Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-05-30
Congressman Tavenner Advo-
Gates Legislation in Memo
rial Day Address.
SPEAKS AT BATTLE GROUND
Death Rate of War Survivors Now
Higher Than at Times Wnehs
Struggle Was in Progress.
Especial to The Argus)

! TO-DAY delivered an address at the Mem
orial day exercises held at Battle
Ground cemetery, Maryland, under the
auspices of Sheridan post No. s, G. A
! r. He said in part:
SOLDIERS, Ladies and Gentlemen
| When / was asked by that great friend
of the soldiers, General Isaac r. Sher.
wood chairman of the committee on
| pensions of the house of representa-
| tives, to accompany him to this sacred
spot today to add my humble tribute
to the old soldiers, living and dead.
who offered their homes, their for
tunes, and their lives. II that should be
necessary, to preserve this republic. /
said | would do so with pleasure-
meant it,
Once more the old blue ranks are
joined today in every hamlet. village
and town north of the Mason and Dix
on line. With flies and drums sound
ing, the remnant of the Grand Army
comes down the street. 1t is Memo
rial day. rE
Again the old boys have met al
the post hall. 1t is not such a numer
Gus company as met there ten years
aggo or five, or even last year. But 1t
is still BILL and Tom, and 'Comrade,
with heartiness that even age can
not take away. There are solicitous
inquiries after health. Hands clasp
silently in reunion. Many are wonder
ing whose place in the parade will be
vacant next year, next Memorial day.
Jim is beginning to look feeble Sans
always so erect, are begin
ming to have an involuntary stoop in
them.
More Flags Needed. 1
1.-The Relief Corps has been busy for
several days. But now, most of the
active work of preparation has been
done by the grandchildren of the vet
Grams. The grandsons have been out
in the woods gathering flowers. The
granddaughters have arranged the me-
mortal baskets and bouquets, and
grandchildren this year have placed
the marker flags in the cemetery. They
used more flags this year than ever
before.
AT last the parade starts. Its mill
tary appearance is kept up this year
by the presence of Spanish War veter- .
ans and the Boy Scouts. But the chief
interest is in the brave little band of
Grand Army men. There is a pitiful
attempt, but unsuccessful, to appear
in uniform. With most, the uniform
consists merely of the black felt hat
with its gold braid. With some il is
merely the gold buttons in suits of
brown, black and gray. While a very
few still wear the blue suits. brass but
tons, felt hat and all.
Most of them still make brave at
.empt to be military in bearing. But
for all but a few the exertion is ter
rife. Some still have their buoyant
step, but for most the march is hating
and painful. And some, who have al
ways marched before this year. are
'iding in carriages and automobiles,
NO wonder that in the average
small northern town eyes are wet with
ears as they watch the old Grand
Army march by again. The faces in
he line are mostly known to ALL, and
some are missed. The town knows the
tory of all of them.
1900 Die Monthly.
Il have a purpose In making these
this Memorial day The point
wish to make is that the Grand Army
S going. and going rapidly. Each
month now at the pension office in
1000 names are struck
rom the roll with the grim word dead
losing each pension account. Four
thousand a month. These men who
vent forth to give their lives for the
nion 81 years ago hardly fell on the
'attle fields and in the fever hospitals
t that rate.
The country needs a new sense of
ne great debt owed to these men. The
ountry owes it to this dwindling band
o smooth out their declining years. II
ught to be easier for them to get their
ensions. They ought not TO be sub
ected to the annoying delays and red
ape that they have been subjected to
n the past. Their pensions ought to
e bigger-a dollar a day is not too
luch, Moreover, pensions ought to be
aid more frequently There has been
Introduced in congress a bill providing
or monthly instead of quarterly pay
nent of pensions, and ! hope II will
ass. Time flies. Whatever is TO be
one for the boys in bue must and
hould be done quickly"