davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun., 1919-03-23

VIII It WELD the influence which has
only in very recent years slipped from
the thinning ranks OF the Grand Army
Of the Republic?
An answer TO the question may be
found in the early history Of the Grand
Army, history, by the way. full OF
curious and interesting. though not
generally known incidents.
The Union flag had scarcely been
rehoisted over Fort Sumter after the
collapse of the Confederacy in the
spring Of 1865. when the formation OF
societies of veterans began among the
soldiers of the Union. There were So
cieties representing armies and bril-
gades and regiments and even com
panieS in almost every county OF
every State north OF the Mason and
Dixon line. Some flourished for IA
time, some died almost in their con
organization which was destined e
supplant them came into being.
Strangely enough it was probably
the least conspicuous OF all. In
Springfield. ILL.,. a little known army
surgeon. Benjamin Franklin Stephen
son. had been struggling to weld into
some permanent shape the discharged
soldiers Of that community. He, so far
as can be learned from tho meagre &C
counts of his character which have
been committed TO permanent record,
was without any talent for organiza =
ton or business of any sort. His one
The sun., 1919-03-23

sure Of urgent business and family
affairs Col. Roosevelt since his re-
turn has engaged in a number of in
formal conferences with other re-
turned members OF the A. L. r. as
well as men who have been continu-
ously on duty in this country.
In 'cussing the matter with a
representative OF THE Sun. he said:
"As is natural, small organiza-
tons OF service men have sprung
up here and overseas. All the
men with whom I have discussed
the matter. both in France and
since my return to this country,
seem TO be actuated in their desire
for a larger society by the follow
ing motives:
First. they want to prevent
these local organizations from fall
ing into the hands OF unscrupu-
lous individuals who would use
them for their own aggrandize-
ment.
Second. they wish to endeavor
TO correlate the efforts for higher
citizenship and truer Americanism
which have been generated by this
war, and finally they are imbued
with the idea that there should be
within the scope OF such a society
great possibilities for assisting the
personnel of the army upon their
return to civil life in the neces-
sary economic readjustments.
1.-THE personnel OF our army.
more than ever before in the his
The sun., 1919-03-23

to adopt, modify or reject the tentative
steps taken by the caucus.
In accordance with these ideas the
National Guard and reserve officers
present constituted themselves a tenn
porary committee to act until such
time as the larger and more represen-
tative caucus could be convened and
elected. Lieut. Col. Roosevelt as tenn
porary chairman and Major Eric
Fisher Wood as temporary secretary.
sub-committe composed of Lieut.
Col. Clark. Major Cole and Major
Wood was appointed to receive from
all the members of the temporary
committee the names of such individ-
ual officers of the A. f. F. as are ad-
mittedly leaders of their units and as
are likely to be available. in order that
these might be urged to attend a eau
Gus comprising three midday meetings
to be held in Paris on March Is. 16
and II.
Accordingly such a meeting. at
tended by about FIVE hundred officers
and enlisted men of the A. L. F., was
held In Paris on the date scheduled
and an organization committee, with
Lieut.. Col. Bennett c. Clark as chair
man, was duly elected. Major Wood
was continued in Office as secretary
OF the organization.
Meanwhile LIeut.-Col. Roosevelt had
been returned to the United States and
charged with creating an organiza-
tion OF similar character on this side
OF the Atlantic. In spite OF the pres
The sun., 1919-03-23

away without ever having held an
Office vi importance and with little
more than the memory of his name
inscribed in its archives.
Tho ending of the political cam
paigns of 1866 was followed by n
recession in the wave of interest
which for few months babe fair
to make the Grand Army all that
Stephenson hoped for ii. Though
its national organization was bre-
served its membership shranll TO a
few thousand enthusiasts. Finan-
cial matters, too, were troublesome
and there was an attempt on the part
OF the early commanders-in-chi &c
enforce an almost military discipline
which was resented among the rank
and file.
Too much was made also Of the
ritual features, and three degrees OF
membership, recruit, soldier and vet
eran. were instituted to the disgust
OF many who felt that the honorable
discharge from the Union Army
should be a sufficient passport 70 full
membership in the order. Instead
they were compelled to pass exam
nations and wait for long period
OF time before being admitted TO the
grade Of veteran. which alone gave
them a voice in meetings of ever
their own post
The disorders in Indianapolis dur
| ing President Johnson's "swine
around the circle" In 1868, when tn,
Chief Executive Just escaped beinl
The sun., 1919-03-23

