The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1906-08-16
GRAND ARMY
GAINED $500
Members During the Year
Just Closed
lis The STATEMENT MADE
Commander Tanner Reports Organization
Stronger, in Encampment Adj
dress-Tender Tribute to
Wife.

Minneapolis, MINI. Aug. 1s.-Iu open
ling his annual address 70 the National
Iancampment Of the Grand Army Of the
Republic, Corporal James Tanner, COM
lmanderin-chief, today made the some
what surprising statement that despite
the inroads made w death. the Grand
Army had actually increased in mem
bership IN the past year.
= had considered IL almost incvit-
table, he said, .that on this occasion /
would be compelled To report to You
very considerable net loss in member
4 ship; on the contrary | am happy to tell
son that, by reason Of the jealous ms
terest taken IN our order by many com
trades, we have been able To more than
loffset the losses incurred through death,
and that our order stands today $500
stronger III numbers than it did at Den-
yer last September
Continuing he said: THE character Of
the Grand Army never stood higher than
lie does at the present moment.
/ Not a Veteran Dishonored.
Repeatedly during the past years, on
various public occasions, | have definite
1 ly, and perhaps aTrogantly, called attens
ton to the fact that while tie public
conscience has been shocked and OUT
ragged BY the exposure of moral turpi-
tude on the part Of many Of those who
stood among the so.calied most eminent
linen Of the nation, eminent in financial
lnnA ,snfft 4nI al
Of the interests Of widows and orphans,
for whom they had made careful safe
guard to cover the necessities for com-
fort through AL their natural life, men
who III church circles stood on the very
steps Of the affairs, trusted cupbearefs
Of the cause Of Christ, yet who when
their real characters were exposed were
exhibited in such poverty 81 soul and
honor as compared to them, Lazarus in
his lowest state might justly be eotsid
cred millionaire in all the list,
search il from top to bottom, the name
LOT not one veteran Of the civil war can
be found
"The Grand Army Of the Republic
has attained a position Of commanding
influence which has been beneficial not
only To our own comrades, but to the
nation,
For Service Pension Law.
~The principles It stands Tor are vital.
In fraternity the Brotherhood of man Is
Ataught, in charity there il the love that
suifereth long and Is kind, and III loyalty
there Il the respect for duly constituted
authority oi government
The Commander-in-C Chief then spoke
in terms Of admiration Tor the gener-
osity displayed by Grand Army men
the relief Of San Francisco this spring.
promising to make full report on the
same before the close Of the encamp-
lment
Referring to the sacredness Of Memo
rial Day, Corporal Tanner voiced a Wig,
orous protest against its dissertation BY
ball games, circuses and other forms of
popular amusement.
He approved the growing inclination
to observe Flag Day throughout tile
country and urged his comrades 70 assist
in the movement
He spoke at length OF the efforts made
by himself and acommittee Of the &.
A. r., consisting Of General Granville VI.
\ Dodge, General John G. Black and Major
i William Warner senator from Missouri,
in the direction Of the enactment az a
service pension law, providing for SIP a
month for every veteran Of the Civil
War, and the increase of widows pen
sions from SIS to SIP month. The
lcommittee found that although such a
law would take at present S34.0O0,O0O
additional out Of The United States treas
ury, in another year the amount would
be greatly decreased Together with
members Of the committee Corporal Tan.
liner visited the President and told him
that while they felt it would be useless
70 ask Congress this year for such al
appropriation, conditions would be 40
much more favorable one year from that
time that they had decided unanimously
10 recommend the enactment Of such Law
and would ask the Presidents support.
lie assured us" said Corporal Tan.
ner, that it would be his great pleasure
20 do what ever he possibly could with
in reasonable limits 20 meet our desires
Tribute to His Wife.
The speaker closed with touching
tribute Ia the memory OF his wife, who
was killed in an auto accident at Helena,
Mont. only six weeks ago.
accompanied by her, who forty
years before had Joined her life to mine, 2
he said, "and who in all those forty
years had been such guide and counsel
Tor as few men have been blessed with,
every bit as fair 20 my old eyes in her
crown Of whitcned hair al she had look
ed on our wedding morn in her raven
tresses, what wonder the world looked
fair and radiant TO me one instant!
Then the fatal crash, as out of the sky
leaped the angel Of death, and IN few
moments realized that my individual
world lay in wreck and ruin, not
equalled by that which crushed me at
Bull Run.
Many of you, my comrades, have trod
the wine press Of sorrow and realized
the crushing effect Of such how But
n i rally to this thought that II the lips
now silent forever, could speak once
more they would voice TO me the iniunc-
ton not to wrap myself in a mantle OF
fruitless sorrow, but. rather, 10 spend
myself in even more strenuous efforts
h, TIA fofure for tha hplninU az ottr