The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-22
DEMANDS OF OLD SOLDIERS
Plans for an Organized Effort to Obtain
Sc Pensions for Honorable Service.
Congressman Hoyeys Hearty Support Of the
Proposition-The Question To Be Urged
Upon the Political Conventions.

hundred old soldiers present at the annual meet
ing of toe Soldiers Universal Pension Asso-
citation. (which convened in Masonic Hall yester-
day afternoon. Gil r. Stormont, of Princeton,
presided; and C. A. Power of Terre Haute,
acted secretary. The annual report of Pres
sient Stormont was very comprehensive state
ment of what the association had accomplished
during the year. The most important step taken
was the organization of national association
during the national encampment at st.
Louis. Of which Gen. A. P. Hovey
was made president. Mr. Stormont
stated that the national association was organ
lied under the auspices of the Indiana Associa-
ton, and while the movement was ably seconded
by other States, Indiana deserved the credit for
the forming of the organization The work be-
fore the Indiana association. Mr. Stormont said.
was being rapidly accomplished, and he believed
it would be but short time until all soldiers
would be pensioned. AT the conclusion of his
reporr the following letter from Gen.. A. 2.
Hovey, president Of the national association.
and member of Congress from the First district,
was read: Is =
Dear Cornrades2-T am in receipt of your letter of
the 5th inst. and would be than gratifed if
eomprades at Indianapolis on the 21st. regret to
comrades divided to the mode by which
they should demand their just rights for we are told
must fall" The several plans for service pensions
spsnasn charity pensions and
the lack of concentration of action.
afraid br baed a be to Init Ultimate kind Of bsa
sion. pension that all honorable soldiers would be
willing to accept and tina. is predicated upon an
honorable discharge anda equality to all. 1t Is a
shame for eomrsde to place the man who fought by
his side fer the salvation of government on the
served, rich ard poor diplomas for honorable
service, and nan should be humbled by accepting
&c hr1ff hn col
der and his family should hold his certificate
proudly the Frenchman does his Gordon d Hon
should be like heirloom in his family,
and not a grudging badge of dependence,
sion of eight dollars month during life is the
feasible of all plans yet devised 1t provides for all
sums for physical disabilities By this simple plan
honor would be melted out to all alike, thousands of
would be discharged, and red-tape would become
greatly deprecated in the market. | would have no
hundred and fifty rounds in the Jacobs ladder in the
Pension Department. THERE'S financial difficulty
in the way that cannot be easily overcome Our gov
eminent during the rebellion spent four million
dollars day, and the daily income now will exceed
million.
when they made their glorious charges the fields of
battle difficulty viii be found that be easily
vide them for is within their power now to conn
mand every politician from the highest to the lowest.
ington so fselingy recommended for his soldiers in
1888. Let them demand NO than has been
TO their fathers VINO served country
tie before the Rebellion; let them stand togeth
err and there power in this government that can
longer resist the justice of their claims Yours truly
ALVIN p HovEY.
We concur fully in what General Hovey has said
and would urge united action upon all pension ques-
tl0ns. +. E. T. GWH E11n
w d. OWEN ee
j. T. JOHNSTON.
Following the reading Of General Hovey's let
ter quite number OF letters were read from
IF tate -ho
pressed their sympathy with the work of the
organization. The following COMMITTEES resi-
olutions was appointed, with instructions to
report at the night session: C. A. Power, T. w.
Bennett. j. W. Haley, S. NJ. Holcombe. Jasper
E. Lewis c. E. Mervin, S. 3. Voyles and Shelby
Sexton.
After some discussion to the best mode of
getting the cause of the organization before the
two political parties it was decided to appoint .
committee of fifteen representing each con-
gressional district in the State, to draft and
submit to the State convention of each party a
set Of resolutions. The COMMITTEES selected is as
follows: 81
First Districts. NJ. Holcombe, Fort Branch.
Sscondc %. Z; Speed ,s ~; vineenPes.
Fourth-S. B. Tuthil Lawrenceburg.
Fifth-C. E. Mervin. Franklin.
Sixth-Robert burst. Milreyg
Seventh--A. j. Huffman, Fishersburg.
Eighth-C A. Power. Terre Haute.
Ninth. @. Goodwin Lebanon.
Tenth-Frank Swigart, Logansport.
Eleventh-N. A. Saxton, Button.
Twelfth. G. Douglass, Fort Wayne.
Thirteenth-J. @. Lewis South Bend.
Delegates at Target W. Bennett, Richmond. and
Gil r. Stormont, Princeton
At last nights session. which was held in the
Criminal Court room, the attendance was larger
than in the afternoon. There was very inter-
esting discussion OF the justice of service PEN
sions, after which the following officers were
elected for the ensuing year,
Presidsnt-Gil r. Stormont, Princeton
Secretary-C. A. Power Terre Haute.
Treasurer-M. G. Rankin, Terrs Haute.
The committee on resolutions submitted the
following resolution, which was unanimously
adopted: III
Resolved, That now, above all others is the time
for all old soldiers to take counsel together about
interest We need not. know, emphasize the value
of time to all old soldiers. Nqne of us now have
many years before rs that We feel that we can afford
the soldiers in every community to unite and ask of
definite and categorical answers to the following
question: oh
Are in favor of the passage of the law proposed
in the annexed resolution Yes.
favor of the soldier that passed by Com
Union soldiers of the late war for life. at not
less than $s peg month from the passage of such
ing them from following their usual vocations. The
rate: above So per month toss determined and fixed
animation within twelve months from the passage of
such law. by examining boards, majority of whom
shall have been regular rbinteer surgeons in the
United States army between March 1, 1861 and
July L, 1865. sfJz
There is issue before the people that compares in
Importance with that of the Nations honorable full
flent of its obligations those who saved its life
No man, matter what his qualifications may be-
should receive the vote of soldier who is not will
ing to subscribe heartily to this of justice
the soldier.
There can be good, honest ground for opposing
it. 1t will not increase taxation but rather lessen it,
by taking the charge of supporting old broken
soldiers from the over-raxed local treasures and
placing 1t where it longs-upon the full treasury
of the government which had the benefit of these
broken-down men syouthful health and strength
The soldiers not satisfied with the performance
of my public servant who simply offers bill in
Congress and permits it 70 siumber in the hands of
a pension committes-making persistent effort to
have it brought in Congress for consideration We
demand that members of national Congress shall
prove by performance that they equal to their
promises
A resolution was also adopted indorsing the
q