Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1906-06-06

CHIsELINd STONE WITH A COMPRESSED
AIR DRILL.
with seven, Kentucky has six and 9th
er states and territories, mostly in the
south, each n smaller number. The
most notable of these government bu.
rial grounds is at Arlington, Va.
No nation has ever cared for its de-
/ tenders as has America. Republics
may be ungrateful, but monarchies are
more SO The nations of the old world
rear costly monuments TO generals,
admirals and what not. but the common
soldier is neglected, to lie as he fell or
to be piled with others in an unmark-
ed trench. But democracy marks the
resting place Of the private as well as
| that Of the captain. The leader is not
less regarded than in the lands gov
erned by kings and aristocracies, but
the average man is more regarded.
How could this democratic tendency be
more beautifully typifed than in our
treatment of our dead soldiers? Nor
Is the care confined TO northern men
alone. There are in the neighborhood
Of 10000 Confederate dead In these
various cemeteries. and II Is safe to
say that their graves are as tenderiy
cherished as are those of the Union
side.
Much of the credit for inaugurating
our national cemetery policy is due To
an almost unknown undercierk In vari-
Gus military departments who was ac-
cidentally killed by falling under a
train in Chicago IN 1903. His name was
Thomas Brougham Baker. Through
out the war between the states be la
bored indefatigably TO have the gov
eminent set aside national cemeteries
for the burial of the soldiers. When he
presented the plan TO an underofiicial
Of the war department it was only to
meet rebuff. Then be took the case
to Secretary Cameron, only to face
defeat again. But he would not give
Ip. He kept besieging Cameron till
finally the doors were shut against
him. When Edwin NJ. Stanton was
made secretary OF war Baker went to
him and met more favorable recep-
ton Stanton approved the idea, and
when Lincoln heard of IL the great
heart OF the martyr president warmed
to the plan at once Baker was given
a clerkship, in which he helped keep
record of the burial of the soldiers. and
not few Of the perfect government
flies relating 10 the deaths and inter
ment of the men who fell for the I'm
ion are due 10 his efforts.
Lincoln knew we'll Of Bakers I'M
selfish work. and If the great man had
lived the services of the humble clerk
would have been acknowledged. AS
II was, little or nothing was known of
Bakers work until his own death CALI
ed attention 10 the part be had played.
So assiduous had been his efforts In
oehalf Of establishing national GENE
reries that for time he was regarded
as insane on the subject Lincoln was
almost the only one who understood
him, and that great friend of the com
mon soldier spoke frequently of the
humble clerk and In the warmest
terms. If republics are truly not un-
grateful. Thomas Brougham Baker will
be remembered on this Memorial day
and on all succeeding ones.
Few realize the labor entailed Oh
AiibNt WIN llIt IlOlulItlllS lOullu
In the national and other cemeteries
where lie our soldier dead. OF late
years the process has been much sim
plified by the use of machinery. In
stead of the old laborious method of
mallet and chisel compressed air is
now employed to drive the bit that cuts I
the stone. The power is applied |
through a long rubber tube, at the end
Of which the bit works. This gives
much greater speed than the old way.
nor is it so wearing upon the workmen.
Years ago the late President McKin-
ley recommended that the graves OF |
the southern soldiers be included i'm the
national cemeteries or at least that /
the states be assisted i'm caring for
them. While no very great results have
come from these large hearted at |
tempts as yet, the day seems rapidly /
when something practical
will be done toward realizing the end
that the third of the martyr presidents
had In xyfauv nfIIo IN tbso oeVn.cx ho.n