asset was his idea that the eX-soldiers
OF the Union cause should form not
alone an association, but secret oath
bound order which should carry for
ward the work they had successfully
accomplished against the forces of re-
action.
First G. A. II. Post.
Accordingly on April s, 1866. the
first Grand Army post was established
In Springfield. Though the inten-
ton OF its founders was to make 1t a
national organization, it is very prob
able that 1t too would have lapsed into
desuetude but for one chance happen
ing.
Oliver i. Morton. the war Governor
of Indiana. was faced in that same year
with powerful opposition in his cam
paign From some source he heard
OF Stephenson's work among the ex-
soldiers in Springfield and he imme-
diately sent emissar!es to the former
surgeon OF the Fourteenth Illinois In
fantry and offered his support in the
establishment of the Grand Army in
Illinois and the neighboring States.
The success Of the movement was
immediate. Grand Army posts were
organized all over Indiana and in
some OF the other States and Stephen
sons dream seemed in fair way
TO be realized. But many years were
to elapse before the organization
vas to fulfil the expectations Of It's
founder. and he was destined to pass
The sun., 1919-03-23

- II ..-.-
rea. for ro., and ra,,inoe,, ~
,i,o 5a,t,ra,o,I S.. - .".no
h,,,,n I,Do ~ onn,'i '.',n .,o
ana u,a,,ors o., ~ ,,.., y y. no
Ior-,.,,,,s 49,, ,,,,,1,.l,1>, 60
hosni,ois an1 oas,,ni,,. W ''e'o
lion. whona,,on ~, -a.,,e,
clcva.ion cornr,.,,1,,e, -. -.
tho surrourdi,o -. ',' "o,,I,i
90. o., -. .Iu".E Wv ,o"',.
troops and thousands w horses
snariio., 80 81, 49, Tuan VI
~, my, ,,r,,.in,,s ,';ai,, -, ,,' r.
had seen nnor,,in,,. 49, ,ar
vas, scolo on -, ,,,,,. -.
..nnrl,,, en-, q. -, a,,i ,,,
No r,oro or,o,-''. $50, - .,.'-E -
and thor We - $500, 49, ,,
cams and .oo,, al, ~ ,.',,,, $780,,
crowded win, n,r oa.n ,,,n, 49,
their sunnlIos WIZ mo- n..,Ini
a village cnIIcl, po,,,noonr. 49,
American ,roons bas Ia,,n,,,a -, 49,,
nero,s ,ha. w.; 49,
account or o,r s,,,r,,t,,.,,,,,, -
10 and out tho ,1or,I,,, ~, - -,
the unI,s W. son ,,o1o ~ oo
quaintance Of IJeut Wsdsworth y,
The sun., 1919-03-23
he 9th Division When 1t Went Into Action

a-plenty-a great many moro than
have fallen to the lot of the average
civilian during the war, for he had
flown with Lieut. Patterson of the
Royal Air Force from London to Paris
in IL record fight, making the trip in
two hours and twenty minutes, and
prior to that he had visited several
sectors of the front.
When he decided to return to Lon
don from Paris he awaited himself OF
an invitation to visit the British sec
tors in Flanders and northern France,
and OF this trip three things stand out
most prominently in his memory--firs
of all his visit to the Twenty
then the fact that II he hadn't been
stopped in time by Il British officer he
would have motored blithely into the
German lines. and the further fact that
he entered the city of Cambria only a
few hours after the British had driven
the Germans from the town and at a
time when the German lines were not
more than a mile and half away.
Mr.. Cravath's own story.
In his diary Mr.. Cravath tells this
story OF his trip:
after leaving St Quentin We
decided that instead OF going to
Peronne we would continue north
directly behind the active front on
which the British, French and
Americans were making such SEN
sational advances. So we started
north. We thought we were on
the right road. but as m2st of the
signs had been torn down ard new
ones had not been erected II was
difficult to tell just where we were.
So II was some time before we dis
covered that II we kept on as we
were going 1t would not be long
before we reached the town OF
Bohcin, which was we'll within the
German lines. We turned back
rather hurriedly and made sure
OF our direction before attempt
ing to proceed further.
Not only the road on which We
were travelling, but all the impor- :
tant crossroads, were crowded with
battallons OF British soldiers, artf-
lery, motor trucks and wagons with
munitions and supplies Of all kinds,
all moving toward tho front, In :
The sun., 1919-03-23

