The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1908-03-27
@. A. II. Matters.

Dy Col. fOrter ATmblrOuB, Coiuiuduo-
er of Geo. H. Thomas Post. It IL
from A. M. Rowe, commander of the
department of the state of Idaho, and
speaks we'll of the Thomas Post.
McCammon, Ida, Feb. Is, '08.
| Col. Porter Armstrong.
Blackfoot, Ida.
Dear Comrade and Commander:
The department commander desir-
ed to congratulate the comrades OF
the Geo. H. Thomas Post % on the
excellent condition and standing OF
the post, and (2) on the fact that the
membership of the department OF
Idaho is gaining.
The semi-annual report just sent
to national headquarters shows a
good increase.
The department commander will
delay the publication in book form.
of the roster of the complete mem
bership of the department of Idaho
until April 18th, to give each post
two months time in which to present
claim to the army of the Grand Re-
public to each veteran Of the civil
war living in its territory and secure
if possible, his application if not al
ready member.
That this book may contain the
names of ex-soldiers of the civil war
living in Blackfoot and vicinity, al
low the department commander to
urge each comrade of Geo. H.
Thomas Post to open at once a G. A.
r. recruiting Office on the streets of
Blackfoot or where ever he can get a
civil war veteran that does not be-
long to the Grand Army of the Re-
public.
May we also suggest that the Post
at once appoint a committee to make
a systematic canvass of Blackfoot for
recruits that the department of Ida
no may grow more in membership
in the next two months than it has
in the last five years.
This can be done by presenting
to the prospective recruits what the
G. A. R. has done in the past and will
do in the future for the ex-soldiers
of the greatest event in the history
of the greatest nation in the world.
This committee should go forth
armed with application blanks and
with abundant reasons why each ex-
soldier should be a member of the G.
A. R. Some OF. the reasons are as
follows:
l.. The G.. A. R. Is such a grand
and honorable organization as to be
honored by our entire country for its
character, noble spirit and patriot
ism.
2. To be member of it is to be
badge of honor. The right to join
this grand organization is a privilege
for. which many men would give their
thousands.
To this right the old soldier beA
came entitled only by laying his life
and his all on the altar of his coun-
try.
Each old soldier owes it to his
children, for not to be a member Of
the G. A. r. casts a suspicion in the
minds of many, on ones military rec
ord. A soldier who dies outside its
folds robs his children of an inheri-
lance which will grow more valuable
as the years increase. To be an &C
tive member in the G. A. s. shows the
proud fact that you have an honor
able discharge from your country's
service.
3. That each soldier drawing a
pension is largely indebted to the G..
A. S. for its constant efforts and sue
cess in having pensions granted and
increased.
4. That every ex-soldier of the
civil war should join the G.. A. R.
for the sake of his own history and
memory, they are both maintained
and kept alive by the G.. A. R. in a
manner not possible by any other
means. The military record of SER
vices is kept by the post for the liv-
ing and the dead. Each year the
graves of our departed comrades are
visited and decorated.
S. The work of the G. A. R. is
wholly for the good of all old SOL
diers and their families. The G.. A.
R. of Idaho secured the passage of
a law by the last legislature exempt
ing veterans of the civil war from
taxation to the amount of $1,000.
This naturally frees the veterans
home from taxes. Is 1t not the duty
of all ex-soldiers to join the G.. A. r.
this unselfish work?
and IN aid their former com ra des IN