The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-02-23
Ex-PrisOnerS.

President Marion T. Anderson, of the Ma
tional Association. has issued from Washington
circular, in which the following paragraphs
occur:
l desire to express my high appreciation of
the honor conferred upon ME, and to thank the
comrades of the Convention for the expression
of their confidence in selecting me as the Pres
dent Of the National Association of Union
ex-Prisoners of War. / have assumed the re-
sponsibiitie5, feeling at the same time my
| weakness and perhaps utter inability to ac-
| complish all that is desired, yet determined to
lose no opportunity presenting itself to benefit
our interests.
1t will be my first and highest aim to ad-
vance our Association in every way practicable.
Whether we can hope for favorable legislation
during the coming session of Congress, in the
face Of the assertions of certain economists, the
future alone can determine. 1t will, however,
be through no lack Of effort on the part of the
officers Of the Association if our bill fails to
become law before March next.
Tho following is copy of the bill which is
now before the Committee on Pensions:
BE II enacted By The Senate and House of Rep
| resentatires of the United States of america in
Congress assembled That the Secretary of
the Interior be. and he is hereby, authorized to
pay to all surviving officers and enlisted men
of the military aud naval service of the United
States who were prisoners of war during the
more, the sum Of two dollars for each and every
day they were held In confinement as prisoners
of war"
There are many and cogent reasons why the
prisoners of war bill shonld pass, viz:
First. Because of starvation and excessive
hardshps endured. We were, az a rule, broken
down in health (thoss who survived the fearful
ordeal) and practically rendered unfit for the
active pursuits of business life.
Second. We were compelled to endure priya-
tons and bardships much more trying than
those in the field, and to face a mortality far
greater than was ever experienced in battle.
Third. We were prevented from re-enlisting,
and thus deprived of the large Government,
State and local bounties, amounting in many
instances to several thousand dollars.
1t gives me pleasure, in this connection, to
quote a aragraph from Circular No. by Past
President Gen. w. II. Powell, which is so ap-
propriate and pertinent to the objects in view
that it will bear repetition, viz: We need
combined effort in the matter of securing
= legislation; but before this can be
accomplished it is important that the full and
hearty cooperation of all ex- prisoners shall be
secured through the channel of the National
Association, heartily supported by all local as
sociatons in the respective States and Terri
tories, and as we cannot hope for success until
we are thus united and working under one and
the same head, | urge all Union
eY- pri5oBef5 u dt ouco anu W pre-
pared to assist the National Association in all
its efforts to secure the desired ends"
Furthermore, there several local associa-
tons in more than one State not as yet MEM
bers of the National body. 1t is to be hoped
that all such associations will Immediately take
the necessary steps to come into the National
organization to the end that we may as unit
ask for what is justly our due-the passage Of
this 81 per diem bill.
Comrades, during the coming year be alive
to the fact that every soldier who was at any
time prisoner of war should be enrolled as
member; in greater numbers there is greater
strength. Be active, then, and if your local as
ISOLATION is slumbering the sleep almost that
knows no awakening, rouse it up, bring your
selves before the people; keep your lamps
trimmed and burning and the interest ablaze
with enthusiasm to the end that when we as
semble next year in Indianapolis we shall have
much larger attendance than ever before,
and be thoroughly united from Maine to Cali
fornia.