tory OF the Cnitec States. persvni-
fies the youth of the country. The
sympathy engendered by the COM
mon purpose and common suffer
lngs of the war ought 10 be re-
fiected directly in our Government
in the future.
To Keep I'D Spirit of Service.
Grover Cleveland said that II
you could once get n question be-
fore the people their decision was
generally correct. The sacrifices
which have been made for the couu-
try should create in the minds of
those who have borne the brunt
OF the struggle a deeper and more
intimate interest in the Govern
ment of the country. \ byproduct
of the work of such a society as
this will be TO keep up this spirit
Of service-to combat that feeling.
so very apparent both here and
abroad, that the end of the war
means an end of much of the eff
fort OF the last two years.
This society from its very ma
ture will be non-partisan In policy
and action. 1t may advocate poll
cies, but not politics. 1t will OF
necessity be absolutely democratic
in its organization. Every private
soldier viii share in its govern
ment."
Such is the genesis Of what promise
TO be the greatest, as it is the newest
OF American veteran.
The sun., 1919-03-23
Continued from Preceding PaoeJ

fContmued from Preceding Pd0e.)
ale OF those boys, pushing ahead to-
ward the front with songs and laugh
ter on their lips and high courage In
their hearts. II gave me a new feeling
OF pride and faith in my country and
in my city-for these were all New
York boys; boys from my home town
to see them marching past me toward
the north, where the heavens were
lighted by the flash OF the guns and
the flare OF the signal rockets. They
had been in action many times before
and they knew the dangers they were
going into--and yet they went singing
apd laughing. .-..>..... .......
CLOVIS Little Old New York;"
II was hungry when the battalions
began marching past, but I forgot all
ebout eating when saw them swing
ing along the roads. The high quality
OF their morale, their utter contempt
and disregard OF danger and,their de-
termination to carry the fight through
to finish were apparent in a hundred
different ways. / believe that nearly
every man that passed US had a grin
and wave OF the hand for us. and
that they recognized us as Americans
and kindred souls was evident by such
remarks as. Flows little old New
York; and oh, boy! Wait till get
back on old Broadway"
Mr.. Cravath came upon tho Twenty
seventh Division and a part OF the
Thirtieth Division, which is composed
OF the old National Guard of North
Carolina and Tennessee. near the vii
lage of Berlincourt, which had been the
scene Of hard fighting some days be-
fore. This was about October Q, and
when Mr.. Cravath saw tho New York
troops they were returning to the front
after a few days rest following the
battle Of the Hindenburg line, in which
the Second American Army Corps,
comprising the Twenty-seventh Divi-
sion and tho Thirueth Division, had
smashed through that vaunted line,
with large captures OF material and
prisoners. in conjunction with an at.
tack by two British armies on their
tanks.
Already Mr.. Crayath had had thrills
The sun., 1919-03-23

regiment of New York city. whose
history dates back to the civil war.
We learned that the night before
Col. Debevoise OF Brooklyn had been
promoted to the rank of Brigadier-
General. l was unable TO find him,
So left my greetings and congratu-
lations.
BY this time we were extremely
hungry. for over three hours we
had passed through no village in
which there was an intact building.
stlll less a hotel. Our American
friends Of the Twenty seventh
promptly provided us with n mag
nitcent luncheon consisting OF hccr-
steak. fried potatoes and Jam, which
We as~su0A~ BE Crossrcrte&-. hiiu lila
American troops marched by us en-
route to tho front.
After luncheon we went 10 see
the scene Of the recent fighting,
where German dead were still scat
tered about. We saw three piled
in ono shell hole. Our men were
afraid to touch them because .Hpc-
rience had shown us that the Ger
mans leave mineT and grenades uu-
der their dead SO that when tho
kindly pursuer tried TO give them
burial the mine or grenade ex-
plodes. heard that our armies
lost many men in that manner.
This seems to me about the most
dastardly Of all the dastardly tricks
the Germans have played.
Where 1O7th Lost 900 Men.
1--WE were then taken to a field
where a day or two before the 10Th
Regiment had suffered Coo casual
ties. The troops had made a sue
Cessfll attack and had captured all
the Germans In sight, but after they
had advanced past the enemy posi-
tons large numbers OF Germans
rushed out ~ the shafts leading
To and from tho Hindenburg limo
and attacked our men from the rear
with machine guns, The losses
among our men were fCiEhtful. ~
the Australians soon came up 10
aNengc their American comradcS.
and the rumor is that no prisoners
were taken among this particular
lot OF Germans .-.-.-....
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-04-12

