The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-01-11
VETERANS MAKE PROTEST
Grand Army Men Against
Removal of Comrade From
Responsible Position.

At special meeting Of Fred VIM
throp Post No. II, department Of Mon.
tapa. Grand Army Of the Republic,
held at O'Clock wednesday afternoon.
January TO-. 1917. at the city hall in
MissOnia. Montana. to consider the
matter Of the bin which is now pend
ing in the Montana legislature. that
has for its purpose the displacement
of member Of the Grand Army OF the
Republic as commandment OF the Mon
tana Soldiers Home at Columbia Falls.
after full and regretful consideration
and discussion OF the whole matter.
the following resolutions were unani.
monsly adopted bv the membership Of
Fred Winthrop Post No. II:
Whereas. 4 bill has now been in
troduced in the present Montana Leg
islaturc. that has for it's avowed pur-
than n member OF the Grand Army of
the Republic to take charge Of the old
soldiers who now make their home Mt
the asylum provided for them by the
Resolved, That the members OF this
Grand Army post do hereby enter our
emphatic protest against this move
ment to GUST the veterans Of the Civil
war from holding one OF the very few
remaining positions that II has been
their pride to fiji with credit TO their
organization and honor to the state Of
which they are citizens.
We believe that il would he an net
OF Injustice 10 the memory Of the
Grand Army Of the Republic. both
living and dead. to have promoted over
them, men Of a younger generation to
have supervision and control and rank
over them during the few remaining
years allotted to the survivors OF the
men who fought with Grant at the
Wilderness or rallied to Sheridan's
immortal ride.
We realize full we'll that our ranks
are fast thinning and the answers to
the roll calls are fewer In number
with each passing year, but at the
same time we do resent the insinua :
ton that out of 900 men in Montana
who still carry the bronze button In
the lapel of their coats as badge OF
honor and Of service to their country
in the great day of her need. that none
OF them are still fitted to discharge
the duties Of commandant at the Sol
iiers' Home. where s5 per cent of the
inmates were comrades in arms with
us a half century ago
1t Is not the mere matter Of holding
a position of honor and trust by enc
of our members that calls forth these
our resolutions against the passage OF
the proposed act Of the legislature, but
the larger sentiment involved. that {
measure Of this kind can but call tt
our attention the fact that the legis'
lative representatives Of this STATE
would thus publicly proclaim our i'm
potence and infirmatives.
We can but believe that the intro
duction OF the bill in question wa!
more in the nature of hasty actor
on the part of the introducer than tina
it Is the deliberate judgment OF an!
considerable number Of our legislator
now assembled at Helena: be 1t turtle
Resolved, That n copy Of these reso
lutions be forwarded to the senate
and members from Missoula county, s.
that they may each be advised OF on
own feelings in this matter with tn
request that they present the same 4
I their fellow legislators for their re
), spectful consideration.
p (Signed). CHARLES II. DODGE,
Post Commandan,
J. r. Sparkling,
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