The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-07-14
THE MEXICAN VETERANS.

THE MEXICAN VETERANS.
MEETING AT WASHINGTON AND TUE FACTS
ELICITED-THE PROPOSED ACTION BEFORE
CONGRESS-.
The Washington Chronicle of the 9th inst.
says: Notwithstanding the severe tornado
of Saturday evening, the Associated Vet
Grams of 1916 had quorum in attendance
at their regular monthly meeting. Secretary
Kenady's report gives some interesting alta
in regard to the progress which has been
made, from which we take the following:
Since the issue in April last of the circular
from head quarters of the National Asso-
cation requesting the state and county asso-
Citations 10 forward the names of surviving
veterans of the Mexican war desir-
ing a pension under the bill pend
ing in congress, the first secretary re-
ports that he has received about / 100
letters containing the post Office address and
military record of each applicant; that the
efforts in several localities have been earnest
and effective in complying with the request,
but the Imperfect organization as yet exist
| ing renders an accurate estimate 10 the brief
time devoted to the subject almost inapossi-
/ BILE. From such information as has been re-
ceived, however, the secretary feels warrant
ed in asserting that less than twenty per
centum of the number enlisted during the
war will approximate the total of survivors.
The state reunions of veterans which usually
| take place in the south and west simulIane-
Gus with annual state fairs viii bring to-
gether the Representatives from the sew
eral counties appointed last year, and posi-
! bly, by the next session of Congress in fcrma-
ton Will be at hand on which to base
MORE ACCURATE ESTIMATE.
One fact has been demonstrated, ;o-wit:
That the method OF computing the number
ofsurvivors, adopted by the bureau Of sta
tistics, is applicable to this case, for the
reason that vast numbers fthe soldiers who
served in Mexico subsequently fell victims
to their adven urous dispositions, resulting
from army experience in that country,
during the political squables at Yucatan,
Cuba, Nicarauga, and other similar expedl-
ticns occurring previous to our late civil
war. which.terminated the career of mos f
those who were not already broken DO. a
by disease and hardship. The almost unan-
imous opinion OF the officers and soldiers
\ who have written TO headquarters on the
subject is, that the estimates laid
before Congress have been made
with no friendly intention. While the sec
reiary does not share this latter view OF I'M
friendliness on the part OF public officers,
he nevertheless thinks that the intelligent
opinions of officers familiar with the person
al histories of the men of their command
should have equal weight with the caleula-
tions of school men who never deviate from
established rules in making such estimates.
Rules for calculating the mortality of vast
populations-meD, women, and infants
during time Of profound peace and public
tranquility. are not applicable to the case in
point, and when estimates of this kind are
accepted "as conclusive by members of
congress-" they will find it a very thin
cloak to cover up their
HOSTILITY TO A JUST MEASURE;
- - tl,ot %
Congress, in December, the bill will meet
with fair consideration. The bill which
passed the House last spring in favor Of the
veterans of 1912 chung fire" in the Senate at
the last hours Of the session. When that is
disposed of the claims of Mexican soldiers
will be in order. A combined effort will be,
in all probability, made by their friends
throughout the states to impress the justice
of the measure upon the minds of congress
men. There have been printed about sew
enteen thousand circulars and an edition OF
l 1000 copies of the proceedings OF the national
convention. containing the address of GEN
eral James S. Negely, the poem of General
) Albert Pike, the memorial and bin pending
in Congress, and all the details of the first
f national reunion of Mexican war veterans
since the conquest of the Aztec capital in
3 1913. The secretary proposes 10 furnish
I every survivor with copy who forwards
I. mis- name, postoffice address and sufficient
! amount of his military record 10 prove bis
$ right 20 be enrolled as pensioner. 1t is
also contemplated by the National Associa-
: ton TO supply every honorably- discharged
1 soldier and sailor with medallion COM
memora,ing their victories, cast in bronze
3 from captured cannon, as soon as arrange
ments can be made to that end.