well, what's to-dayf Our grapes are
extra fineY
| thank you, ma lam"
The little church will miss his. freckled
face
Beside the shriIl sopranos; and the
queer
Abrupt explosions Of his cautious bass
Still haunt my ear.
And now he's dead in France, like some
old knight
Who fought with paynims in the long
ago
For his fair lady. And it seemeth right
To have it so.
All, dear Democracy, how many brave
And strong and wise who left shin
ing name
In storied verse have gone into the grave
For your true fame
But yet to me there lies some special
CLEAN
OF finer grace in this. that Silss Drew
Should Chamber down from his old order
team
To die for You.
Youths Companion.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-04-12
THE GENEROUS OFFER OF THE
QUARRY OWNERS.

Those Barre quarry owners who have
raised the sum of $4,000 to secure a
suitable design for a soldiers memorial
to be erected in some fitting place in
Barre have done handsome thing. Of
course it is to the interest of the granite
men to see that suitable design is Sc
ected, inasmueh as the monument is to
be fashioned from Barre granite; but
these quarry owners might have said
that the money for the design could be
taken out of the general fund and that
the general fund would be raised by
Joint effort, in which case the quarry
owners share would have been consider
ably decreased or not placed upon them
at all, as the burden OF raising the gen
eral fund would, under the system Of
taxation, fall upon taxpayers in the city
alone, unless Barre Town should see its
way clear TO participate in the taxation
method. But the quarry owners did not
take that stand, So we say that they
have done handsome thing in offering
the $4,000 the money to be used in Sc
curing a design that shall stamp the
Barre memorial as distinctive and artis-
tic.
Such a start toward the memorial hav-
ing been guaranteed in such generous
Il 1. 4 1aI o6o1 to he
rest of us to make certain that the pro-
jeet goes through along the lines as out
lined. Other attempts to erect soldiers
and sailors memorial in Barre have been
proven failures from one reason or an
other, but in none of those attempts
have the plans taken such concrete and
definite form as at present. There seems
to be q positive goal ahead. There has
been some actual calculation as to the
amount of money which would be re-
quired to erect q memorial of pretensons
which would make it fitting companion
structure with the Burns monument and,
at the same time, be suitable memorial
to our soldiers and sailors in all wars.
Therefore we are not pulling heavy
load up hill and never knowing when
the top viii be reached or how much eff !.
fort will be required for the pull, There
is a definite goal and definite work
ahead and it is simply left for the people
Of this community land perhaps Barre
Town to say whether we shall lend our
cooperation or not to bring about the
fruition of these efforts. The Times
would like to hear an expression of opin-
ion on this matter. An open discussion
Of the subject may prove Of benefit.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-04-12
Green Mountain Echoes.

Transfers say that mild weather have
put the roads generally on the bum.
Richmond item.
The sound of the H. G. Jacquith Co
whistle seems like getting back on the
map. Weston item.
Monday the LarlSin order arrived and
it will be distributed this week. Lowell
item.
Mrs. John Shedd was taken i'll Sunday
and but for the prompt action Of DR.
Cushman, she would have died, which she
seemingly did.--West Charleston item
Owing to weather conditions. the Set
tee Brotherhood has not yet had its de-
bate on the league of nations and that
great question is still unsolved North
Thetford item.
Lloyd Fairbanks has gone the way OF
all creatures Of this earth, not dead, only
married. Waterville item
Lodge meetings and entertainments
had to give the blizzard the right Of way
Weston item
Say, have you noticed how the papers
speak Of women's votes carrying towns
for license? Maybe they think drink
Of good liquor would be better than so
much Jamaica ginger, There's a reason
Fecherville item.
A good run of sap this week. Roads
fearful rough.-West Newbury item.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-04-12
"sile,n
Ralph Mortimer Jonesl

| came upon the name an hour ago
Of Silas Drew, just halfway down the
list
Of Soldiers Killed in Action" Well
know
That he'll be missed.
He was so commonplace, and prone to
to thrive
On little village life, it doesn't seem
He could be dead that way. He used to
drive
Peck's order team
And even now his eyes look into mine
The order book poised deftly on his
palm.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-04-12

Pike hall has seldom been the scene Of
so much uproarious laughter, good ma
tured fun and general all-around good
time Miss Helen Rand, clad in pink
paiamas a la mode was the real ''hit" OF
the evening. Her imitation Of the little
boy who hates to get up in the morning
with piano accompaniment by Miss Fish
er was comedy gem.--Pike, N H., item,
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-04-12
In Re the Parting Guests.

