The National tribune., 1898-10-13
SNIAN.
a nIlSIN

by the Grand Army Encampment at Cincln-
natl, were. am Informed, acted upon when
there were not over 100 persons present. L
am also c.edil,ly informed that 90 of these
were pension attorneys
As you had representative present this
statement. from Congressman, should not
pass unchallenged-A. c. BUCHANAN, No.
500 \ Downing street, Piqua, o.
We regret very much that Ma|.
Steele should allow such statement as
this to go out over his signature, es-
pecially when little inquiry among the
comrades of indianapolis, his home,
would have convinced him of Its great
inaccuracy. While it is true that there
were not so many present in the En-
campment as on the first day, since
there was the customary dimlnutlon OF
attendance after the absorbing questions
are decided as to who shall be the next
Commander-in-C Chief, and where the
next National Encampment is to be
held, vet the attendance was full, and of
the most representative men OF the
Order. They were the comrades who
feel the full responsibility of going to the
National Encampment and legislating
carefully, thoughtfully and wisely for the
welfare of their comrades and the dignity
and usefulness of the Grand Army Of
the Republic. These men regard the
election of officers and of meeting
place as relatively minor incidents, and
are glad to have them out of the way
to clear the boards for more serious
work
The passage Of appropriate pension
resolutions, voicing the general dlscon-
tent of. the comrades with the present
management of the Pension Bureau, was
regarded as an important part of this
more serious work, and something that
the veterans and their friends all over
the country were anxiously watching
for. 1t was imperative that the Ma
tional Encampment should make such
an emphatic deliverance as would meet
their expectations. Numbers of more
or less flaming resolutions had been
offered and under the rules referred to
the Committee on Resolutions without
reading. The report of the Committee
on Pensions had not come up to expec-
tations. and a subcommittee was ap-
pointed to consider all the pension reso-
lutions and the whole subject, and
frame a suitable deliverance for the Ma
tional Encampment. This was eagerly
looked for, and became the chief event
of that portion of the session.
1t is absolutely untrue that "95 of
the 100 present were pension attorneys"
We are as familiar with the personnel
of the National Encampment as anyone.
At the time of the passage of the reso-
Iutions we distinctly recall as present
and taking active part in the proceed
ings, president of a great National
bank, president of leading fire.
insurance company, a number of cash
iers and other bank officials; several
college professors, number of insurance
agents and officials, several clergymen,
at least score of prominent merchants
and manufacturers, certainly 100 law
yers of fine practice, who could not be
persuaded to touch pension case except
as a favor for some old comrade of their
regiment, and physicians, journalists,
farmers, mechanics, railroad men, etc.
I'm fact, the members were everything
else but pension attorneys. The only
man present prominently identified with
the pension business was Corporal Tan
ner, who Won his honored position in the
National Encampment very many years
before lie had any thought of becoming
a pension attorney.
If Maj Steele would mingle more
intimately with GAR. men he would
understand their character, standing
and temper better, and would not bt
liable to be imposed on as he has been il
this instance. A very large proportion
of the men who adopted those resolu
tions occupy quite as high, if not higher
standing in their respective communi
ties and various callings as he does il
his, and it is far from becoming for hin
TO attempt to slur them as "pension at
torneys.'