The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-10-23
THE CAMPAIGN IN INDIANA.
Col. MatsOn's Inefficient Support Of the
Robinson Pension Bill.
An Offer TO Prove that Col. Gray Was a Know
Nothing and to Pay the Expense of
Establishing the Fact.
CONGRESSMAN MATsoN.
aais Weak and inefficient support of the Rob-
inson Pension Bill.

8His Weak and inefficient Support of the Rob-
inson Pension Bill.
TO the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal;
Indiana contains a remnant OF the survivors
of Libby, Andersonville, Florence and Sails
bury. Weak in body and enfeebled in mind
they WELD no perceptible influence over the pol
tics Of the State; yet in closely contested cleo
ton, their votes may count for something. To
such I desire to submit certain facts.
1t was my fortune to be a member of the leg
isIative committee appointed by the president of
the National Association of Elk Union Prisoners
of War to urge the passage of the Robinson bill
at the last session of Congress. AS such
/ addressed the pension committee of the Honse
of which Col. @. G. Matson, of the Greencastle
district, Is chairman. Nothing could have ex-
ceded the warmth of the greeting we received
from the lips of comrade Matson, who was him
self a prisoner of war But have been forced
TO the conclusion that while comrade Mastons
heart may have been enlisted in our cause he
lacked the courage to face certain element in
the House, and tell them the story of their afro
cites and our wrongs
At any rate, our appeals and arguments ap-
parently convinced majority of the pension
committee, among the rest some gallant ex-
confederates, but Colonel Matson and two
or three other Northern Democrats
ohsttnately hung out, and refused
10 sign the report in our favor. The minority
(which included the chairman) resorted to the
policy known mastery inactivity" to pre-
vent action on the subject. Near the close of
the session they formulated an illdevised mis-
Shapen substitute for the Robinson bill, and, in
order that they might have no excuse for fail
ing to bring the matter to the attention of the
House, comrades White and Kline, of Pennsyl
vania, and myself accepted Chairman Matson's
substitute, and begged him to urge its enact
mt into i0x RsNf ho odd tnYlc
effort in that direction unless we can suppose
him utterly without influence i'll the House,
and l think voice the sentiment of the ex-prls
Oners resident in Washington when / say that
comrade Matson did not prove to be cham
piOn of cur interests.
The prisoners legislative committee, under
the leadership of comrade Hawley, of Michigan,
was untirng in its efforts in behalf of the Robin
son bill at the last session of Congress. Among
other things, we induced General Butler to ad-
dress the Senate pensions committee in our in
terest. In the course of his remarks General
Butler told how the fight was. knocked out of
Grants army In the Wilderness, and especially
at Cold Harbor, where the Union loss was - 000
and the confederate only 600 1t is suspected
here that Colonel Matson must have had some
such experience. He didn't seem to have but
little fight left in him last winter, and was saw
ing that for family use, He acknowledged the
justice and equity of his own substitute
at least but was afraid to present it
to the consideration Of the Democratic ma
jorlty Of the present Congress. Therefore
advise all who think ex-prisoners entitled to
compensation for the privations and horrors
they endured, to vote for a holder representa-
tive Of their ideas and opinions For the truth
OF what say | appeal to all eX-prisoners &C
quatnted with the facts, and also to General
Lowering, of Massachusetts; Major Holmes. of
Iowa; Mr. Morrill,, of Kansas, and Hon. John T.
Wise, of Virginia. all members of the House
pensions committee w. H. MATTINGLY.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Oct, 20.