William Grow, David Addison and
Maurice Human, who visited Ed. Nor.
rills sugarhouse recently, enjoyed the
treat very much and ate so much sugar
that they were surprised when Mr.. and
Mrs. Morrill, invited them to come again.
Newport item.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-04-12
Wherein Our Cor. Wings Coupla Two
Liners.

Over the phone on Tuesday the writer
was informed by Mrs. Prentice Briton
that her son had been discharged at Fort
Leavitt, Me.
Over the phone on Thursday the writ
er received an answer from Mrs. Cater,
who is somewhat improved from her cold
and cough.Alstead, N. H., correspond
ence
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-04-12

If $3.50 "hivyer' planes are in pros
pect, there viii need to be some sort Of
insurance against the things for they
will be dropping about ones ears with
a grand kerslam and with more or less
deadly effect. Cyclone cellars will be
very much in vogue, at least before the
stage Of sterilization Of the machines.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-04-12
Tobacco, Drink and Meeting the Trains
of These Three Evils Choose
the Least.

The train welcome committee has be-
come SO devoted to its duties that often
member gets on the II o'clock to see
the train TO White River and escort it
back. But very few Of them get around
TO see the Hood train arrive at night
North Ihetford tom
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-04-12
He Ought to Be Running a Col.

Wright Fay is laying hardwood floors
in his house. Frank Ransom is doing
the work. Winooski Valley item.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-04-12

Speaking, as reporters will, OF the
hungry flames, Mr.. and Mrs. Grin Sparks
Of Weston wish to thank the many kind
neighbors who SO willingly assisted at
the recent fire in their home
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-04-12
Here Is Whoosis.
Nor Likes Music with His Meals.

A daughter was born to Mr., and Mrs
Richard Hoozes recently,-Alburg item.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-04-12
TALK OF THE TOWN

The Hardwick to Montpelier and Barre
stage will run as soon as the roads are
settled. G. L. Paropto
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-04-12

Sealed entry for the What Shall We
Name the Baby contest. First name i:
Imperia and she lives in Salisbury.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-04-12
Quoth the Master: "A Dillar, Dol
lar

The change Of time found everyone in
readiness for it hereabouts, excepting
Milo Terry who brought his children to
school at 10 o'clock, instead Of 9--Fair-
lee item
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-04-12
Reason No. 6 "Why we advertise
National Bank Protection for your Savings"
The Federal Reserve Banks


n
the district the this district the Federal
competitive
in
that rescountng The operation this merely involves the turning
times
banks liquid and available
The Federal
Absorbr."
o n benefits
cean
The Peoples National Bank of Barre
The Only National Bank
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-04-12

The Germans agreed to the. Danzig
proposition because il was not humanity
possible for them to reject it, 1t will be
the same reason why they will sign the
peace treaty despite all their ranting
and tearing. Most Of the talk that is
coming out Of Germany about refusal to
sign anything further than Wilson's IA
point limit is largely stage talk, just as
was their protest against opening up
Danzig for the passage OF Polish troops
en- route from France to their home land,
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-04-12

Con recent Sunday spent month
in Montpelier. y" Train talk of the trav-
cling men
Restoration of the bars sinister may
loose, if not break, the mystic cords
which bind our we'll known capital to
the great silence
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-04-12


Now that Capt. 4. w. Gibson of Brat
tleboro is to take off the uniform of the
United States service and return 10 the
practice of law ii is due him to say that
a large part of the credit for Vermont's
fine position in the service, so far as vol
untary enlistments is concerned, was due
to Capt Gibson, who proved himself a
persistent and indefatigable worker in
filling up the ranks Of the old LIST Yer
mont regiment and then in recruiting
toward filling up the skeletonized regi-
ment of the same name which was left
after the war department had used the
bulk Of the men to fill up other units,
particularly those in the Goth division.
Capt. Gibson went up and down, back
and forth across the state in an effort
to spur the young men on to voluntary
enlistment without waiting for the call
of the draft; and in this work he was
signally successful. That Is why such a
large percentage of the eligible young
men under the draft were found to have
gone already before the draft got into
operation,