The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1893-09-05
VETERANS MEET AGAIN
BI-PrGSidGnt HarriS0n GreetS Them
with a Magnificent Speech.
THE PENSION CONTROVERSY
"All Men who Fell by the Way Should
BE Rightfully Cared for by tho Ma
THE PENSION CONTROVERSY
Associated Press.

Associated Press.
Indianapolis, Sept. 4.-No annual en-
campment of the National encampment
week within the history of the G. A..
r. began more auspiciously than the
9th, which opened in thi scity today.
Thousands upon thousands of veterans
are here tonight, and still they come
in trainloads. This was reception day,
and the efforts of the citizens were
eXpendlng and bidding welcome. 1t is
getting to be a serious question about
accommodations, for this is the largest
post that Indianapolis ever trie dto
entertain. AT a large meeting at Camp
Harrison addressed his old comrades.
He spoke of the trials and struggles of
soldiers in war and said: "If there
is any man here who does not love
the Union veteran, he doeo not belong
to Indianapolis You will go back said
he from this meeting to pick up the
duties of your citizenship with higher
sense of the glories of this flag than
you had before you came here to min-
gle with these comrades, to listen to
these stirring songs, and other re-
membranes of those blood ydays.'
The citizens executive board gave a
reception to the G.. A. r. and invited
guests at Tomlinson's Hall tonight
about 5000 people being present. The
prominent speakers were ex-President
Harrison and Commander in Chief
Weissert. When General Harrison
arose to speak h ewas greeted with
tremendous outburst of applause. He
spoke in words of welcome to the
Grand Army and said:
-'f look into tn efaces of men tonight
who have shed blood and lost their
limbs and walked among us dismem-
bered in order that ou rcountry might
be untarnished. Can it be possible that
while the survivors of that great
struggle are still with us; while they
walk our streets, a generation has
come or forgetful of their great
achievements Has the mother of av-
arice, the canker Of greed so entered
into the hearts of this generation that
they are unmindful of these men? God
forbid. The American soldier of the
civil war;" said General Harrison,
had not been greedy. He was not
10, IN hNy hic flannthlU
stipend The men who went to the
front were not impelled by sordid pur-
poses and when the war wa sover,
their thought was not of dependence
upon the government but upon their
own rights. AS long as God gave them
their strength of arm the yhad fought
and ate the bread Of Independence. On
ly when they became veterans did they
turn a hopeful eye toward the govern
ment for relief. The Grand Army has
rightfully claimed that the men who
fell by the way in the battle of life
from disease or advancing age and
lost capacity to maintain themselves,
should be cared for by the nation they
saved, and not be dependent upon
their township poor farm. When con-
gress nganerous recognition of the
lightful claims of the soldier, has
passed a law for his benefit, we may
and will demand that it be beneficially
construed in his behalf 1t is a famil-
lar maxim of law that legislation Is
to have favorable interpretations in
the interest of the evils to be remedied
Secondly, we may and do insist that
in the administration of law, the SOL
Gier's integrity and honor shall not be
wantonly impeached. (Cheers.) He will
not ask that the man who has fraudu-
lently, btained place upon the PEN
sion rolls shall remain there. He will
ask that the other familiar maxim of
law, that fraud is to be proven and
not presumed shall be applied to the
soldier. Great applause.) This is
general principle and cannot go into
details. 1t must, 1 think, be acceptable
to every right thinking patriotic man."