The National tribune., 1888-02-23
Ex-PRIsONERs OF WAR.
What TheY arc Doing Thronghout the Country.

What They are Doing Throughout the Country.
The continued interest manifested by ex-
prisoners in establishing new associations, re-
organizing and stimulating old ones and secur-
ing individual membership in the National
Association in localities where there are not
enough comrades to organize associations, is
true index Of the aroused feelings of ex-prison-
ers of war in the United States in behalf of
their rights and their claims upon the country
fer their starvation and suffering in Southern
prisons, whilst they were keeping treble their
number of stalwart soldiers out of the Confed-
crate armies.
The Pension Committee appointed on behalf
of the National Association met in this city
on the 22d inst for consultation, and on the
23d appeared before the Congressional PEN
sion Committees on behalf of the ex-prisoners
bills heretofore offered in the two Houses of
Congress. The plain statement Of facts as to the
claims of ex-prisoners should be sufficient to
secure favorable report from the Pension
Committees of Congress upon their bills. On
the evening of the 23d the members of the
National Committee were the guests of the
District of Columbia Union Ex-Prisoners' AS
ISOLATION at Reunion and banquet given at
the National Hotel.
An association has recently been organized
and chartered at Bellefonte, Center Co., Pa,
with % charter members Thirteen different
prisons and 10 regiments are represented on its
rolls. When fully organized this promises to
| be useful and energetic society.
The comrades of Winnebago County, H.,
held preliminary meeting recently at Rock
ford for the purpose of forming an association.
The call was signed by 80 names, and "a re-
sponded at the first meeting. A temporary
organization was made by eleeting Horace
Scoville President and Lewis F. Lake Secre-
tary, who are 10 serve until a charter is receiy-
| ed, when permanent organization viii be
made. They claim they will have the $ ban
ner" association of the State, as theirs was the
/ banner County during the war.
| The Steuben County IN. W Association
| completed it's organization at Hornellsvilie on
the 10th inst. by electing George Hollands
| President and James Pinch Secretary. Ali ex-
| prisoners in the County are requested to join
the association and contribute to its welfare.
| The Lackawanna County Pa Association
at its fourth Reunion at Scranton, elected as its
| officers for 1885: President. Halsey Lathrop, of
Archibald V.-P., Capt Samuel e. Bryant, of
| Carbondale; Sec, Ezra Ii. Ripple; Asst Secs,
Milton McFarlane and Edward L. Buck, of
Scranton; Standard Bearers, o. A. Parson and
| Milton McFarlane; Executive Committee, Capt.
| G. w. Simpson, Nanticoke; Geo. Hudson, Car
! bondale; G.. L. Mercereau, Scranton; Chap, w.
! ]. Scott, Belbend At the meeting of the asso-
citation, among much other business transacted,
the following resolution was unani mously
adopted:
Resolved, That the Lackawanna Association Of
Ex- Prisoners of War cordially approve the action
| of the National Association in appointing a PEN
sion Committee and earnestly support the draft of
| bill submitted TO Congress- and this association
further pledges the officers and members TO united
| action for obtaining tile desired legislation
! A banquet was given in the evening, to which
about 100 persons sat down, and partook of a
most elegant menu of seven courses, which in
| contrast to the fare most of them had seen in
Southern prisons, was too good to be fully re-
allied. After the banqueting was finished, at
$3.50 p. m, the veteran talk began, and cOntin-
ued until 11:30, aud was Teplete with personal
experience and anecdote of army and prison
| life. 1t was truly an enjoyable occasion, and
one long to be remembered by every particle
| pant.