The morning call., 1890-09-15
BRAVE VETERANS.
Celebrating the Anniversary OF
MeXicO's Fall.
How Thousands Who Had Fought fer III ir
County Were Put Upon the Pension List
After Years Ct Waiting.


quet of the Mexican War Veterans on Satur-
day night, in Pioneer Hall, concentrating
the forty-third anniversary of the capture Of
the City of Mexico in 1917, Collector L. q.
Phelps, ex-senator Cole. General Gibb0n,
commanding the Department OF the Pacific,
and other invited guests made eloquent and
patriotic speeches, and the assembled vet
Grams ndu' ged in "reminiscences OF the war
that were exceedingly interesting. A regu-
lar campfire" prevailed until 80 o'clock
next morning, kept alive by stories well told
by Colonel j. W. Mckenzie Samuel Deal,
Captain Knipe w. c. Burnett, Chief En-
gineer Scannell and other weli-knoWn men,
beers of The local organization.
In the course of the evening President An
drews called on the Secretary of the rational
association, Alexander NJ kenaday, for a
speech. This gentleman had Travelled over
5000 miles from Washington City to partici-
pate in this reunion. He was greeted with
hearty applause and in the course Of his
remarks threw light on the early history of
the Mexican Veteran movement which will
be interesting to the general reader as show
ing tie results OF Well-dlIecteQ Efforts III
worthy cause. lie said:
Mr. President and Comrades / feel thank
full 10 Almighty God for prolOneing my life 10
meet you again after an absence from your meet
left This TOit on the Ali Of July, 1868 honOred
with credentials signed by every officer of this
association 10 represent you IN obtaining from
the Government bldIch OF The National SOL
derS' Home for THIS Coast.
As some of you present this occasion may
lie unfamiliar with The early history oil this
eaniZatiOn 1t Will not be out OF oIder To recall
the preliminary proceedings which led to the for
nation of The society on the second day of July,
1866.
A called NEE ting OF the survivors of the Stew
enson Regiment OF New York Volunteers was ad-
yeItSed for that day 10 make arrangements Tor the
celebration OF HE national anniversary on The An,
and AN invitation was extended 10 other Mexican
War Veterans 10 participate. The meeting as
sembled in the oid City Hail, on Portsmouth
square. al which J. Burke Phillips presided and
Mr.. j. NJ. Rice acted secretary. Their were
present: Hessrs. j. b. Phillips, James Z. Mutt
man, j. NJ Rice, William +. CuttIell, j. L. Low,
Ii. L. Lewis. William c. DOtler, Edmund Bar
thIop William Huener, j. 2. Adams.
Thomas HUI and James DenniScn, members
OF The Stevenson Regiment, ana the following
veterans connected with other commands III The
Mexican War, 10 wit: A. NJ. Kenaday, Holmes e.
Patrick, John W. Ross, John McElroy, Charles
" ochoz, William Rankin, Henry dickson, viii
lam Foyer, II. b. Fisher, James kenney; Paul d.
Ryan. Charles }. Wallace, john Felix, Henry L.
ms ". j. Hamlin, L. L. Elliott, 4. II. Legafe
7. Mccain, john Gallagher, George X Bowlln,
Joseph l.. Reed, Erhrdm Z. HUI, John L. w.
wilson, John Heaney,. John Morris, William
TraXell, Charles W. Horton, {. Bylne, L. A
Eastman aud q. w. Paul.
Alter The object fUT which that meeting had
been called was disposed of l seized the oppor-
iuuity 10 submit proposition for the appoint
nent OF u committee OF seven TO prepare plan
of organization 10 embrace Ill ole brotherhood
The surviving representatives Of the army and
navy then residing in The States and Territories
OH the Pacific Coast, urging the necessity ana
the uuly OF providing some measure OF relief 10
destitute aud disabled comrades, many OF whom
were utterly fGendieSs and iaI from ihelI homes
IN he East.
The resolution was feelingly discussed and
unanimously adopted, the presiding officer hon
DING your Lun.Dle seIVdnt Win Tie Chlil mdn-
ship OF said committee.
