Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-08-16
V|RZ MONUMENT
S||RS GRAND ARMY
Project of Southern Women For
Monument to Andersonville
Commander Denounced


One Observation-Disclosures Show
Increase in Membership Of the Grand
Army.
minneapolis, Aug. 16.-The business
sessions of the Grand Army Of the
Republic commenced early today In
the auditorium, about 1900 delegates
in attendance The most important
questions to be taken up are abolition
of the canteen from old soldiers
homes, and the proposed erection OF a
monument to Henry Wirz by women
of the south. On the question OF the
canteen, the delegates apparently are
monument question there is on all
sides almost bitter feeling OF roppo-
sition. but a strong faction exists
which is of the opinion the erection
of a monument to such a character
as Wirz is not seriously contemplated
by southern women. Reports OF OIL
GERS were presented and adopted. me
report of nder-in-Chief Tan
NOR was OF considerable length, ano
covered all features of the WORK oone
bv the Grand Army during the last
year.
After urging upon members to al
ways uncoye1 upon hearing the ma
tional anthem, -Chs1
Tanner dwelt at length on the subject
q, natriotic societies, auxiliary to and
in sympathy with the G.. A. r.
He said:
..rhe time is coming, il not already
here. when we must begin to think
about the property Of the Grand Army
of the Republic not belonging to posts.
1t is we'll known that posts nave ac-
nuiped valuable real estate and other
nroperty. and We should seriously
consider what should ultimately be
done with this valuable property. VI
course the property belongs to maj
vidral posts, but it is entirely proper
that the national and departmental
orea nizations should act in an adv1s-
ory capacity in relation thereto, and
II is q question whether it is not all
most time to appoint a committee 10
carefully consider the Whole supJee.
and the relations to be suseaiileu ~
future between the Grand army o!
the Republic and the Womans Reile1
Corps. the Ladies' OF the Grand Army
of the Republic, the Daughters OF
Veterans, the Sons OF veterans ana
other patriotic organizations.
All of these societies had done great
good and given substantial help 20
those of the order in need HE SAID:
.If in the fullness of time these
various patriotic organizations shoulo
merge into one grand body, WHIT an
imretus would be given to the cause
we have SO much at heart what re-
suits would accrue to our peloVeo
country. and as minor yet very I'M
nortant consideration, how much less
It would cost to maintain one oTganl-
cation in the highest cond1tlon OF 81
fciency. than it now costs to conduct
the affairs Of the several organlza-
tions. all largely devoted to the same
object"
w;rz who was in charge OF Anderson
Vile prison. was strongly condemned.
He said Andersonyille was the prop
ertv of the Woman's Relief Corps, and
that no monument to Wirz ever would
he permitted upon it, but there was
no legal power to prevent anyone so
disposed from purchasing plot OF
ground near Andersonville and erect
that might
he desired. He declared however, that
the veterans of the confederate army
were not in appreciable degree inter-
ested in the movement. The Whole
project, he said, had its impetus ana
force among the women OF the south.
After ting the necessity OF call
ing public attention to the matter, he
said:
CAS- one who welcomes with joy ev.
ery movement calculated to assuage
the lingering pains Of that mighty con-
fict. T deprecate to the last degree any
movement of the kind proposed, and
think that it is due to ourselves, to our
great organization, and to the truth of
history, that this encalnpment should
place on record before the public at
large a most forcible but dignified pro-
test against any such impious shaft
being permitted to raise its head tow
ards high heaven.
Increased Membership.
The total membership of the Grand
Army is declared in the report Of Ad-
iutant General Tweedale, to be 1885,
s25. an increase of 1858 during the last
six months. The losses by death for
year ended December 81 last were 81
2G5. or $50 per cent of the total men,
bership, exactly the same percentage
as the preceding year. The suggestion
is made that the organization be in
corporated, with a provision requiring
annual reports Of the organization, to
be submitted to congress. Receipts
from the per capita tax imposed on che
members of the organization are de-
clared to be insufficient for the proper
conduct of it's affairs, and the sugges-
ton is made that the tax be increased
from 3k cents to cents per aHnunl
The report Of Inspector General NJ. j.
Cummings was largely made UP of
OH nj inSnnpfnrS