The Washington herald., 1913-04-27
By JOHN MURPHY.

st4 The question Is often asked, what are
the purposes and objects Of. and what.
II any, benefits are derived by former
oficer or enlisted man of the army, vol
unteer or regular, navy and marine corps.
] becoming a member of the United Span
ish War Veterans?
In this article shall endeavor to an
swer the question, and while doing so.
set forth the reasons for. the organiza-
ton of the Gen. M Emmett Urell Camp.
No. 8.
TIE United Spanish War Veterans Is
national organization composed of COM
rades who served in the army, navy or
Marine Corps of the United States during
the war with Spain, the Philippine insur-
rection, the Chinese Relief Expedition Of
1900, or between April q. 1898 and July 4
1902. Shortly after the war a number
fof small organizations sprang up in diff
ferent parts of the country, all having
the same objects and purposes, and ii soon
became evident that the benefits would be
multiplied by the formation OF one organ
ization. working under a national head.
In 1904 the Spanish War Veterans, the
panish-American War Veterans, and the
'rvice Men Of the Spanish War amalga-
ted under the name of United Span
War Veterans. In 1906 the Legion of
nish War Veterans, an important as
ctation, having its stronghold in Mas
" husetts, became affiliated Herewith.
nd in 1908 the Veteran Army Of the
h, ippines, located in the Philippine Is
IDS, added Its quota, so that today the
ited Spanish War Veterans stands as
e recognized representative organiza-
IN Of the veterans of the Spanish-Ameri-
n war. Departments and camps there
are organized in nearly every State in
ne Union, Hawaii, Alaska, Panama. Cuba,
nd the Philippine Islands, and British
olumbia-
Objects of OrRanizatfon.
The objects of the organization are to
Unite In fraternal bonds, through national. |
State and local organizations, those men |
who served in the military naval es- |
Establishments of the United States of |
America in the war with Spain, and in |
the campaigns incidental to and growing |
out of that war; to honor the memory I
and preserve from neglect and oblivion |
the graves Of the dead; to assist former |
comrades and shipmates, their widows, |
. orphans or dependent relatives, such as
need help, encouragement and protection.
to perpetuate the memories of the war
with Spain and the campaign in the
Philippine Islands and in China, and to
collect and preserve the records of indi-
| vidual service OF the members of this or
gantzation; to promote the best interests
II those who took part in the war with
Spain and the campaigns in the Philip
inc Islands and in China in the service
rinciples of universal liberty equal
lights and justice to all mankind Of
'yalty to our country; reverence for its
4 Institutions, obedience to its laws and re- !
| spect for its magistrates, and to discount
tenance whatever tends to weaken these
sentiments among our people; to conserve
national honor and union through unquali-
fed allegiance to the national govern
ment, and to protect the constitutional
rights and liberties of American citizens
While requiring of every member of this
organization that he shall perform his
FULL duty as citizen, agreeably to his
conscience and to the best of his under
standing, this organization is non-parti-
san, and must not be used for political
purposes or the promotion of the candi-
dacy of any person fer political office,
and no discussion of partisan questions is
permitted at any of its conventions or
meetings.
Members Big Advantages.
Its membership is made up entirely Of !
soldiers and sailors, who, like ourselves, |
in a national emergency volunteered in ,
the service of their country.
If we desire employment every comrade
is back Of us ready to give us all possible |
help, and as many Of them stand high in
their communities, and have a national
reputation, their influence is oftentimes q
invaluable. r
If We desire to enter the civil service r
we are given preference over our COM
petitors. in many States.
We are admitted to National and State I
Soldiers Home r
We are placed on an equal footing g
with the Civil War Veterans, both North / O
and South, and when they nave an 4
swered their last bugle call our organi- F
cation will take up the work where i,
they left it. and carry il on until we q
too have answered the last roll CALL Y
We are permitted to wear the bronze | il
lapel button which is the emblem of the V
United Spanish War Veterans, and which n
is so universally recognized as such that c.
a man who wears it and is not entitled fl
to do SO is liable to fine or imprison- h
Iment. This button also serves as an "
Introduction in strange place and in e
sures a welcome to the wearer wherever | a
there is camp of the U. S. w. v. "
We also are entitled to wear our uni &c
form, which, in its harmonious blending
of the blue and the gray. typiies the
completion OF the union of the North to
and South and the leveling of factionaI ii
barriers in the universal response to our hi
country's call. Lin
We were proud to serve our country in
in 1882 Are we not still proud of that W
service? Then why not wear an en- &C
blem and a uniform which Enthusiastically IL
II we were officers, we know that most CO
Of us owed our commissions to the en- his
listed men. We probably often told them s,
how proud we were to command ana I'll
lead them. Were we sincere? If so. ii,
prove it by showing ourselves as will to
ing to associate with them now as we to
were in '9S. in
II we were enlisted, let us prove to m
our officers and comrades that we can be
be as good a soldier or sailor, comrade ar
and shipmate, in peaceful times as we on
we're in war times. in
II We were among those who were tic
to spend their time in the
lrfli camp, it was not our fault, nor W:
lid it make us less soldier. We were ur
'eady and anxious to go to the front, nc
md found ii harder to remain behind co
han if We had been sent where the lif
lighting was hottest. But we obeyed di
,rders. the first duty of a soldier. The ur
recognizes this, and makes CO
10 distinction between those who were in,
10 fortunate as to assist in a battle and tn
hose who never saw the enemy. pc
When we have answered the call of :
he great Commander. We will be paid m,
he last honors of a soldier-a soldiers tn
urial. Our camp will see that we are dis
aid to rest under the starry flag which of
re sclemnly swore to defend, send floral We
8erfnrs and arcompapv oyr reu,sips We