The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1910-09-22
Commander n-Chief Van SAINT Of
GAR. Expresses Gratifica-
tion Of Evidences Of
Friendship
FLAG DAY and MEMORIAL DAY
In Address Givon Today Before Vet
Grams, He Urges Better Observ-
ance OF Memorial Day and
Recognition Of Flag Day.

AtldntiC Clty, ~. D., to'pt' 80 N'''
prehensively reviewing the work OF
the Grand Army of the Republic in the
nation for the past year during which
he has acted as its head. Commander
in-Chief Samuel r. Van SAINT today
addressed the delegates to the forty
fourth National Encampment as well,
with an eye to the future good that
the great organization might accom-
plish as upon the notable achieve
ments of its past.
He paid a fine tribute to the SOL
diers OF the confederacy, and express
ed his qualification at the increasing
determination of the blue" and the
Gray.
while tue roll of the Grand Army
is steadily shortening. the Comman-
der-in- Chief urged that every effort
be made to keep the organization up
TO it's fullest possible strength. lie
quoted the figures showing that the
q. A. II. at the beginning of the pres
ent year had still 213,9Ol members
In good standing, as against 2ZO'ooo
at the beginning of 1909. The loss
during the year was 6,7S1, of which
5.323 was by death. The commander
urged that recruiting measures pe
taken among the large number OF
former Union soldiers who are not
enrolled as Grand Army members
The speaker noted better generai
ob~ervance of Memorial Day thah
formerly. "Let US insist and do all In
our power." he said, "that Memorlai
Day shall be devoted solely and only
To the purpose for which ii was Great
ed. Let Il be the one day of the year
devoted to honoring our deafness
dead, for I'm the way we will teach the
rising generation love of country
without which our Nation cannot long
survive" lie also urged the generai
co-operation of G.. A. X. members III
inducing a general observance of Flag
Day.
Commands Auxiliary Bodies.
Commander in Chief Van SAINT had
commendation for the work OF all the
O. A. r. Auxiliaries. praising the eN-
cellent work being done by the Wohi-
ans Relief Corps, Ladies OF the u a
r.. Sons of Veterans and DaughterS
of Veterans. or the Sons of veterans
he said.-
This can be made a sun srahue'
organization. 1t Is constontiy nlcrea'
ing i'm numbers and influence me
Sons of Veterans with proper ehco"r
agement should soon be the iarges'
patriotic body of men in the Wol,u
That II may Is my earnest WISH. l.o
Sons of Veterans should have all tne
announcement possible from th'
Grand Army of the Repubii'.
matter of great satisfaction ina. VI,
Sons meet with us this yeaf. ''us'
our National Encampment may III 'h'
future be held at the same time aho
i'm the same place.
OF the more liberal pension iesis''
tion recommended by the last ahhu"
encampment and urged at Washiis
ton by its committee, Commahoer -"
Chief Van SAINT said:-
Bill Failed to Pass.
"I regret that nothing was accon"p
Iished. but IL was no fault of the Com
mittee. Congress would not pass an!
general pension legislation. Moreover
some six thousand private pehsio'
bills were enacted. The Commute
canvassed the matter industriousi'
with Senators and Representative
but to no purpose. The GoVcrhiioN
WAS facing a deficiency in its reVen
ues and retrenchment and the stric,
est economy was the -""'o""o''
This was the reason given LOT hoi'
action. In my judgement, In view =
tho changed financial affairs, II thi
Encampment should again recommeh
this measure, 1t would likely pass.
"The Grand Army of the Repuo"
b,s over stood for the recognition
the services of It's members resaio
less of length of service,-the hihe'
DAVIS man as well as the veteran WI
served throughout the war III VI
former did not start in line Oh pa''''
he stood In the line of duty al
should hayesjust consideration"
The Commander in Chief express'
himself as particularly gratihed
the increasing fraternization OF u
blue and the Gray" He voiceu II
pleasure at the cordial reception gi'
en- him during his recent official Wis
to the Southern departments, not on
from the former Union soldiers, o.
from ex-Confederates.
Urges Joint Meetings.
I'm all cities, when possible,
said. II urged joint meetings OF u
Blue and the Gray. We had maj