly. You have had to skirmish some
and taken some prisoners by sheer force
Of will. Then I guess you have foraged
a little, too, but as that was just baked
beans with coffee and friedcakes and was
lief Corps and the Ladies' circles, why I
guess it will be overlooked. ~E ,,.
"To-da am glad to tell you that we
| number 6,139, and we have just begun.
| And in this connection would like to offer
| suggestion: ..-., ...-..: .y
..rhere are four days in the year when it
might be we'll if the Grand Army would
| hold a sort of open house. These days are
| the 4th of January. April, July and Oc-
j tober. These days the veterans make out
| their papers for pensions, and if the com
rades would open their halls, have a, notary
present to attend to the legal technicalities
and where it was, practicable midday
| lunch, business and pleasure might be
happily combined. 49,
.|#.' Finances.
@To the best of my knowledge this is
1.-THE only department in the national bod!
! that pays mileage of representatives tt
Fits annual encannpnerlt.. Last year there
. was paid out over four hundred and fit.
4 dollars for this purpose. would recon
mend, as various of my predecessors hav'
/ done, that some plan be made which
4 while it will not injnre the life of post
which need this assistance, will still per
nit reduction Of this expense.
i Field Work.
| "The field work of the department ha
4 been conducted along somewhat differen
lines than those heretofore followed. M
4 ill-health during many months made i
necessary to do much of my persona
E wirk with the pen. have sent out som
three thousand five hundred letters from
nv office. With returning health it ha
been great pleasure to make such visit
las could be arranged for. The admirabl
q and always effective field work done b
4 Assistant Adjutant Orion S. Clark canno
be to highly commended In this, as il
4 all things he has been my right hand
sometimes both hands. In nothing is tn
4 department Of Minnesota SO fortunate a
q in the person Of it's assistant adjutant gen
u eral. Most valuable assistance has ais
q been given by our Senior Vice Commando
A Maha1l of st. Paul, who has not only gladl
a acceded to every request for his service
but whose effort has been put forth t
G build up the order. and in all things ad
vance It's interests. Junior Vice Com