Los Angeles herald., 1906-05-06
VETERANS MAY
CONE IN 1903
COMMANDER TANNER GIVES
HINT TO CITY
Grand Army Chief Opposes Annual
Parade Because Il DeeInates
Ranks Of lnHrm Members.
Guest Of Comrades Here

Is the manner in which Commander-in-
Chief James Tanner Of the Grand Army
Of the Republic welcomed most of his
callers in Los Angeles yesterday.
you see, the title Of corporal means
more to me than any brevet rank which
could be conferred upon me. 1 got the
title Of corporal on the field of battle.
My comrades know me by that name
and l want there to be no change.
I'm all the laws of the Grand Army
there is no provision made for the con-
ferring of the title Of general upon the
commander-in-ch He wears four
stars on his epaulettes. but that Is
merely an insignia Of his office. Call
me corporal, not general"
Corporal Tanner, accompanied by his
wife, arrived In Los Angeles yesterday
morning. He was met at the depot by
a. committee of civil war veterans Sc
lected from among the members Of the
local G.. A. r. posts. Immediately after
the arrival of the commander and his
wife the entire party went to the home
of Henry Y. Osborne, United States
marshal of the California district.
Commander and Mrs. Tanner will be the
guests of Captain Osborne during their
stay in Los Angeles, which ends Tues
day. From Los Angeles, Commander
and Mrs. Tanner will go directly to
Salt Lake City, Utah, and from there
to Denver Colo. BY easy stages the
tour of inspection, which brings Com
mander Tanner to Los Angeles. will
be continued. The commander will ar
rive in his home. Washington, D. c.,
during the latter part of June.
Opposes Annual Parade
II am now, and always have been,
unequivocally opposed to the annual re-
vie q, ,Y1d nov of q nj thp
civil war said Commander Tanner In
discussing the much mooted question
of the abolition Of the march of the
old soldiers. "The encampment in Den
yer was the only one held for many
years where the review has not cost
lives. Possibly that parade cost some
lives for all know, but information Of
this nature has not come to my notice.
"As the boys grow older, they grow
weaker. A good many of them love
that old parade, but l think it Is bar
barous. 1t costs human life every
time my comrades march. In their
weakened condition they are not equal
to the strain of a twomile walk In the
hot sun. 1t is useless and senseless
display, and strain on the little re-
naming strength of the comrades.
Il shall do all in my power at the
coming encampment in Minneapolis to
have the parade abolished. have al
ready issued orders to my staff officers
to the effect that the parade shall not
be one foot longer than the prescribed
two miles. If my orders are not car
ried out they shall hear from me.
For several years we have been
working to have the parade done away
with. Every time we bring the matter
before a national encampment some
of the younger members of the Grand
Army get on their feet and in eloquent
words paint beautiful picture of the
nobility and grandeur of the sight Of
the boys. staggering along in broken
line, tribute to the heroism and
patriotism of the defenders Of the re-
public. Then, of course, the comrades,
sitting quietly, resting easily in their
chairs, feel again that old war spirit
fire and tingle through their veins.
Their legs become strong again. they
think They live again those scenes of
the battlefield. The proposition Of the
saner ones is voted down at once. The
comrades decide to have another
parade, cost what 1t may.
Hint to Los Angeles
$50 soon as San Francisco is rebuilt,
and possibly before that, the Grand
Army veterans will pay a visit to Los
Angeles. A good effort on the part
of this City of the Angels will bring
the encampment here within few
years. 1t is barely possible that the
1908 encampment will be held here"
Corporal Tanner is said to be one of
the most loved members of the old
guard of the Civil war. His life has
been crowded with events of impor-
tance.
He was born in 1874 and went to the
front on the first call for volunteers.
Behind him he left his present wife.
at that time only a sweetheart. At
the second battle of Bull Run Corporal
Tanner had both legs shot in such a
manner that 1t was necessary for him
to have his limbs amputated just be-
low the knees. He was taken home
in what was supposed to be. dying
condition. The present Mrs. Tanner
nursed her soldier sweetheart back to
health and strength. Soon after the
corporals recovery the two were mar
ried.
For a number of years Corporal
Tanner toured the country giving IL
luStrated lectures on war topics. He
has held number of high govern
ment positions, chief among them
being commissioner of pensions and
deputy collector of the port of New
York. He Is a lawyer, and at the
present time holds the position of
register of wills for the District of
Columbia. He also practices before
the court OF Chains ana IN the pension
department.
Entertained by Comrades
Corporal Tanner was the guest last
night at a stag dinner given by some
of his comrades at the Cafe Bristol
After the dinner the entire party
visited one of the local G. A. r. posts.
General Harrison Gray Otis gave
luncheon for Commander and Mrs
Tanner yesterday noon at "The
Bivouac."
Today the corporal will spend the
day sightseeing. Tomorrow he with
O. party of local Grand Army officials
will make a trip to the Soldiers home
at Sawtelle. Upon the completion Of
the inspection of the home the real
work of inspection of the department
Will end. Monday evening reception
will be given Corporal and Mrs Tan
ner at Elks' hall. Tuesday the cor
coral and his wife will 1eava for ca1t