The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-17
FOR UNIVERSAL PENSIONS.

An Association Formed to Urge Upon Congress
the Granting of Pensions for All.
There was a very large attendance of ex-sol-
diers at the mass convention held in Masonic
Hall, yesterday afternoon. for the purpose of or
g~anizing a State association to persistently urge
the enactment of q bill allowing pensions to all
persons who were in the service of the Union
during the late war. The gathering was not only
large, but it was manifestly very much in carr
est in its Endorsement Of the proposed measure.
Many of the delegates to the Grand Army en-
campment. which convenes to-day, were present,
and every Congressional districti in the State. with
the possible exception of the Tenth was rerre-
sented in the meeting. Order was called at 2
o'clock by Captain G. A. Power, of Terre Haute,
who started the movement by the organization
of an association in his city. In calling the con-
vention to order, he stated that the movement
leading to this convention originated in the
Eighth district four months ago. Since then the
interest has grown, and the soldiers of the other
States have joined in the movement. Fifteen
thousand have already signed a petition asking
Congress to enact 4 bill allo wing all soldiers pen
sions.
The name of Capt. G. L. Holstein was sug-
gested for chairman OF the convention, but it
was stated that. while he was in sympathy with
the movement, he declined to preside over the
convention. Gen. Thomas W. Bennett, of Ricn-
mond, was elected chairman. On appearing be.
fore the convention he delivered . brief address,
which was frequently interrupted with enthusi-
astic manifestations of approval. There are, he
said, two debts growing out of the war hanging
over the government. The first is due the men
who furnished the money with which to carry on
the war. Half of this has been paid. and the
balance due has been bonded at a low rate of
interest, so that there is no necessity for haste
in paying it. The. men who hold the bonds
don't need the money, and they would
prefer q or 3 per cent. interest on the
investment. The next debt is due the
soldiers. On every tract of land, and on every
man, woman and child in the country there is a
mortgage written in blood. If it we're not for
this debt, there would be no flag and no country.
1t was for the purpose of taking steps to secure
what was due them that the soldiers had gath
cred together. Capt. G. A. Power was ele cted
temporary secretary 1t was proposed that the
organization should be known by the name Of
1.-THE Indiana State Pension Association" A
delegate objected to the word ''p ensionn
in the name, because it would appear
that there was an association of
'sbeggars." The suggestion met with
such general and such emphatic opposition that
it was withdrawn. Captain Power said that
''those who were too wealthy or too high toned
to accept pensions, would not be obliged to re-
ceive them while another speaker expressed
the opinion that soldiers had as much right to be
c!amorous as the bondholders. The name of
the Indiana State Pension Association was
adopted. General Bennett and Captain Power
were elected permanent president and secretary,
respectively, with M. c. Rankin, of Terre Haute,
~ treasurer An executive committee. consist