Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-09-04
Plea FOR Per-
PETUATI0N OF "STAR
SPANcLED BANNER
AS Our National Anthem Made
by Washington Gardner, Com
mander-in-Chief of the Grand
Army of the Republic

Detroit. Mich, Sept. "a plea for
the perpetuation of The Star Span
gled Banner as the American anthem,
without alloy, was made fervently by
Washington Gardner, commander-in
chief of the Grand Army of the Re-
public, in his address before the 4Sth
national encampment of that organiza-
ton here today.
He urged the old soldiers to join in
a movement to pay special honor to
this song, and to 1iscountenance the
practice of playing it in melody with
such .flippant and comparatively
meaningless ditties" as Yankee Doc
die and when Johnnie Comes
Marching Home. He said there was
something inspiring in an audience ris-
ing and standing uncovered at the ma
jestic strains of the national anthem,
but 1t was ''incongruous, bordering
even on the ludicrous' for the band to
strike up some other national air in
medley with this, and to observe the
audience resume sitting in IAN irregu-
lar, half-ashamed manner" 1t were
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-
tablisfed in Washington was another
point of his address. Chicago and Phil
adelphia had been proposed, but he
preferred the national capital, and
thought that il possible the necessary
space should be secured in a govern
ment building where the officers could
keep closely in touch with matters
before congress which affected the
Grand Army.
standing committee of seven per-
sons, with the COMMUNICATIVE chief and
adJutant general of the G.. A. r.. as ex-
offlcio members, he also recommend
ed principally for the purpose of talk
ing charge of all legislation which had
the endorsement of tho order He said
That such committee would .'concen-
trate responsibility, reduce expense
ana give promise of better results"
AS 1t is now" he continued. the
committees having to do with propos-
ed legislation. number, in the agcre-
gate, nearly ten times seven and are
widely separated. It is difficult to have
general meeting, save at large ex-
pense to the order or to the indivi6u-
ais. Under the present arrangement
responsibility is too widely diftpsed
ana members too rarely brought to-
gether for consultation and concert of
action. %
He urged that no change be uasa
IN the method of MANAGEMENT of the
soldiers homes which are scattered
throughout the United States. Con-
corning the matter, he said.
NOT single complaint has coma
10 the knowledge of the commander
ih-chief from any member of am,
nome during this administrative vnar
y IS known that an effort is being
iia'ie 10 place these homes. now unde,.
the care and supervision of our .,o,,,
rades, subject to the apurova1 ~ ~
, W department, into the custody of
men VINO never saw military service
III aetuai war and whose sympatbias
are net so likely to be directed toward
ouf comrades, in their decIinins, vearc
s seems to be case where the
oio rule, Let well enough alone. Lii
apply. This encampment. in NV i,da
llieii'' should say to Congress thar H.
aha army of the Republic is decid-
euIS against the proposed chance ;,
me present membership in 30,
standing, was reported &C -, 90 Soou
ms ms .ne year the roll was curtailed bv
e aeath OF 1l,1S7 old soldiers hnt
~.'iiStahdlng this large figure -
Is iol less than died during the M
ceding year. she pre-