Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-16
MEDALg. 0).I.sH!Q{.NOR
a PROTEST 1aA1rsr rH. PRO.
POSED ri 1FscR1rTfoH.
Not q sufacient Designation Of
the Soldiers
Services
To tn. Editor of The Evening Star:


Department has offered 4 to exchange for
those now worn by the heroes who won
them on the battlefield seems to be very
unpopular with those who have seen the
new medal illustrated on paper.
Probably few soldiers will accept the Of
fer of exchange unless they accept the ex-
change "unsight and unseen Some have
already sent in their medals for that pur-
pose yet the new medal has not yet been
completed and is not ready for ISSUE
Judging from the illustration it will be
sorry day for the above mentioned soldiers
who have yielded up their decorations for
they cannot be recalled without congress
sonal action.
One good reason for not accepting the
new medal is from the fact that 1T would
rob the soldier of all he holds dear, and
for which he offered his life on the field of
action, and it was some uncalled-for act
Of galIantry which placed his name higher
in the niche of fame than that of his brave
comrade who resisted the charge of glisten-
ing steel, or pressed his way to the can
mons mouth
This new medal obliterates the soldiers
entire record. His whole career is ex-
plunged The new medal signifies nothing.
1t has no more merit In its design and with
not half the beauty of those sold on street
corners for 10 cents during political cam
paign. The original medal has character
The ribbon represents the colors under
which he fought. The new ribbon is to be
blue with white stars interviewer Any
lady or child could wear 1t on her hat, and
1t would be considered quite pretty. SOL
der does not want 1T.
The Old and New Inscriptions.
The tragedy makes itself manifest when
the inscription on the medal is to be thrown
away, obliterated, because there will be no
room to inscribe the heroic deeds of the
L., tn
scription on the medal as it appears now,
and as it will appear on the new medal:
The Congress
Private John Doe 9TH Pa. Vols,
for
most distinguished gallantry in
action at the Devil Den. Gettysburg, Pa,
July g. 1863.
The new medal will read as follows:
The Congress
Private John Doe, 5th Pa. Vols.
Gettysburg, 1863.
There were several battles at Gettysburg
during those days.
Does any one think does the War Depart
ment think that Mr.. Doe. who holds his
medal deeper in his hearts affection than
any earthly possession, would be anxious
to exchange one for the other? When he
received it he felt glorifed at the remem-
brance that a noble government had evil
dence of his deeds of valor and the voice
of the nation through Congress had recog.
nized them. Does any one believe that Mr..
Doe would like to hand down to his chill
dren this Insignificant bauble? Could they
forgive him for exchanging the highest
decoration that any government on earth
can confer upon a subject for this worth
less blank piece OF metal?o
Will Not Be Permitted.
This farce or tragedy will not be per-
mftted. The President will not allow it to
proceed any further when his attention Is
called to It, The writer Believes the Presi-
dent himself would willingly give his right
arm If he could legitimately wear about
his neck the tri-colored~ national ribbon OF
the order with the black, star resting upon
his bosom, the reverse side of which
could be engraved his name, beneath which
a record equal to that of Mr.. Doe, No, the
old soldier must not be despoiled of his
medal and his record. Mr.. Doe may not
have gold to hand down to his son, nor yet
a sword of Bunker HILL but he has in his
possession now something Infinitely more
valuable than both. He has a medal pre-
sented by Congress, with his name, his
regiment, the specific act of gallantry with
the date of and the name of the battle and
the state in which 1t was won, engraved
upon 1T.
The soldier feels a sadness even at the
thought that any attempt will be made to
fitch from him his immortal glory. He
fought desperately to win 1t, and he would
be less than an honest man If he did not
fight If necessary, as desperately to keep
it. Let the soldier take heart, the Presf-
dent will protect him.
No Monumental Record.
1 learn also that it is not the proper thing
to permit the soldier to place upon his
monument the record on his medal Mr.
Doe needs something to show to the gen
erations to come that he was a gallant SOL
fS q lincoln Grant q
Sherman, who are recorded in history and
need no other enlightenment as to who
they were What would the monument in
Arlington that covers 1000 unknown dead
amount to if that statement on 1t had been
omitted? Gen. Crook has his glory Illus
trated on tablet. 1t attracts the attention
of a hundred thousand visitors and makes
the cemetery worth pilgrimage OF all good
Americans who visit the capital A nun
bred years from now that cemetery VIII De
more beautiful than now, but no inhapltant
of the earth today will be here to see 1t;
but generations yet unborn will visit it,
and the heart will swell with pride II for
tunate visitor can claim the honor OF say
ing "one of my great ancestors sleeps
here" searches and finds the stone that
tells the story. He has already heard OF
incidents of the great war, read In history
of a hundred battles, but of these he heard
only the names of the generals In com
niand. But in Arlington he should find the
name and the gallant deeds of those of less
rank recorded in bronze.
viii the government deny the soldier the
privilege of allowing his military record to
be thus preserved?
Generals and Men in Ranks.
The generals are on bronze horses on the
public squares; may not brave soldier IN
a government cemetery have placed above
his Wondering clay the records of his
deeds like those that are engraved on his
medals? 1t appears not. The government
(War Department. does not think 1t would
be in good taste to place any such record
on tablet. The writer has been informed
that the above Is true. that some tablets
have been already placed that do not agree
with the esthetic taste OF the department.
While this may be preper9 and right that
the department have CONTROL of the matter
of epitaphs, still the soldier should not be
sjlenced If he asks for simple justice.
VIII President Roosevelt Investigate this
charge? 1t will only ta1se five minutes to
do so, and If he finds theicharge founded
on truth. will he through the press inform
tirely forgotten? SIC. r. RAND.
Mules Speed Gets Driver Into Court.
William Johnson, colored mule driver.
felt very much encouraged this morning
when he learned that tAet animal NAV be