The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1907-05-30
GRAND G. A. r. PARADE.
Veterans and Thirteen Companies of
Militia in Line at Fl. Wayne.

Ft Wayne. Ind. May 23.-This
was the big day. of the State en-
campment of the Grand Army of the
Republic, Department of Indiana
The business meeting of the encamp-
ment was held this morning, the par
ade of the veterans and State militia
took place this afternoon and three
camp6res will be held tonight. About
thirty thousand visitors are in the
city, despite the rain which fell again
today.
Encampment politics centers in the
election of officers of the allied or
ganizations, and the selection of the
place of the next encampment- There
are earnest partisans at work for
Marion and Kokomo. and it will take
the vote to tell it. Milton Garrigus
and Sol Pennington, of Kokomo
were in early this morning witt,
their badges. and Mayor Arnett
worked among the delegates wher-
ever he could see Grand Army but
ton or cord. Governor Steele, of the
Soldiers Home at Marion, and the
veterans from the home are giving
their influence to Marion
Referring to Memorial day the
commander said: after all that has
been said about Memorial day belong
ing peculiarly to the Grand Army
and about its being holy day, and
not a holiday, that it should be in
fringed upon and our sensibilities
wounded as was propised-and by
the men who were planning to do il
was indeed hard to bear. But, hap
PLY, there were men who, when ad-
vised of the situation, could not be
made parties to such transaction,
and we owe it to them that Memorial
day now promises to be ittingly OBJ
served in every part of Indiana"
After paying tribute to the w. R
C., the Sons of Veterans and their
auxiliary, Mr. Brown said. in con-
clusion:
"In my humble judgment we hear
far too many wailing, depressing
notes in our Grand Army chorus II
seems to be disease that is epidem-
ic among us, and chronic with some
to be forever dwelling upon and be-
wailing the fact that we are all grow
ing old, and that SO many are passing
away. Our Grand Army as a struc-
tural force is suffering immensely or
account of this evil q was about to
say nuisance). OF course. all of us
are older than we once were. OF
course, some are passing away But
these facts are not new facts. nor arc
they peculiar to the Grand Army oil
the Republic.
When has it ever been true that
tir1e was not feeting and human life
evanescent and uncertain? And ovel
against the fact that we are getting
old, and that some are passing away
are other facts just as self-evident
One is that plenty of men older thar
most of us, if not older than any o
us, have done and are now doing the
best of service for humanity ant
some are filing responsible positions
The question for us is, as it is fol
every one young or old, What is the
wise and creditable course to pursue
in view of our situation? Of al
things it can not be wise or credit.
able to become gloomy or disheart
ened as age comes on and friend:
fall by the way Likewise to exag-
gerate the facts, and make them ar
excuse for not being useful. or doing
all the good we can, as We have op
portunity, is still less wise or credit
able.
"Over and over again we hear stat,
ments as to how short-lived oul
Grand Army is to be, and how soor
there will be no more of it, AS /;
matter of fact, the Grand Army i.
good for several years yet. Or, if no
somebody will be 10 blame Life in
surance tablets tell us that the las
1945 If that last comrade is as 10y
al to the Grand Army as many
soldier of the civil war will live unit
could name, we can see when thu
end of the order is to come. 1t ha.
thirty-eight golden years yet to live!'
Colonel Foster. in his reports
showed that the total membership o
the G. A. R. December 81, 1905. wa
14,4ss; on December 81, 1906, 1882
a gain of 1,104 last year. The losses
by death in 1906 were 500; by honor
able discharge, So; by transfer, 153
by suspension s31; by delinquent re
ports, 80; total OF 1877, leaving
14,015 in good standing and 15,sO9 OF
the rolls, including suspensions. Fo
relief $996.14 was expended. The
number of posts in good standing
December 81, was 3s5, loss of thir
teen IN the year.
The receipts were $4,s3s-6s. am
disbursements, $3,4O51, leaving bal
ance of S1,39S17
A Child Led Them.