The National tribune., 1907-09-12
AN ACCOUNTING.
friction. sought an accounting for the
CONTINUED from page one.)

detailed statements of expenditures Tor
any year are among the archives OF the
Grand Army in the custody of the AS
siStant QuartermaSter-Genera at Phli-
adelphia. This is the statement of
business fact in the fewest possible
words without a thought of criticism,
1t seemed to me that some day there
must be an end to this heavy Dram
upon our limited and constantly lessen
ing resources, and i thought II iisn'
lust as well come in 1907 as Later. Oh
the 18th day of December. 1906, ad-
dressed letter to the Hon. William H.
Taft Secretary of War, explaining to
him the past relations of the Grand
Army of the Republic to the Southern
Memorial Fund, vGnturing a brief re-
cital of the facts, with a modest sug-
gestion that this great Government
might properly assume the expense III
purchasing the small flags and thru the
Superintendents. of National Cemeteries
with the employees at Their command.
plant them on 'the graves before Me-
mortal Day l respectfully requested
that he recommend TO the Congress an
appropriation of $1,000 as the first start
in this enterprise. Six weeks later the
honorable Secretary advised that he
was unable to approve the suggestion.
Without delay l proceeded to Wasnih2-
ton, and presented the matter to Com
rade Joseph b. Foraker, of Fred Z.
Jones POST, department ol oiiio, tiiS
Senior Senator from that State. He
promptly agreed that the request was
reasonable and gave it as his instant
opinion that the Congress would s.
decide. His judgment was speedily
confirmed. and on page % of Ii. X.
23.551 will be found these words IN
serted in the bill on the motion of Sen
ator Foraker, being Senate amendment
No. 81: For the purchase of flags for
use Gn Memorial Day in suitably deco
rating the graves of soldiers and sailors
of the Union army buried in National
Cemeteries, $4,000, or SO much thereof
as may be necessary. to be expended
under the direction of the Secretary of
War" This bill became Il law by the
signature of the President. and 50. for
Memorial Day. 19CS. the graves of our
comrades in most of the National Gene
teries. if not all. will be tagged under
the direction of the Government they
so nobly served in the days of tnelr
young manhood If il shall tranSpire
that an inadequate sum for the pur-
chase of flags has been made it is en-
tirely safe to say that my successor can
confidently rely upon the American
Congress for the aid needed And
feel warranted in the further observa-
ton that President Roosevelt will es-
TEEN it blessed privilege to sign the
bill making the appropriation. 1 have
made this frank statement as TO the
Southern Memorial Fund and my ac-
ton in reference to the matter. /
Sheerfully assume all responsibility, but
] indulge the earnest hope that those
comrades who differed from me in
Judgment will believe me no less sin
cere in the discharge of what seemed
a plain duty than were they in insisting
unon the continuance of the custom o.
other years
The Proposed Wirz Memorial.
The Minneapolis Encampment after
an earnest discussion on a minority re-
port of the Committee on Resolutions
in reference to the proposition to erect
a monument to Capt. Henri WirZ. the
keeper of Andersonville," disposed OF
the matter in this form:
Resolved, That the Commander-in-
Chief communicate with Gen. stephen
D. Lee Commander-in-Chief of the
Confederate Veterans Association, ana
express to him the hope and wish of
the Grand Army of the Republic that
the Association of which he is the
Commander would, in such manner as
may to it seem proper, express its dis
approval of the proposed action"
Feb. IA, 1907. dispatched a letter 20
Gen. Lee reciting the action of our 4Oth
Encampment respectfully inviting his
earnest attention 10 its terms as a frank
expression upon matter which may
fairly be discussed in soldierly good
temper. Let me quote these sentences:
"a wise man is he who under most
conditions knows just what TO say. y
wiser man, it may be, is he who knows
just what not to say in the treatment
of a subject involving, delicate prob
lens to be solved on just lines, alike
honorable and praiseworthy to all in
interest"
'!For myself and the great comrade-
ship it is my high privilege to serve my
chief concern is that no word or act
of mine shall tend to disturb the long
continued and growing good will and
mutual respect the brave men of both
sides in the war of the SOS entertain
for each other
THE heroic daring and the un-
matched sacrifices the victories and
defeats, conspicuous service and noble
lives on both sides have been COM
msmCrated on many battlefields of the
war. and in this we have Joined in a
common purpose Unless interrupted
by some untoward incident this pa
triotic work will continue TO challenge
our best energies and soldierly devotiol
10 the truth Of history"
The Grand Army of the Republic
and the United Confederate veterans
have not hitherto been at variance on
this proposition. 1t is hoped that We
shall not differ in sentiment, at least
as to the propGiety Of rearing a monu
Ulsll 10 Inc tdDtt3D CCNilNtHtlnS tn'
prison at AndersJnville. Ga"
After reviewing the story of Ander
sonvi.le the hope was expressed tha
the sober judgment of the people o
the North and South may be allowe;
to coatrol this matter. l quote from
Tbs closing page:
TO the Grand Army of the Repubii
the proposition 10 erect a monument t
Henri Wirz is an unfathomable won
der 10 class of citizens has done NOR
To GbliteTate every trace of sectiona
bitterness growing out of the grea
conflict that the soldiers and sailors O
the Union arms. With the brave me
VINO wore the Uniform Of the Confcd
eraCy We have no quarrol, but we mus
not be expected to silently submit with
Gu; protest to efforts at condemn
gra.e wrongs heapei upon our com
raies. who without fault on their par
became prisoners Of war .
Eve invoke the good Offices of yourse1
and the men ycu nave the honor l
command in the hope that those wh
would erect monument to the kcepe
of Andersonville may be induced I
abandon an enterprise which viii cel
.ainly not oonduce 20 the preservatiO
of the era Of good will and mutual r.
epect between the veteran soldiers
the North and the South. and whic
has been the wonder of the people
the Old World since the coming of tn
peace so dear to US ALL
Gen. Lees Reply.