Show PRESERVE OLD SONG star spangled banner Is sacred says G A R head was washington hington gardner commander in chief makes plea that it be kept honored by all as american national anthem detroit A plea tor for the perpetuation of the star spangled banner as aa the american anthem without alloy was made fervently er vently by washington gardner commander ln in chief ot of the grand army ot of the republic in his bla address before the forty eighth national encampment ot of that organization here he urged the old soldiers to loin iola in a movement to pay special honor to this song and to discountenance the practice of playing it in medley with such flippant and comparatively meaningless ditties as yankee doodle and when johnnie cornea comes marching home he said there was something inspiring in an audience rising and standing uncovered at the majestic strains of 0 the national anthem but it was incongruous bordering even on the ludicrous tor for the band to strike up some other national air in medley with this and to observe the audience resume sitting in III an irregular halt half ashamed manner it were better not to rise at all when the national hymn Is played in medley he said A recommendation that permanent headquarters tor for the G A it be established in washington was another point of his address chicago and philadelphia had bad been proposed but he preferred the national capital and thought though t that it if 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 A standing committee ol of seven persons with the commander ln in calef and adjutant general of the G A R as ex officio members he also recommended principally for the purpose 0 of taking charge of 0 all legislation which had the indorsement endorsement Indor of the order he said that such a committee wo would uld concentrate responsibility reduce expense and give promise of better results the present membership in good standing was reported as during the year the roll was curtailed by the death of old soldiers but notwithstanding this large figure it Is less than died during the preceding year |