Omaha daily bee., 1914-09-04
MAKES PLEA FOR ANTHEM
Commander Of G. A. R. to Perpetuate
Star-Spangled Banner.
PERMANENT HEADQUARTERS
Would Have Head OFFICES In wash
inEton, where Leaders Could
Keep in Touch with All Pro
posed Legislation.

DETROIT, Mich, Sept "A plea for
the perpetuation OF The star Spangled
Banner" as the American anthem, with
out alloy, was made fervently by Wash
ington Gardner, commendcr-in-chiet "
tho Grand Army of the Republic IN his
address before the forty -eighth national
encampment of that organization here to-
day.
He urged the old soldiers TO Join in a
movement to pay special honor to this
song. and TO discountenance the practice
OF playing II In medley with such Zip
pant and comparatively meaningless dit
ties" as Yankee Doodle" and when
Johnnie Comes Marching Home" lie
said there was something inspiring In an
audience rising and standing uncovered
at the majestic strains OF the national
anthem, but It was "incongruous. border
Ing 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 irregular,
half-sshamed manner" II were better
not TO rise at all when the national hymn
is played in medley, he said.
Permanent Headquarters.
a recommendation that permanent
headquarters for the Grand Army OF tho
Republic be established in Washington
was another point in his address. Chi
cago and Philadelphia had been proposed.
but he preferred the national capital.
and thought that II possible the neces-
sery space should be secured in a gov
ernment 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 adju-
! tant general of the Grand Army Of the
Republic, as ex-officio members. he also
recommended principally for the purpose
of taking charge of all legislation which
had tho endorsement of the order. He
said that such a committee would CON
centrate responsibility, reduce expense
and give promise of better results"
! las IL is now" he continued, tho
committees having TO do with proposed
| legislation, number, in the aggregate,
nearly ten times seven and are widely
separated 1t is difficult to have gem
eral meeting, save at large expense to
the order or TO the individuals. Under
the present arrangement, responsibility
| is too widely diffused and members too
rarely brought together for consultation
and concert of action.
on Soldiers Homes.
lie urged that no change be made in
\ the method of management of the SOL
ders' homes which are scattered through
out the United States Concerning the
matter. he said:
! Not a single complaint has come to the
| knowledge of the chief
| from any member of any home during
this administrative year. 1t is known
that an effort is being made to place
these homes, now under the care and
supervision of our comrades, subject to
the approval of the War department, into
the custody of men who never saw mill
tary service in actual war and whose
sympathies are not SO likely to be d.
rected toward our comrades. in their de-
clining years. This seems to be a case
| where the old rule, Let we'll enough
alone will apply. This encampment, in
my judgment. should say to coEgtess that
the Grand Army of the Republic is de-
cidedly against the proposed change"
The present membership, in good stand
ing, was reported as III, SS5 During the
year the roll was curtailed by the death
of Ills old soldiers, but notwith standing
this large figure, 1t is 151 less than dl I'd
during the preceding year.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 3-The position
of the old British frigate Minden IN Balti-
more harbor. aboard which Francis Scott
Key wrote the Star Spangled Banner
after the bombardment of Fort Henry, lOr
years ago is to be marked by a buoy. II
will be known as the Star Spangied Ban
ner buoy" and probably will be placed IN
position tomorrow by the lighthouse
service.