The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1911-06-15
.ENCAMP MENT ENDED
Hiram J. Smith of Racine is
Formally Elected Dept.
Commander of G. A. R.
SEEK A HIGHER PATRIOTIS.

Hiram j. Smith of Racine, was elect,
ed commander of the Wisconsin de-
partment, g., A. r., ct the annual elec-
tion, held at Green Bay on Thursday.
Other officers elected were: j. w.
Hinkley, senior vice commander; E. O..
Kimberly of Evansville, junior vice
commander; Dr.. Il. 7. Bird, surgeon !;
Z. M. Dryden, chaplain; Philip Cheek
ard John w. Graves, trustees of the
Wisconsin Veterans home.
The next encampment will be held
at Amigo
Upon their retirement from Office
Department Commander Walsh, Chief
Of Staff George L. Harreds, Adit. Gen.
J. A. Watrous and Master of Transpor-
tation John w. Graves were presented
with beautiful diamond studded BADGES
of recognition of their work.
With most of the business of the
encampment completed, adjournment
was taken at noon today. Thursday
evening following a big parade in the
afternoon, camp fire was held and
thirty-five speakers talked to students
in twenty schools.
The declaration that there has been
carefully prepared plan in many
states to violate the spirit Of Memorial
day by giving wor1horse parades, by
Department Commander +. A. Walsh in
his annual address was the feature Of
Thursday s session of the encampnent.
He also declared that he had reason
to believe that this would not occur
again in Wisconsin,
More and more the general pub
lie is taking interest in Memorial day.
This year, in every northern state, the
day has been observed in manner so
general and so effective that we may
feel that for centuries Memorial day
will not be overlooked by the American
people.
cit may be unreasonable to expect
that everybody, throughout the whole
day, will give attention to the great
central thought leading to the estab-
lishment of the Memorial custom
that of honoring the memory of the
multitude who gave their lives that the
union might be saved. There Will be
family gatherings, picnic parties, inno-
cent games and other amusements be-
cause it is a general holiday.
"These the Grand Army of the Re
public would do itself discredit by pro-
nouncing against and insisting that
they should not occur, but when it is
attempted to introduce features on that
day that will distract general atten-
ton and naturally render less impress
sive the legitimate ceremonies Of the
day, the Grand Army of the Republic
not only has a right to protest with
vigor, but il owes it to itself, the state,
nation, and coming generations, to
protest
During the last few years there
seems to have been carefully laid plan
in some of the states to make Memorial
day the day upon which to give a
great horse show in the way of a
parade. The attempt has been made
to introduce the custom in the west.
Until this year no protest has been
made by the Grand Army of the Re
public.
In Chicago, few weeks ago, when
it was announced that the horse show
would take place OH the same day and
on the same line of march the Grand
Army had chosen, almost without lex
ception the posts in that great city
protested and declared that if there
was to be horse show parade on their
proposed line of march they would omit
the soldiers parade. The public has
come to look for parade of the vet
Grams on that day There is reason to
believe that in our state there will
never again be an attempt to make
such an innovation.