Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1909-11-12
GENERAL ORDERS NO. 3
Issued by Dr.. A. s. Stewart, Department,
Commander South Dakota Grand
Army Of the Republic.
Makes Urgent PIE. For Veteran. Thu
out the State to Take More Interest
in Grand Army Work.

The following General Orders No. 3,
was issued by A. S. Stewart, depart.
ment commander of the South Dakota
G. A. r. last month and is a plea to all
old veterans to build up the work of
the Grand Army in this state. The
ranks are fast thinning out but the
spirit of '6l should not be allowed to
deminish according to DR. Stewart, who
is one OF the most patriotic men in
the state.
III wish to call the attention of
all comrades to the fact that there are
many localities west of the Missouri
river, especially in the northwest part
OF the state, where new posts could and
should be organized. Many veterans
are taking advantage OF the splendid
opportunities to secure homes in South
Dakota. All alert and energetic COM
rades should act Is skirmishers, having
in view the capture of all newcomers
and get them on the firing line in the
G. A. r. We need reinforcement.
Victory in the achievement Of the
we'll known objects of the G. A. r. is
| the desire Of all comrades and to this
end let us make determined forward
move all along the line for the increase
of our diminishing membership, and l
! wish now to impress on the minds of
all comrades and especially that of Post
Commanders and their subordinates,
the necessity Tor united and utmost
effort to secure new members and the
regular attendance of Post meetings of
those who have become careless and
who seem to have lost all interest in the
G. A. r. REMIT the dues of suspend
ed members and create new interest in
Post meetings. This may be done in
various ways. Campfires and enter
tainments Of various kinds may be
given and if taken hold of with the
! right kind of vim and push, will prove
successful, and it is we'll to remind the
comrades that our numerical strength
is power not realized by all and when
properly used, is L ow, as in the past, of
great benefit to ali old soldiers.
| 1t is we'll known fact that the G. A.
r. have originated and secured the
passage of every pension law, of which
the veterans are the benehciaries, in
our statute books today and thousands
OF ex-soldiers have been benefited
\ akr, knt
sustain the G. A. II 1t is we'll to here
consider the remarks of Past Command
er-in- Chief Robert B. Beath, who said,
"The Grand Army of the Republic, in
its benefcient career of over forty
years, has been of incaloulable service
to all the veterans of the war for the
Union and has been the means of con-
ferring benefits upon hundreds of
thousands who have failed to show
their appreciation by personal service
in the order. 1t is for the outsider to
consider whether in remaining out.
side, they have given their working
comrades square deal, and all these
years they have lost the great benefit
of meeting their comrades in the Post
room. The loss is theirs" Equally
(, pertinent in regard to this matter are
the remarks OF Past Commander in
Chief Robert b. Brown, who said, 81
challenge the right of any surviving
defender of the Republic, eligible to
our ranks, to longer refuse the right
and the duty to worthily wear the
little bronze button and the five point
ed star of the Grand Army of the Re
public. Membership is not matter
OF sentiment but holy obligation
resting upon those who stood on the
i firing line in the sixties. No ex.soldier
or sailor should lightly put away the
obligation which rests upon his soul, il
he be mindful of the fraternities of the
days when he was proud to stand for
the flag rand the right" Many of our
comrades seem to have forgotten that
they ever stood for anything and do
not realize the helpfulness of even
their presence in the Post room.
II all our comrades could have
witnessed tie inspiring scenes in the
parade OF their comrades at the
National Enoamnmont In Gait roL.