The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-10-31

their Just dues. Still further, will call
your attention 10 the fact that in the United
States during the year there were added 20 the
rolls the names oil 60,252 new pensioners, aud
the names Of 2,02S whose pensions had been
dropped were reinstatcd TO the rolls making an
aggregate of $3.50 pensioners added during
the year. You say the Mills tariff bill would
much surplus would the republican senate bill
leave? ! shall vote the whole democratic tick
ct and not for any demacogue.
JOSEPH SHERRY.
Late Company 4, Eightieth Indiana.
Princeton, Ind.
Gen. Hovey has been charged by his
neighbors with doing many heartless things
He has oppressed his tenants, bought sol
diers' widows homes at tax sales and
turned them out in the cold when they
failed to redeem in time. He has prose-
cuted colored people for fishing in his
lake, and poor old soldiers for using tree
tops from his ten-thousand-acre forest for
fuel, kept out poor widows COWS from
grazing over his wild lands, and has done
hundredso OF other mean things unbecoming
a poor mans friend" But his action in
the case of a poor, blind soldier ought to
settle the question to the satisfaction of
all as to who is the best friend OF the sol
dier, Matson or Hovev. Read the follow
ing unimpeachable evidence:
Some time in the fall OF 'S7 l. in company
with Fidel Gates, late of Company G, Ninety
third regiment, Indiana volunteers, attended
the soldiers reunion at Rockport. Our OBJ
ject was to secure an interview with Alvin p.
Hovey in order that bill might be introduced
= L I..F 81 Il L
named. Mr. Hovey was at that time in Rock
port and after having him pointed out to me
| approached him, made myself known and in
trOduced Mr.. Gates and asked him if he could
do something for him. He informed me that
right at that time he had no time to talk the
matter over, but said: 81 am a friend to the
soldiers and will write to Mr.. Gates when
get TO Washington and see what | can do for
him." 8lr. Gates or myself utterly failed 20
hear from him, although two letters had been
sent him. Also w. NJ. keellemS, q stanch
republican, addressed him letter relative to
the case, appealing to him to use his power End
influence in behalf of the blind soldier,
and that letter he failed to answer.
No, he could not even spare a few moments TO
talk with a brave defender of his country upon
meeting him upon the street. 1t must be re-
membered that Mr.. Gates is blind, and has
been blind for at least twenty years. and has
had his claim rejected three times under repub-
lican administration.
On the 18th day of July, 1888, I led the blind
soldier into the Office OF Col. MatsOn at Wash
ingtOn. d. c., and introduced him TO the
colonel. gave Mr.. Matson a history of the
old blind veterans ease and asked him il he
could assist him in securing relief.
Certainly" said he, 81 will" A bill was
Immediately introduced by Mr.. Matson. 1t
passed the lower house, also the senate, and
was approved by the president. and to-day,
Fidel Gates name is inscribed on "Cleveland's
roll OF honor" in the pension department at
Washington. Now, | ask in candor, who is the
soldiers friend, Matson or Hovey? Now, the
same HOvey, who had not the time TO stop and
talk with Mr.. Gates at Rockport, sends out his
campaign circular referring to his
speech OF Aug. 2, in which he says:
"But we know that President Cleveland and a
Solid South are now controlling the house of
representatives and preventing all legislation
in favor OF our comrades
In my opinion, Mr. Matson has richly earned
the support of all the soldiers. They know
their confidence in him has not been mis-
placed while Alvin p. Hovey has learned
that promises without works is a rugged path
10 the gubernatOrial chair in Hoosierdom.
Every soldier in the state of Indiana should
support Matson for governor. lie has been
tried and found true, weighed and not found
wanting. A. j. ADYE.
Aydeyille, Ind, Oct. p.
u.
Gen. Hovey;
SIR want to refer you to the record of the
last three years OF Dudley's administration as
commissioner of pensions. Grand total num-
Der of claims admitted for the three years,
10, 22l. Now, comrade, look close. First three
years of Gen. Blacks administration, as com
missioner of pensions, the grand total number
of claims admitted amounts to $500. Com
rade Hovey, lock arms with me and we will
take a step further and interview the presidents
from L. s. Grant down to Grover Cleveland,
and see what they have done for the boys.
BY examining the records you will find that
Gen. Grant, during his term as president of the
United States, approved private pension bills
TO the amount of 495, all told President HAYES
sos; President Arthur, 1856; Pre- ident Cleve-
land, 1,264. Now, comrade, with the above
figures staring us full in the face how can We
doubt for moment the present administra-
ton?
was a member of Thirteenth regulars dur
ing the war. 1 never missed battle or march
that the Thirteenth participated in. AS TO my
record as a soldier, | refer you to Gen. w. I.
Sherman. who was my h0nored colonel during
part OF my term of service. l heartily approve
of the Mills bill you refer to- Ii is a step in the
right direction. For the Lords sake give us
cheaper clothing; give us cheaper building
material. We pay too much for our agriculture
implements. In conclusion, | will state that
we have 200 democratic soldiers in this Bar
tholomew) county who VIII vote the democratic
ticket straight. So, comrade, save your postage
stamps, as it is a useless outlay.
James Lawrence writes from Miami,
Ind, that he served two years in com
pany \, Thirty-ninth Indiana, went to
the war as a democrat and came home
one, and expects to remain such as long
az the democratic party continues to be
the party of the people. He further says:
am one of the soldiers who tried for six
years under republican administrations 10 OBJ
tain pension, but was unable to do so unul
Cleveland came into office; and upon the same
evidence furnished Dudley and others, | was
granted pension in less than six months. On
mol am not TO be caught by such demagogy,
and can name several of my comrades who are
going to do likewise. The soldiers of this
vicinity are not afraid OF their pensions being
taken away from them in the event of Cleve-
lands reelection. The Mills tariff bill which
you try To picture so nicely, saying that if that
measure should pass both houses there would
be no surplus 10 pay our just demands, etc.
We think we are thoroughly informed on that
subject, and will have no weight with us. Yes,
we are going TO stand shoulder to shoulder