Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-23

ington veterans, headed by Commander En-
trikin. was most cordial and soldiery. At
the hall where the annual encampment was
held Gen. Brown received an ovation.
In the course of the address of the COM
mander-in-chief he said the credit of bring
ing about the passage of Inc McCumber
service pension bill had been given to him.
He said the enactment of the law was in
fact due to the cooperative efforts of the
Grand Army veterans in all parts of the
country.
Gen. Brown called attention to the fact
that the 100000 members of the G.. A. R.
are still very much alive and spoke of
their sons. daughters, sons-in-law and
other relatives forming another grand
army" of citizens and voters He an
nounced his opposition to the proposed
erection of a monument in honor of Maj
Henri Wirz. who commanded the confeder-
ate military prison at Andersonville, Ca
during the civil war He said there was a
movement to erect such monument, and
that it originated with the Daughters of
the Confederacy.
Department Commanders Address.
Department Commander B. P. Entrikin de-
livered his annual address, which was fire.
quently interrupted by outbursts of ap-
plause. He said. in part:
1.-THE report of the assistant adjutant gen.
eral shows our line to be slowly but stead
to recruit our ranks. net loss of A is
shown in the aggregate. We gained from
muSterS, reinstatements and transfers from
other departments, 107. We lost by death,
81, by discharge and dropped 81, leaving our
membership at the close of the year 2, 224;
but I am only too happy to report that
the ranks grow thinner, the fires of COM
radeship burn brighter and the great prin-
ciples of our order are more clearly exem-
plified in our treatment of each other; moth
ing but the kindest feelings have been
shown toward the department officers by
all the comrades, and their loyalty to myself
has been clearly shown by their response to
my call for duty. Four times during the
past year has the department been called
out; twice in Indictment weather to pay the
last honors to distinguished comrades, to at
tend the funeral of Mrs. Tanner and the
parade of the Spanish War Veterans, and
the response to each call was most crafty
ing to your commander
Reference is made also to the Memorial
day collections from the several govern
ment departments and thanks are extended
to President Roosevelt for ''gracously and
courteously oonceding the request of the
department officers to be allowed to circu-
late subscription lists for flowers ETC., in
the depa rtmentS.'' Thanks were also ex-
tended to Assistant Quartermaster Francis
l.. McKenna for his efforts In behalf of the
department finances and attention called to
the memorial services held at the First
Presbyterian Church. May %, 1906.
Memorial day-the holy day of the Grand
Army of the Republic" continues Com
mander Entrikin, was fttngly observed,
as was Flag day, under the direction of
Department Patriotic Instructor ]. H. Brad
ford"
Commander Thomas H. Martin at the Min
neapOls encampment is feelingly referred to
by Commander Entrikin.
Spanish War Veterans
Referring to the Spanish War Veterans
the department commander of the G. A R.
said:
October 0, upon special invitation the
department was called out to participate in
the parade in honor of the Spanish War
Veterans. the post of honor being assigned
to US. The department made a highly cred
liable showing on the occasion both in num-
bers and appearance, turning out over 700
strong and marching up the avenue with
the old soldierly swing. Our presence In
the line was much appreciated by the boys
of the Spanish war. and 1t gave me great
deal of satisfaction to do what little lay in |
my power to honor the soldiers of young
er generation than ours who were imbued |
with the same spirit which impelled us in |
the sixties to go forth and do and dare to
suffer, and, IL need be. die for the honor of |
the flag. My comrades, as they desire it. |
let US cultivate closer fraternai-s spirit to- |
ward these soldiers of the last war in which |
our country has been engaged; recognizing |
the fact that If opportunity did-not come to |
them as IT did to US to shake the world |
with our tread, yet Is this commentator |
due: they did what they could. what they
were called upon to do, and did 1t WELL" |
Women's Axuiliaries.
This tribute was paid to the women's |
auxiliaries:
This department is specially favored by |
having a devoted body of good women I'M
der different names and In different organi-
zations. but all imbued with the same pur-
pose. and working loyalty with the same |
end in view, to honor the men who saved /
the nation, whether living or dead, and to |
assist the needy and destitute wards of the |
Grand Army. Woman. last at the cross |
and first at the tomb. with her sympathetic /
nature aroused, has in all ages been a pow
er for good In the uplifting OF humanity: |
and wish to bear testimony to the unfal-1
tering loyalty Of every patriotic woman's /
organisation in this District to the Depart
mept of the Potomac during the past year.