The Goldfield news and weekly tribune. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1911-1947, 1914-09-12
MAKES PLEA FOR
SONG OF NATION
HEAD OF GRAND ARMY WANTS
1T PERPETUATED WITHOUT
ALLOY

DETROIT, Mich, Sept. IL. - A
plea for the perpetuatioE of The
Star Spapgled Banner" as the Amer
lean anthem, without alloy, was
made fervently by Washington Gard
ner, commander-in-chief of the
Grand Army of the Republic, in his
address before the forty-eighth na-
tional encampment of that organiza-
ton here yesterday.
He urged the old soldiers to join
in a movement to pay special honor
to this song, and to discountenance
the practice of playing it in medley
with such "fippant and compare
lively meaningless ditties" as Yam
kee Doodle" and when Johnnie
Comes Marching Home" He said
there was something inspiring in IN
audience rising and standing meow
cred at the majestic strains of the
national anthem, but it was Gin
congruous, bordering eve on the
ludicrous" for the band to strike up
some other national air in medley
with this, and to observe the audi
ence sitting in IAN irregular,
half-ashamed manner" 1t we're
better not to rise at all when the ma,
tional hymn is played in medley, he
said.
A recommendation that permanent
headquarters for the G.. A.. r. be es-
tablished in Washington was anoth-
er point of his address. Chicago
and Philadelphia had been proposed,
but he preferred the national npi-
tai, and thought that If possible the
necessary space should be secured
in a government building where the
officers could keep closely in touch
with matters before congress which
affected the Grand Army.
A standing committee of seven
persons, with the commander-in-
chief and ad%jutant general o fthe G.
A. r., as exofficio members. he also
recommended, principally for the
purpose of taking charge of all the
legislation which had the endorse
ment of the order. He said that
such a committee would "concen-
trate responsibility. reduce expense
and give promise of better results"
GAS it is now" he continued, "the
committees having to do with pro-
posed legislation number, In their
aggregate, nearly ten times seven
and are widely separated. 1t is diff
ficult to have a general meeting!
ave at large expense to the order or
to the individuals. Under the pres
ent arrangement responsibility is
too widely diffused and members
too rarely brought together for con-
%sultation and concert of action.
He urged that no change be made
In the method of management of
the soldiers homes which are scat
tered throughout the United States.
Concerning the matter, he said:
mot a single complaint has come
to the knowledge of the commander
in-chief from any member of any
home during this administrative
year. 1t is known that an effort is
being made to place these homes,
HOW uuuoT tuo care anu SupcTNlSlOH
of our comrades. subject to the ap-
prevail of the war department, into
the custody of men who never saw
military service in actual war and
whose sympathies are not so likely
to be directed toward our comrades
in their declining years. This
seems to be a case of wheer the old
rule. let well enough alone, will
apply. This encampment, in my
Judgment, should say to congress
that the Grand Army of the Repub-
lie is decidedly against the proposed
change"
The present membership, in good
standing, was reported as 171,335.
During the year the roll was curtail-
ed by the death of 11,1S7 old SOL
diers, but Notwithstanding this large
figure. it is ISL less than died during
the preceding year.