Show THE G A RS FUTURE more than usual interest attaches atta to the approaching annual meeting of the grand army of the republic at indianapolis lp indeed it Is ia expected in some respects to mark a climax iu in the history of the organization notably io in regard to numbers for a drop flitton is ie being considered and will doubt doubtless les be brought forward to fix the year 1896 1895 as the date after which no applications for membership in the grand army will be received and when its books booke shall be closed one authority points ts out cut that while last year the ostensible rain gain in membership was wae only about 1200 it was afterwards discovered die covered that this apparent gain wan made by the addition of some names to the rol without authority so BO that there was realty really a lose instead of rain gain and while it is w held that there are still thousands of veterans who have never yet johnd id the organization in spite of the efforts made to increase the member ship the gains for the next few years are likely to fall below the losses which will occur from death in reply to the objection against closing up the rolls while half a million millio men more or less who served during the war have not joined the theonder order it is urged that after nearly thirty years of opportunity these veterans do not in tend to do so no as a rule and that the two years more gives time enough for any who do mean to join another and contrary argument is that the majority of these men will hurry burry and get into the ark before the doors are closed and some even predict that such auch action would increase the grand army fifty per cent in less than a year the gei oral opinion seems to be however that the grand army will henceforth in numbers but this instead of diminishing will probably have the effect of increasing the enthusiasm and spirit of comradeship among the members and the popular respect and esteem in which the order Is held it has had some blatant and irre irresponsible leaders and spokesmen spoke emeD during its long and honorable existence demagogues who tor for their own or their particular party banys Is ends have sought to throw its vast weight and influence at partisan parti sari dictation but its members ought not to be and are not held accused for anything of this kind and as a whole it remains as it will until the last name is blotted out warmly fixed in the hearts of the nation as a roll of honor |