Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-03
BUT FEW ARE STILL LIVING
Veterans of the Mexican War Are Rapidly
Passing Away.
rhe Survivors VIII Hold n Convention
in This City Next Weekday
he the Last.

Washington being the principal conVen-
ton city of the country, annually enter
tains many distinguished guests who as
semble here to transact the business OF
their organizations. Yet it is to be doubt
ed If a more venerable association ever
assembled here than one which will be
called TO order, for perhaps the last time,
next Saturday at Wizards Hotel. 1t is
the National Association of the Veterans
of tie Mexican War. and If the convention
were given number starting with the
first convention ever He'll, 1t Is probab Bile
that this would be about the forty-ninth or
flftieth annual convention. Owing TO the
sad ravages death has made in the ranks
of the Mexican veterans. end the imperfect
condition of the past records, it Is impos-
sible to say exactly how many conventions
have beer hell since the armies marched
over the Rio Grande.
1t is no exaggeration to say that this
convention will be the mos. important the
Mexican veterans ever attended. The rea-
son is that the number of veterans on the
pension rolls is growing smaller and
smaller every year. 1t will not he many
years before hero of Cheruousco will be
looked upon with as much respect IS
though he were a hero of Waterloo. one
by one they are passing away, and before
lcng. there will De no one eligible to men,
bership in the association. The veterans
VINO VIII gather mere reailZe I0lS.
IT Is four years since the last convention
of the Mexican veterans was held, and
OF the officers chosen at that time to SUI
perinterd the affairs of the organization
death has carried away all but one Such
sweeping devastation of their ranks caused
more Gisnray among the veterans than
ever Mexican spears were responsible Tor
Washington has always been the head
quarters of the Association, and when
every one on guari at headquarters was
carried away, the veterans were 10th to
take 1t upon themselves to attempt reor-
ganizatiCn. Judge Edward Lander CT II
street. the only surviving officer. after the
death OF Secretary Alex NJ. Ken aday, has
not been enjoying the best of health of
late. and so has not taken the initiative in
the matter of reorganization. So for the
last four years the National Association of
Mexican Veterans has done nothing but
rest on its laurals and draw pensions.
May BE the Last.
The convention mas been called by the
prominent veterans of Washington to take
steps to perpeJTa-e the organization. At
this meeting the Attendance will determ. he
whether in the future the association snail
exist as a passive association, or whether
X shall hold annual conventions, IS in the
past The veterans realize that they are
getting too Did 10 march over the country
once a year. The rolls % the pension Office
show the names Of only about 5000 CT all
those thousa nds and thousands of brave
And each year, at alarming rate, the
list grows smaller. Hence Vt has been
argued that the present convention should
be the last of the lot. 1t has bean pro-
posed TO make suitable provision for per-
Ietuating the organization, and seeing that
interest in It -ioes not die. but 1t is i'm
probable that another national convention
will ever be hell!
The veterans who will he present will In
ell probability be only from New York
Pennsylvania. Maryland and the Virginias
and Delaware. A general invitation has
been sent out to the 5000 veterans but
on account of their age few from dis
tance will attend. They WILL of course
agree &c everyth hing that may be done
The average age of the Mexican veterans
must be at least seventy years, and of the
5000 it IS improbable that 300 will be able
10 co<Se. Washington alone has about half
hundred veterans. many of them gov
eminent clerks. who. in spite OF their ad-
yaEced age, retain their positions partly
on account of the service rendered their
country half century ago.
These local veterans have been max
Ing arrangements for the reception and en-
tertainment of the visitors. In the alb
ton informal meeting has been held.
and Gen Horauo Gates Gibson, USA
tretired), who saw service in Mexico fifty
years ago, was chosen as president. The
other officers selected We're Col w. F.
Melbourne. secretary: Major Tenant,
treasurer. and Samuel Hoyt, sergeant-at-
arms These elections were conditional
tpon ratification by the convention on July
. 10. but II is considered certain that the
election will be approved. and that the
present incumbents will be made officers
for life, If they will accept the positions
Hut Few Survivors.
Some Of the prominent Washington vet