The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1903-03-26
DECLINE IN G. A. R.
Adjutant Generals Report Shows
Membership Has Decreased.


general of the G. A. r. for the depart
ment of Iowa which will be made to the
department encampment at Cedar Rap.
ids, will show that there has been an
actual decrease in the membership OF
the department from last year and this
despite the fact that during the year
efforts were madein all parts of the state
to secure new members and the rein
statement of old members, according to
Des Moines dispatch, which members
of Leon Post No. 25l of this city will
read with interest. The actual net loss
of membership in the department as
shown by the reports to department
headquarters during the year 1902 was
l2l. Yet there were 4S5 members mus
tered into posts in the department,
including 143 who were mustered in
first time and had never before been
members of the Grand Army. The net
loss comes from the unusual number OF
deaths in the department, there being
something more than 600 all told. 1t
was hoped year ago that the depart
ment' might show great increase in
membership, but the department officers
will report that in all probability there
fwill never be larger membership OF the
department than has been in the past.
The death rate is growing too rapidly to
hope for any other result. An official
circular was recently sent out by Com
mander John Lindt OF Council Bluffs, in
which there was an appeal to the post
officers to do special work in trying to
secure new members. 1t was urged that
in every possible way the members work
for the enlargement Of the membership
of the Grand Army. This circular ap-
pears to have formed the sole basis for
rumor which has been circulated in
Grand Army circles to the effect that
Commander Lindt favors admitting the
Sons cf Veterans to membership. AS
result of this rumor resolutions were
passed by the post at Davenport, the
oldest post in the state, instructing it's
delegates to the department encamp.
ment to oppose any change IN the con-
stitution with reference to qualifications
for mem mbership. Commander Lindt de-
clares that there is no warrant for the
assumption that he favors any change
in the constitution. He is not in favor
of admitting the Sons of Veterans and
meyer has been, and has always stood
with ex-Commander Wagner of Phila-
delphia, who has been power in g. A.
r. circles in upholding the organization.
Commander Lindt favors giving the Sons
of Veterans all possible encouragement
for their organization, but would not
admit them to the q. A.. r. The Iowa
department is sure to take action oppos.
ing any change in the constitution.
A Sensible Talk.
One of the soundest talks ever heard
in Corydon was that given at the Y.
M. G. A. rooms Sunday afternoon by
Hon. Judge Towner says the Corydon
Democrat. 1t was short but to the
point, and of present every day inter.
est and although made without special
preparation was as finished as any ad-
dress could possibly be.
The subject was 1.-The Idle Mind"
and it's relations to present conditions.
The Judge decisively showed that no
disease has ever been abated by cure,
but by preventation, that crime, has
not been lessened by punishment but
by removing the cause of crime. In an
alyzing the cause of crime and what
had been done for its abatement, he
gave it as his conclusion that idleness
of body and mind were the prime, re-.
sponsible factors, and what eyer would
change this condition Of idleness of
body and mind were the prime, respon-
sible factors, and whatever would
change this condition of idleness of
either body or mind would tend to
abate and prevent viciousness and
crime. In other words, keep person
employed in beautiful labor or recrea-
ton and you cut of the tendency to
vicious impulses and actions. We wish
we were able to give his remarks in full,
as we think they would be helpful to all
and might open the eyes of our people
to the necessity of doing something for
our young people.
After serving twenty-four years in the
United States senate, during two-thirds
of which time his party was in a minor
ity, Senator Vest of Missouri retires
: from public life an optimist. He does
not believe the senate decadent body
in point of intellect or morals. "Our
people" ne says. in published inter-
view. "are just as honest and patriotic
as in the days of the Revolution, and
are as willing to make as many sacrifices
for the country. But they are too busy
~ sna,,3 ,,,t,rh timn with tho boroio q nd