The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-11-16

Presentation to Past Comm ander walker
Action on the Monument Matter.
1t was decidedly red-letter night at
Thomas Post, G. A. R., last evening. The
principal extraction was the presentation
of the badge ordered by the last depart
ment encampment to Past Commander /.
N. Walker by Past Commander Chase.
Commander Cheadle was present and quite
a number of members of city posts. The
badge was designed and manufactured
under the direction of Depart
ment Quartermaster Weaver. by
Craft & Koehler. of this city. and
is bit of as nice work as can be found
anywhere. The body of the badge is of
elghteen.karet gold. In each point of the
star is diamond as well as on the stars Of
the major generals insignia. while the eye
of the eagle Is q ruby. The inscription
reads as follows: Presented by the IMAM
imous Vote of the Thirteenth Annual En-.
,oampment of the Department Of Indiana,
q. A. r., to Ivan n. Walker, Department
Commander lS9l-92" The value of the
jewel is $3.50.
Governor Chase, In making the presenta-
ton. spoke Of the great value of the Grand
Army to the colntry and the Importance of
tho organization as an educator. and was
very decided In his criticism of those men
who havc said that the soldiers friend
might be the peoples enemy. He referred
to the most efficient services of Past Com
mander Walker as assistant adjutant-gen-
eral for four years and referred briefly to
his military service.
Colonel Walker responded in fitting
words and broadened into an eloquent ad.
dress. One paragraph, which called forth
applause. is as follows: The Union soldier
should never forget the place their bayon-
cts and sabres gave them in history. How
many men In the days to come Will reckon
the date of their nobility back to Shiloh.
to Vicksburg to Getty sburg. to Appomat-
tox. How the boys will CRY: My ancestor
stood with Thomas at Nashville. with Sher-
man at Atlanta with Meade at Gettysburg
is my letters patent of nobility 1t is our
mission to see that no man who helped to
write upon the page OF history Donelson
and Shiloh. Malvern Hill and Antietam,
Gettysburg Stone River and Atlanta is
tramp or pauper."
A committee of the Thomas Relief Corps,
consisting of Mrs. Payer. president, Mrs.
Wooden and Mrs j. +. Twiname. was in
troduced. In very pertinent remarks Mrs.
PAYER stated that the purpose of the COM
mittee was to sell tickets to the Crazy
Social of Thursday evening. to be held in
Thomas Post hall. to which all are invited,
and 90 cents worth OF fun will be admins
tered for 10 cents. A large number Of tick
cts was sold.
Tho circular letter of Commander Chea-
die. sent out by Adjutant-general Robbins
under date of Nov. z, relative to the Mex
lean war figures on the monument. was
read. The letter calls tho attention Of
posts to the previous circular, which
brought resolutions requesting the taking
: OF those dates from the monument from
posts with membership of ten thousand,
and then proceeds:
The department officers presented these resolu-
lions to the Board of Monument Commissioners
in August last, and have received no answer "a
yet TO our request At a recent meeting OF said
board, they claimed that said resolutions did
F. not truly represent the sentiments OF the COM
rades of this department.
1t is therefore requested that post commanders
Will. on or before the 10th day of November
1892, at their first regular meeting. if held be-
fore that time, or at special meeting to be held
or before that date. lay this circular letter be-
on this subject. The plain question presented
Is this: Do the comrades desire to ratify and APP
prove the action taken by their Indianapolis
comrades and department officials, and to prose-
cute the matter to successful terminationi
Commanders OF posts are directed to forward
g., at indianapolis. at once, the report to be
signed by the commander and adjutant. and
stating the number of comrades in favor of and
the number who are against the proposition.
By O unanimous vote the post voted to
ratify its present action requesting the
Mexican dates to be removed. Anderson
Post took similar action Monday night.
The following nominations were made
for commander for the election to take
place early in December: Moses G.. Nc
Lain. George +. McGinnis j. L. Twiname,
Eli Lilly.
Addresses were made until late hour.
the speakers being Commander CheadIe.
Pension Agent Ensley. Is. T.. Shaw and 9th.
ers. The talk drIfted toward the subject
of pensions md their inequality. CON-
mander Cheadle suggested that il was n
duty of the Grand Army to look mn the
cases of poor veterans who deserved larger
pensions than they are receiving. One
member suggested that it might be we'll
TO look after those men who were receiving
large pensions who were scarcely out of the
State. Speaking of the Grand Army in In
diana. Commander Cheadle reported an ex-
ceiieut feeling and purpose al along the
line TO decrease the membership. which IL
now over twenty-five thousand in good
standing.