Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1908-05-27
written for The Capital Journal
Memorial edition by Captain Dam
iel Wsbster, Salem.)

iel Wsbster, Salem)
To DR.. b. f. Stevenson, an arm,
surgeon of Springfield, ILL.,, belongs
the honor 70 first having suggested
the organization now known as the
Grand Army of the Republic. tht
object of which should be ''tt
strengthen those kind and fraternal
feelings which bind together the
soldiers, sailors and marines who
united to suppress the rebellion and
perpetuate the memory and history
OF the dead" This suggestion was
made in the spring of 1866, and so
well was the idea received that the
first national encampment of the or
der was held In Indianapolis, Ind,
I'm October of the same year, at
which the states of Illinois, Missouri,
Kansas, Wisconsin, New York,
Pennsylvania, Ohio, Iowa, Kentucky,
Indiana and the District of Columbia
were represented. At this meeting
Gen s. A. Hurlburt OF ILL.,, was elect
ed commander in chief.
Those were strenuous time po-
litically and active partisans sought
to use the order to forward their
own political ends, consequently the
belief became prevalent that the or
der was purely political in its aims
and purposes. ThiD resulted in an
almost total disruption of the or
ganizatlon, particularly in the mid
die west. II soon revived, however,
and new rules and regulations were
adopted which provided that "No
officer or oomrade OF the Grand
Army of the Republic shall in any
manner mse this organization for |
partisan purposes, and no discussion |
OF partisans questions shall be per-
mitted at any of its meetings.; nor
shall any nomination for political Of
nee be made" Since the adoption
OF the above, the order has let par.
tisan politics alone and is now proud
OF the fact that men OF all political
parties are members thereof and |
that no distinction is made for or
against member because OF his po-
litical affiliation.
The membership badge and button
OF this order is manufactured under
letters patent expressly for the
Grand Army OF the Republic. from
bronze cannon captured from. the
army during the war
and at the surrender, and cannot be
legally obtained or worn by any
other than a member of the order
In good standing. and In order to
become such a member he must have
served at least three months as n
soldier In the Civil war and have
received an honorable discharge.
In January, 1868, Gen. John A.
Logan was elected commander in
,hief and on the 5th day OF May
following he issued the following or
Ter establishing Memorial Day;
The 3Oth day of May. 1868 is here
by designated for the parpose of
,trewing with flowers or otherwise
decorating the graves OF comrades
Who died in defense OF their country {
Turing the late rebellion. and whose
bodies now lie In almost every city,
'illage and hamlet church yard in {
he land. In this observance no
orm of ceremony Is prescribed. but
,osts and comrades will, in their
'wn way arrange such fitting SER
ices and testimonials OF respect as Z
circumstances may permit"
At the national eneampment in :
$40 the following article WIS !
ldopted as part OF the rules AMI
''The national eneampment here- !
" establishes Memorial Day, to #
10 observed by the members OF the ;
irand Army of the Republic. on the
10Th day of May annually, in com !
nemoration of tho deeds of our fal- \
EN- comrades. When such day oc. \
urs on Sunday the succeeding day =
hall be observed. exc pt. where by
egal enactment, the preceding day =
> made legal holiday. when such I
ay sbap be observed"
AT first the observance of the day 1
'as confined almost wholly 10 the y
!. A. r. but the custom has grown I
ntil of late years II has become :
ational in its observance, Thus >
as custom inaugurated by the sur +
ivors OF the Civil War become OF '
ach general observance that the =
raves OF deceased soldiers in the
verage cemetery seem neglected