The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-06-09
APPEALING FOR. PENSIONS
Indiana Soldiers Asking for the Restor-
alton ofthe Act in Regard to Arrears.
Some of Them Threaten to Make 1t Question
of Votes, but Others Favor Conservative
and Persuasive Methods of Influence.

About 200 old soldiers responded to the call
for meeting of the Indiana Arrears Pension
Association in the Criminal Court room. Pos
silly one-third of the number were from Marion
county. and the others came % delegates from
the various county organizations that have been
formed during the past few weeks. The meet
ing was purely business ia character. and did
not continue in session long. 1t was called for
o'clock. but as only . few delegates had
rived ut that hour the meeting was postponed
until o'clock. when IL got to business with Jos.
A. Sims. Of Delphi, ss chairman, while Gerritt
w. Walrad. editor of the Indiana Tribune, acted
as secretary. The chairman stated that thspar-
amount object WAS to form permanent organi-
zstion. which was to do active work in secur-
ing restoration OF arrears Of pen
sions. He mentioned the fact that
since the first meeting, several weeks ago. bill
had been introduced in Congress providing for
the restoration of the act The bill was no
doubt the result of the agitation among the old
soldiers of Indiana. The only way the soldiers
could demonstrate their earnestness in this mat
ter was to handle their SURFACES correctly. II
the votes of all old soldiers utilized they
should be, there was no doubt but that leeislA-
tors would respond to all demands made upon
them. A permanent organization should be ef-
fected. with headquarters in indianapolis and
there should be sub organizations In every county
IN the State. The county organization should be
formed with special reference to the coming
election. IL that plan WAS followed out the
present Congress would have to do something
before IL adjourned. or. at any rate the old SOL
diers would fnd out whs were their friends.
The executive committee heretofore appoint
ed as the first step toward a permanent organi-
eaton, presented o constitution which was
adopted after some discussion. 1t names the
organization the Indiana Arrears Pensions
Association and states that It's object shall be
Ito secure the restoration of tho arrears clause
OF the pension laws rs IL stood prior to July.
$780, To that end the constitution invites the
cooperation OF all citizens irrespective Of party.
County organizations are urgently requested to
cooperate with the State association. 1t 10 rec
commended that such bodies form st the county
seats under the direction OF the officers of the
State association. II is directed that funds for
carrying tho work should be raised by voluu-
teer contribution, but after quite q lengthy dis
cussion that section Was amendes as to assess
each county q certain amount, to be fixed by the
executive committee. AS permanent officers.
Joseph A. Sims OF Delphi was elected presi-
dent. and Gerritt NJ Walrad, of Indianapolis,
secretary.
Capt Robert E. Smith, of indianapolis. offered
the following. which he asked to have tele-
Rraphed to Washington:
To the Chairman of the Invalid Pensions Committee
of Congress, Washington, d. c.:
In the of the fifteen thousand invalid pen
sioners OF Indiana we, their representatives in
vention assembled. demand that immediate action be
taken the bin recently introduced by the invalid
pensions committee of the House of Representatives
restoring the Arrears of pensions. We demand that
DONE
In presenting the above, Captain Smith said
1t would have more weight with Congress than
any other action that could be taken. More
than that 1t would compel the Indiana represent
ativss to either urge the bill a vote. back
down. Several delegates said Colonel Dresser.
OF Lafayette. ought to be delegated to 60 to
Washington and urge the passage of the bill.
but the majority Of those present thought that
would be too expensive, and perhaps result in
little or no good. The communication Of Captain
Smith Was finally Endorsed, and the president OF
the meeting directed the telegram to DO sent
Colonel Dresser then offered the following
resolution, which was adopted by a rising vote:
Resolved That the sympathy of this convention of
Sheridan in his present heroic struggle with the
my. DEATH and that we sincerely hope he NAV win az
signal a victory as he did at Winchester town.
The resolution was ordered telsgrsphed to
the General
The business of the meeting having been COM
pletsd, Colonel Glesser. of Lafayette. aud sever
al other gentlemen made brief speeches. Colo
mel Glesser said he desired TO have It understood
there was no politics in the movement The
restoration of the arrears act was simply a mat
ter Of business and justice. As old soldiers the
men who were demanding its restoration were
only wishing fair treatment. He believed all
pensions should date back to the date of disabi-
ity.. He also believed the government owed it
TO the soldiers to equalizs their pay. They
ceivsd ereenb backs that were worth but 40 cents
on the dollar. when they should have had dol
lar in gold. In conclusion, he urged them to
stand firm for their rights organize in every
county, and il would be only a short time until
they would DO justly recognized. The other
speakers Endorsed what the .Colonel said. The
association adjourned to meet on the call of the
president
Amos Slater, o delegate to the meeting from
Frankfort, has always been Democrat but he
has become so Disguised with his party's actions
that be announces he will support the Repub-
lican ticket hereafter. 81 never voted for but
one Republican in my life," said he to Journal
reporter yesterday. land that was Oliver p.
Morton, but from this on propose to support
the party that favors protective tariff. l will
never vote for any reduction Of the tariff until
the soldiers arc duly compensated for their
services. The soldiers are unit on this ques-
ton in Indiana Matson has no interest in the
soldiers OF Indiana. He introduced his arrears
bill Ia Congress for the purpose of getting votes,
but he will not get them 1t is his intention to
simply allow his bill to rest in the committee
room until his term in Congress expires. The
old soldiers understand his tactics, and cannot
be fooled by him. We recognize that il we ever
get our just com pensation is will have to come
through the Republican party, and for that
reason there 10 going to be . concerted move
ment against the Democratic party all over the
country