With very slender means to carry out the nur-
pose contemplated, / nevertheless succeeded in
Preparing aud printing a constitution aud by
laws and issued an address by circular and
Though The daily press, which resulted IN
bret Tine III lie enrolment OF nearly two nun
died members, including Tie names OF nianE
emiu enl ana patllullc ciIlZenS. lie address OF
tie Organizing Committee was signed by Alex
al der NJ. heuaday JhaTman) William Rankin,
II. {. Patrick, Cha lies NCchulZ, j. L. huffman,
EDWARD BaIhrop, j. b. Philips aud William
Hueiner.
a meeting was duly called by The Organizing
Committee. who proposed tie following uiolied
nuers as officers tor the initial year ending
July 4, 1867, 10 WI: President, Henry y; Hat
! leck; Vice. Presidents, I. W.. FIeel0n, Sellm f.
| NOodWGrlh: Nicc-PeSident FOR tab, L. Edward
| COnuor; Nlce-P resident for Washington 1erl-
! tory y iliam kelley; Recording Secretary. Will
| lam Hueiner; Corresponding secretary. Robert
! shall Jonathan H. stevenson; TIHst.es-,J,.hH b.
fiisbie. Kchaid +. Hammond. " iilam Ii. Bell,
| Arch Cooper, William L.. duncan
Tie success OF tier organization was phenOnl-
endl curing lut hts year Oh It's tASlcHES, III
| the course OF time IL WAS aseeiia!ned ihat The
| resources Of tie association 9eIe not adequate
10 take proper care of all the inlirm ana destitute
! members whom 1t desired to relieve. AT this
! junciule called The attention OF the association
| 10 the National soldiers Home in Washington,
] which WAS founded on moneys raised IN Mexico
| for the benefit Of The soldiers OF the war will
| that country, and advised the appointment Of
| committee 10 petition Congress fUr Il branch Of
SAID home 10 felleVeiUuT comrades Oh The Pacilc
| Coast.
President halleck appointed The committee as
| follows: Richard T. Hammond Robert e. Rogers
| and A. NJ. heGaday. My colleagues on the COM
NIL &c selected me TO perform Ihe duties OF the
| committee III Washington, and With a keen sense
| OF Tie responsibility. and a desire 10 perform
| sacied duly 10 MY old comrades, entered upon
| HE task aud left for Washington Guy, as before
stated III 1868.
| viii not lax your patience with recital of
my twenty odd years OF labor Suffice II 10 say
| that The Commits iOaers OF The soldiers Home
were mimIca to the project Of Il brenCh home
| Tor tie facllc Coast, ana deemed II Incumbent
III lie 10 endeavOt to elect e national oigdnlZi-
| ton If Mexican Wac Veterans and obtain 1
| vice pension for all the Survivors, which was
| finally granted iii January, 1887. II is not all
We desired but was tire best that could be done
! At the time and hope II VIII In the not distant
old saw, babded down II I'm The ancients. that
The mills Of the gods grind slow,
But they grind exceedingly iue
Let us, therefore. hope that the little good
which has already been accomplished IN tile d.
eetlOn OF cOmIenSaling Tie men who rendered
Incaculable wealth aud iniperisbabe TeDown TO
thSI SVuH'is A'S 'Sli d9hiO VI
just iewald The San Francisco association
may justly claim that they have been largely in-
sliuinrnial in placing upon the pension rolls of
the country about n 900 names OF survivors aud
WIDOWS Of deceased comrades, about COCO of
whom reside on this Coast.
a the conclusion of Mr.. Kenaday's re-
| marks, President Andrews formally returned
thanks 10 the speaker for his faithful ser
vices.
Ex-senator Cornelius Cole arose and paid
glowing tribute to the zeal and energy Of
Secretary ktnaday, whom he knew v ell dur
ing his Senatorial term in Congress. lie re-
marked that no man could have shown more
faithful devotion 10 a cause than was eXhiU-
tied by this trusted agent of the association,