Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-05-07

'Situ VI Es o. ndytIioIQ, TTSSCtl Soiii-
nlander Expires In June - Success
or to be Elected at Annual Meeting
To Be Held in Mason City in June.
Fairfield has candidate of her own
for the office of department command
err of the Iowa Grand army OF the Re-
public in the person Of John A. Spiel
man of that city. The choice OF de-
partm ent commander will be made at
the annual meeting Of the Iowa depart
ment to be held in June at Mason
City.
His Record.
Comrade Spielman is one of the
prominent veterans of Iowa, and the
members Of the posts of southern Iowa
argue that their part Of the state
should be recognized this year. He
was a member of the Seventeenth
/ Iowa, serving through the war with
his regiment in many important en-
gagenents. His Grand Army record
is equally commendable. as he was a
member of the original organization
in 1857, and has been a regular at
tendant at post and department meet
ings. He has served on the depart
ment and national staffs, and for fif-
teen years has been the president OF
the Seventeenth Regimntal association
Mr.. Spielman was born in Columbus,
o., in 1884, and has been a resident OF
Iowa for fifty-four years. He was
treasurer of the English Lutheran sy-
nod of Iowa for eighteen years and
has declined to become a candidate
| for department commander at four diff
ferent times.
Frowns on Memorial Sports.
Sports and amusements on Memoria,
day are frowned upon by Colonel l.
B. Raymond department commander
for Iowa of the Grand Army Of the Re
public, in his annual address to Grand
Army posts sent out over the state
| copies Of which have been received by
G. A. r. Men Of Ottumwa.
While Memorial day is a holiday,
says the commander. 'it should be re
membered that 1t is in no sense a day
for games. sports or amusements, ant
every post and every comrade SHOULD
put forth all possible efforts to pre-
vent such dissertation of the day. TX
this end it is suggested that post com
manders, upon receipt of this order
exert such influence as they may b,
able to, in their respective communi
ties, by comforting with city or town OF
ficials, by asking the cooperation o
the local press and by doing what |
may be feasible to do to discourag
the making of arrangements for or tn
4 announcement in advance of any form
of amusement for the 30th of May, tn
character of which may be incompat
Bile with proper respect for Memoria
day and the memory of our dead CON
rades."
In speaking further Of the day tn
commander says ~
This day has become in effect Ms
tional holiday and is observed, as sue
!, not only by the veterans Of the war {
: the rebellion. but the people of ever
, loyal community While in the obser'
ance Of the day it is proper for tn
Grand Army to take the lead, yet tn
! cooperation of the the teachers an
pupils of the public schools, the civi
and military societies, and especial
of the kindred organizations of tn
Grand Army, should be cordially we
J, coined.
Some literature from the national d.
partment of the G. A. R. also is tran
mitted to soldiers along with tn
commanders address and order i
one circular Gen. John G. Black, con
mander in chief of the G.. A. R., pa,
this eloquent tribute to Memorial day
There is no brighter day in the Ion
: calendar Of time than the Memoir;
. day of the American people. This gel
S Grafton has no sweeter duty than to il
J crease the love of the people for TIL
e day and to advance it surely to til
!. position of a universally accepted n
o tional anniversary on whose recu
t renee old bitterness shall be forgotte
e all strifes obliterated and greI
c peace possess all hearts,"