The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1906-02-08

IN his last general order from The
National Headquarters Of the Grand
Army q the Republic Commander4n-
Chief James Tanner says.
The commanderlnchief would Ike
the very earnest attention Of an the
comrades in the matter Of our De.
creaslng membership. We number
nov about 232.oo0. II Is safe 70 say
that this number does not comprise
more than one-third o. the surviving
comrades Of the civil war This
condition q affairs should not be
permitted 10 exist for any consider
able length o. time.
With two OF more eligible veterans.
no members. for every one We nun
Der Ia Our ranks. the field for success
ful recruiting is large. and surely a
little united action all along the line
would produce astonishing and most
pleasant results.
There has never, In my opinion.
been a time since Appomattox when
It Was so desirable for each survivor
70 be a member Of our order as nov.
Our comrades need the mutual sup
port and c-0untenance OF one another
as never before, and the organization
needs the greater force arising from
the power o. numbers.
With such a great field for recruit
ing open 10 US we should do much bet
Ter than W. have been doing. and We
should 90 far beyond oHsettiug our
losses b. death. To the comrades &C
tive Ia post affairs ] make q special
appeal TO 30 far and use every effort
possible 10 keep the comrades from
dropping out o. the ranks through n
disposition or inability financially 90
remain among ".
IN the old days. when your comrade
was unable 70 keep up on the march,
how often you carried his gun or
knapsack o. his blanket roll. all 20
help him keep up. Now that he
needs encouragement Of another kind.
let US do what We can TO help him
keep up tn the end. and % the end
that when he passes 10 the rest o. the
rave he may 90 with the badge
Of right on his breast
n we cannot by recruiting a. least
offset the losses unavoidable through
death aud other causes. I shall feel
bitterly disappointed, 10 not humll.
ated. when ! take the eavel az Mime
apoIiz
While the Grand Army. Go the very
uature OF things can have no success
sion SIS such. and must march GA 70
. HNm Hw-HHHmEH. HnH aH..Hulaaa a.HH-HHm.a
through death, just &C inevitably. 60
a very large degree. The sons o. Vet
Grams wlI be- our successor They
viii bear our achievements iu loving
memory and carry them along the
generations
All TOO soon viii come the time
when me paralyEinE hand q age will
enforce quiet snd ~inaction on orr
part. While 10 wfl be the bows Wbo
Wa. go out 20 those silent clues where
~>soantain rrasses iou zud sweet.
Veou in ite midd'e of every street
and teirs will De the loving tasf
o. %lahreling the graves of our dead
Tbs organization OF the Sons OF
Veterans. as 2 KNOW o.. Is an honor
90 an the land It's membership 10
earnest iHtelaigent and enthusiastic;
its chosen representative men oil
high character and patriotic purpose
They ask very ltle 81 us-simply on
Endorsement and ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
With al nay heart I EiYe u 10 them
Tor you and for myself and 20 You
I say, stand by ho boys, some Of ut
lean m them now and many % as
must DO SO soon heavily
Omciaily. the Grand Army has bui.
one auxiliary. the Woman's Reliei.
Corps bui ia the largest and bosi
sense BOT ouly the Woman's Rclei.
CUrpa bat the Ladies' 81 the Grand.
Army aud the Daughters OF Veterans
and every other organization which.
has for its c-orncrstoue patriotism
are our au1iitariea
We shall De- better meu the closes,
We are privileged "a associate uiih.
any OF all % them The members Of.
the tWo elder organizations bring tc.
their beneacent lab0rs Ia our behalf
the wisdom born 81 experience and
maturity. and a. to the Daughters ol
Veterans Why from their pure lips
the babes % the future Wiu hear
whispered the ston OF the ~grandsires
valor and sacrifice James Tanner
Commandments
whitmsn's Message o. Cheer