The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-06-09

yitations, widely scattered, on the
same date, only the first one could
| be accepted. II would be a saving
Of time, money, and disappointment
II few posts desiring visit from
the department commander would
arrange a succession of meetings
that could be covered by one trip.
Let me say here that the day for the
department commander to visit
large number of posts has gone by,
for railroads grant no more privil-
eyes as in other days, and IL asked
to do so hide behind state and inter
state laws so that no more free tick
cts are given to National or State
Encampments nor passes for the Wis
iting of posts.
Realizing that the funds of the de-
partment treasury were diminishing,
and that it could never again be what
it once was by its natural income
sources, we resolved to run the bus
mess OF the department in a most
economical manner, the success of
which will be seen by the report of
our assistant quartermaster general
Years ago my attention was called
department headquarters by New
Hampshire, Massachusetts and other
states, and the good results there
from. If the headquarters of this de
partment were established in the
state house at Montpelier, 1t would be
a greater convenience and a saving
| of time and money, and we recon-
mend, as did Col. A. G.. Brown, that
| 1t be SO done.
Many of the northern states, whose
G.. A. X. departments are much
| stronger than ours, are voting mon
| ey to help defray the expenses of
| their departments. At our last legis-
lature our assistant adjutant general
caused a bill to be introduced asking
| that the small sum of $500 be given
to our department to help pay for
| our printing. This was voted down.
| We believe it would be we'll for this
| department to pass a resolution ask
ing the next legislature to pass a bill
of this nature.
After the Sulloway Pension Bill
was treated so generously in the
House at Washington, d. c., and was
receiving such wonderful and loyal
support by many of the legislatures
of the northern states, sent tele-
gram TO our senators asking them in
behalf of the department of Vermont,
G.. A. r., to stand by the bill. Our
junior senator replied with an ambig-
uous letter not committing himself
to the measure, and the senior Sen
ator made no reply. This was a
righteous bill and would have afford
ed relief to many needy and deserv-
ing comrades.
Posts
Our posts are standing Loyalty by
the Grand Army of the Republic
Some posts have not members
enough to fill all the offices but no
charters have been surrendered to
us. Though the last great enemy OF
time is depicting our ranks in a
frightful manner yet our comrades
touch elbows and march steadily on
towards the declining western sun
which leads to the eternal camping
grounds of our comrades who have
gone on before As they march on
ward their brows are crowned with
honor, their banners wreathed with
victory, their hands scattering friend
ship charity and loyalty, their hearts
exemplifying an undying comradeshil
and their lives are blessing the earth
with lessons of devotion to country
no surrender of principle, eternal
vigilance, and pure and undeiled pa
triotism.
State Soldiers Home
Twice during the year we visited
our state Soldiers Home in Benning
ton. We were welcomed by the
large hearted commandant, comradt
Thomas Harmon and his estimablC
and very helpful wife, the matron
After inspection we found that the
comrade inmates were we'll housed
we'll clothed, well taken care of, sew
eral being in the hospital, and We
fear they were too well fed for the
amount of exercise taken. While
meats and other things were ISSUED
: in abundance there was no system
for exercise without which the body
is liable to become congested Undue
!, ing irritable dispositions, disease anC
J premature death, so that for those
. | who are able a certain amount of ex
ercise prescribed would be beneficial
, | Not only are the comrades well care(
/ for but the garden and farm ar,
, | equally wen taken care of. We arr
J glad so many comrades can have thu
benefit of such good home and W.
; realize full well that the best is none
? too good for the comrades of the Civ
, Il War
Woman's Relief Corps
The Woman's Relief Corps hai
proven itself true handmade anC
, | helpmeet all these years to tn,
posts of the Grand Army of the Re
public. They have placed us unde
everlasting honor and gratitude L
them, for their efficiency, watchfu
care and helpfulness, and their heart
, may well swell with pride at thei
, honorable achievement. One corp
) whose post has ceased to exist, still
! | remains faithful and its president
, Belle NJ. billiard, Kearney Corps, M
81, Wallingford, sends her quarterl!
, report to the department commando
regularly. We believe If the w r
, c. would make a united, special et
J fort to bring in the veterans thu
Grand Army could be recruited NOR,
/ largely than in any other way ant
we bespeak their earnest trial in thi
/ dire ton. We wish to sincerel.
: thank them for their kindness ant
= support.
The Ladies' of the Grand Army
The ladies' of the G.. A. r. are
newer oraniZation but are endeavoI