Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1878-08-09
SOLDIERS! ATTENTION!! /!
Call for a Meeting Of all Soldiers at
the soldiers Home, August
14th, 1878.
HEADQUARTERS SOLDIERS & SAIL !
oRs' MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION,
f~rS-r,N,x..r, T.,I.. IE,l 1920

To THE SOLDIERS AND SAILORS OF ONO;
Comrades 1T has been resolved by the
Association TO hold Mass Meeting Of the
Ex Soldiers and Sailors OF the State Of
Ohio, at Dayton, Wednesday, August IA,
1873, to take into consideration, and to
adopt measures looking to the repeal Of,
"An Act for the Reorganization and better
management of the Ohio Soldiers aud Sail
ors' Orphans Home at Xenia, Ohio" passed
by the Legislature, May l3, 1873, and bet
ter known as the "O'Connor Law"
Here is the language Of the law as passed,
aud which, IL enforced, will result in the
destruction of Home which the patriotism
of the State has provided for the orphans
of those who Willingly gave up their lives
that the nation might be saved:
"SFcTGoN g. Said Board of Trustees are Az.
thoriEsd to receive into said Home the INDECENT
children or deceased soldiers aud sailors who
lost their lives in the military or naval service
OF the United States during the late rebellion,
or have since died by reason of wounds receiS ed.
or disease contracted, while in said service, and
in the line of duty as such soldier provided,
however, that no child 0f such deceased soldier
shall be received into said Home under the
age nf twelve years, during the lifetime Of ths
mother Of said child and pro ovided also, that
M child shall be received into said Hume ex.
cept the child Of deceased soldier, on account
of whose death the Uuited States has paid or
is paying peusioui
"SEo. I. That after the passage Of this act
the said Board or Trustees shall admit aud con-
tiuue in said Hsme no child ur children unless
the mother Or guardian Of such child rr chill
dren shalt pay over to said Board Of Trustees,
for the purpose Of clothing said child or chill
dren. the money paid by the United States as n
pension on account Of tue death of SAID solder.''
II seems proper that the surviving SOL
diers and sailors of Ohio should meet and
consider this question calmly and seriously.
The passage of this odious law has shocked
the patriotic feelings of the citizens of the
entire State. It's enforcement would drive
from the Home n II soldiers children whose
fathers are living, but unable, through
wounds and sickness, to support them it
drives out upon the cold charities of the
world all uHder twelve years OF age, and
all whose fathers never drew a pension
these three classes alone numbering over
three hundred children now in the Home.
And it does more than this: 1t refuses to
receive into the Home any children of the
widow OF n soldier or sailor unless she is
drawing n pension, and unless she pays the
pension into the hands of the Board of
Trustees, for the maintenance OF th@child
or children for whose admission applca-
tion is made.
These are some OF the outrnges which
this wicked and cruel law would perpe-
trate upon the children of our dead heroes.
We call upon you, therefore, comrodes,
and with confidence urge you to at once
take such steps as your wisdom may sug
gest to insure large attendance from your
neighborhood at the meeting at Dayton,
Oh the 18th OF August. Call upon the rail
road officials of your town, and make ar
rangements for excursion rates over their
respective roads.
In this way we shall have such an out
pouring of the boys in blue" at DAYTON
as will convince our law makers that those
who fought To preserve the Union will see
to it that the children oil those who suffered
the hardships OF the camp and the march,
the dangers of the battle, the diseases at
tendant thereon, or who died in defense of
the old flag, being entitled to, shall receive
the fostering care OF the State, and that the
Home established by the people of Ohio,
shall not be perverted from It's true pur-
pose, but shall ever stand monument to
the patriotism and gratitude OF those whose
firesides these chidrens' fathers died to de-
fend.
The repeal of this law is what we de-
mand. Let us see to it that our demands
shall rot be made in vain. Address all
communications TO Col j. V. GuruRIE,
Chairman, Dayton, 0. On behalf Of The Sol
dierS''and Sailors Memorial Associution.
J. V. GUTHRIE,
JAMES BEGGs,
J. A. REMLEY,
II. G. ARMSTRONG, Committee.
II. g. KENNETE,
ROBERT BELL,
W. j. Copy,