Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-08
report prepared and the same will be sub
mitted to you during this encampment.
An Ava lxoDipo IF Int

"There is an awakening of interest in the
organization all over the country, and espe-
cfaly in the south, where large number
of camps are now in process of organiza-
ton. AS a result of my visit to New York
and conference with Commander Walker of
the Legion of Spanish War Veterans of
Massachusetts tentative agreement was
entered into, which will be submitted to
you for your approval. with the request
that you authorize me to execute the same
on your behalf To many of the members
a statement of the history of the Legion of
Spanish War Veterans would be without
purpose, for 1t is already within their
knowledge. but to make the situation en-
tirely clear to all permit me to say that
the Legion of Spanish War Veterans of
Massachusetts iS organization similar
to ours, composed of some twenty or more
camps. in the states of Massachusetts and
New Hampshire, having enrolled men,
bership of about $500. 1t Is needless to say
that the addition of this organization would
add very materially not only to our num-
bers, but it would bring to our organiza-
ton many of the best citizens of MaSSa-
chusetts who served their country during
the Spanish l earnestly recommend
the approval Of the contract, and shall re-
gard the contamination of this arnalgana-
ton the one bright spot in my admins
tratiOn
Realizing that the appointment of COM
mittees to carry on work during the in
term of national encampmentS has been
more or less without results, l assumed the
authority of calling together before this
encampment the committee on revision of
rules and regulations and, as heretofore
reported. said committee met at Cedar
Point in the state of Ohio, early in Sep
TENDER.
Development in the South.
cat this meeting l took occasion to rec
ommend to the committee such changes as
I thought from experience 1t was desirable
to make in the rules and regulations which
are in substance as follows:
I'm my travels through the south and
conferences with comrades who were ELI
gble to membership in our organic ton |
found that it was practically impossible for
us to advance in our development in that
locality unless some steps were taken to
organize separate departments in those To-
caHtieS having a large number of colored
comrades eligible to membership.
Recognizing. of course that our organi-
eaton makes no distinction in eligibility be-
tween white and a colOred cOmrade, and
that they are equally entitled to our re-
Spect and consideration because of the Serv-
ices which they rendered country in
time of necessity, nevertheless we must
also recognize that the sentiment hereto
fore expressed. is strong in the south, and
having onIy in mind the welfare and wish
| ing for the development and growth of our
organization in that locality, l have recon-
mended to the committee revision of
| rules and regulations that in those states
having a number OF camps composed solely
of colored comrades, separate departments
be organized. AT the present time the camps
composed of colOred comrades are confined
| to the state of Virginia and the District of
Columbia. and it would be an easy matter
| to organize these camps into a separate de-
partment to be designated as the Depart
ment of the Potomac.
Organizing New Camps.
AT the beginning of the year l prepared
| and had printed $4,000 copies of what was
termed a recruiting pamphlet, giving the
| history objects and purposes of the or
ganizatfon and what was essential to or
ganze a camp. l then procured from the
adjutants general of all of the states the
records of enlistments during the Spanish
war and wherever any considerable num-
Der of men were enlisted, where we did not
| have organized a camp. from ten to fifteen
personal letters We're written to people
| eligible to membership in said localities
| The result has been that already we have
| approved over ninety applications for new
camps.
| This fact is exceedingly gratifying. not
alone because of the result already accom-
plished, which shows more camps organ