The Indianapolis journal., 1884-10-24
THE UNION VETERANS CONVENTION.
The Object for Which 1t Is Called-An In
terview with Major Merrill,

The national mass convention of Union vet
Grams will be held this afternoon at 2 o'clock at
the Park Theater. A Journal reporter found
Major George S. Merrill, of Lawrence. Mass, ex-
eonmanderin-chief of the Grand Army of the
Republic, at the Denison House, last night, and
inquired Of him concerning the objects Of the
proposed meeting.
''The soldiers" said Major Merrill, ''univer-
sally agree that something must be done in the
way of modifying and amending the present
pension laws, and this meeting is intended to
give expression on the part of the soldiers to
their general opinion upon that subject. My
own impression, which do not care to obtrude
is in the first place, that Congress should say
what it has heretofore said to the contrary, that
the fact of mans acceptance and enlistment
should be taken proof that he was sound at
that time and not now compel him to prove it. The
lapse of twenty years, through the death of wit
nesses, has wiped out large amount Of testimony
that soldier, must under the present laws, rely
upon to prove disabilities arising in the service.
We feel that the law should be amended and
materially modified in regard to the requirement
of such evidence. My own proposition-I don't
want TO put myself into this too much-but it
seems fair one-is that this government could
afford to and to, her own honor ought to close
the doors of the aims houses of the land against
any honorably discharged soldier or sailor. 1t
should be done on the broad basis that if a sol
dier or sailor is in need of aid the government
should provide for his necessities that he
should never become pauper. Strange to say
there is opposition to that suggestion. 1t is not
fought as an abstract proposition, but when
try to put it into the legislation of the land we
find there are difficulties in our way"
In regard to the local pressure to put off the
meeting of the convention until the day that
General Logan arrives here, when the city will
be filed with soldiers interested in the objects
for which the convention has been called Major
Merrill said While it is true that many sol
diers will be here on that day, we deem it advis-
able not to postpone our meeting until that time.
While the great majority of Union soldiers be-
long to the Republican party, We, members
of the g.. A R., desire to avoid every appear
ance OF political bias demonstration. The
meeting to be held here tomorrow to-day will
be sufficiently large for the purposes for which
it has been called. Delegates are here now
from Kentucky. Missouri, Maine, Massachusetts,
Nebraska, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, and perhaps
other States, while many more will arrive in
time for the convention; SO that nearly
all the States will be represented, if not by dele
gates by proxies We have had correspondence
with more than a thousand soldier and sailor
organizations over the country The points
given cover substantially the things to be agreed
upon There are, of course, other minor mat
ters to come up in the convention. We also
have a special recommendation governing the
cases of ex-prisoners of war, sufferers in rebel
prisons. have been informed by pension au-
thorties that the recent applicants for pensions,
those for whom are asking needed legisla-
ton, are, rule, the best and most worthy.
This is for the reason that the applicants are
men who, from motives of pride, have delayed
making application. Being able to earn their
living they asked nothing. Now, as old wounds
reopen and the hardships of camp and field ap-
pear in the form of rheumatism and other all
ments twenty years after the causes originating
them, the old soldier. unable to resist and bear
as they did when younger and stronger, the ne
cessity of aid can no longer be concealed, and
they can no longer get along without it"
THE CALL FOR THE MEETING
Following is the official call for the meeting
referred to above:
Attention Union Soldiers-A call having been made
suit together in regard to pending pension laws the
meeting will convene at the Park Theater this after
noon at P. NJ. The meeting will be entirely
partisan. There will be representatives from each
represented and all ex-Union soldiers of Indianapolis
should be present to give our comrades soldiers
greeting.
The following soldiers have been selected as the
local committee of reception with headquarters at
the Denison Hotel: Fred Kneher R. S. Foster,
J. R Carnahan, Louis G. Ruth, George W. Parker
David Swain, A. G. Jones Irwin Robbins D. S. Alex
ander, Joseph E. Forbes, Will G. David Dan Ransde
Horace Mckay, Fred Ward, D. J. Smock, w. G.
Lamb ]. Z. Bieer, j.. II. PAYER, Captain Molony
Wilson, G. H. O'Bren, Frank Ryan, Thomas NJ. Wat