Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-01-09
Astounding Loss Of Members In
Department Of Iowa of
the G. A. r.
LARGE NATIONAL DECREASE
Only About Forty Per Cent of Old Sol
diers Are Enrolled as Members of the
G. A. r. AItho When Needy They
Always Ask Relief of That orsaniza-
tion-Tribute to Women.
,nao;o, 70 r,,nes-1,enublican.

Special to mes-I,epublicah.
Sioux City, Jan. 9.--Colonel M. Is.
Davis former commander of the De-
partment of Iowa, G. A. X, ana presi-
dent of the Sioux City Society OIL ClVl
War Veterans, was in reflective mood
yesterday and was disposed TO lalK
about the old soldiers and the way they
are passing into the great beyond, and
LEAVING. their comrades to mourn them
and decorate their graves.
I'm 1895 there were 1876 old soldiers IN
Sioux City" said Col. Davis. There
wer 1888 in Woodbury. county. do not
know the decrease since that time, but
it has been considerable. For sixteen
months prior to january 1, 1909 there
were thirty three deaths Of old soldiers
In Sioux City. The death rate mas not
been so great since that time. The old
soldiers according to the report of the
pension bureau, are dropping or at the
rate Of $50 a day, or an average OF one
every nine minutes
"The loss Of members in the Depart
ment of Iowa G. A. r., has been as
founding. In 1891 there were 20,32A
members, and in 1904 there were only
12,2OS members. There We're 1913 deaths
last year In the Department of Iowa.
The decrease of members in the nation
al department of the G. A. r. also has
members, and in 1903 there We're only
256,510. The average age of the old
soldier today is 65 years.
Many Not Members.
Zone of the things that is puzzling is
the fact that only about 40 per cent Of
the old soldiers are members OF the
G. A. r. Over rs per cent OF all the
relief given by Gen. Hancock post has
been given to old soldiers not mem
bers of the G. A. r. cannot under-
stand why they do not join with us.
When they are needy they always ask
aid of the Grand Army, and when they
die their families desire that they be.
buried by the Grand Army.
The Grand Army always sees that
their graves are marked by suitable
headstones. Every old soldier has at
least a neat slab at the head of his
grave. These are furnished by the
United States and all that is necessary
is for the G. A. r. to make requisi-
ton for them. Now there are as many
members of the G.. A. r. In Sioux City
to decorate them.
"One thing to be regretted exceed
ingly is that the members of the Sons
of Veterans of Sioux City are either
unable or unwilling to keep up the or
ganization. The time will come when
they will realize the necessity for it
more than they do today. 1t will be
much easier for them to perfect the
organization before their fathers die.
Now they can secure from their fathers
sufficient data to enable them to get a
membership. l sincerely hope that
they will make it up and resurrect the
camp, which has been dead for some
years.
Tribute to Women.
II want to speak Of another organ
ization-the w. r. c., an auxiliary Of
the G.. A. r.. They are very strong in
this and other departments. They
have membership in the department
Of Iowa of nearly 10000. At least two
thirds of the posts in Iowa have this
auxiliary, whose mission it Is to assist
in the cars of the old soldiers, widows.
and orphans. We realize the fact that
in them we have great assistance, as
we all know that in very few years
at least the G.. A. r. will be known
only in history and tradition. The
Women's Relief Corps, being an aux
Hilary to our organization, will cease to
exist when the last post is compelled
to surrender its charter 1t cannot
possibly exist after we are gone.
There u.s. however, another organi-
zation composed Of the wives, mothers.
sisters, daughters and granddaughters,
Of the old soldiers, the Ladies of the
G. A. r. 1t will exist to the end Of time
and after the G. A. r. and the w. r,
C. are forgotten"