The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-20
Comrade Ryan showed Under All the
Other Candidates Who Have Been
Pulling Many Wires.
AN INTERESTING ENCAMPMENT
VETERANS TAKE A STAND FOR
Equal PENSIONS TO ALL ALIKE.
Officers and Privates Should Draw the
Same Relief-H. Clay Evans
Resolution Defeated.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special to the indianapolis Journal.
COLUMBUS, Ind, May 19.-The second
day of the encampment was one of unsua
interest because of the topics which came
UP for discussion in connection with the re-
port of the committee on resolutions. The
first resolution was that presented by M. d
Ellis, of Indianapolis declaring for the re-
peal of the civil-service law. The commit.
tee was evidently divided on the matter
but it came up with the approval of thai
body. 1t seemed at first as If it could be
passed by a whoop, for the reason that
those opposed to it did not know that II
had been presented Hon. James T. John.
ston, of Rockville, who always commands
the attention Of the encampment, rose and
was recognized. He warned the comrades
to be careful about this subject, as it was q
very grave matter. By the wisdom of both
parties the civil-service law was passed ir
1882. He was not in favor of some of the
rules under the law but it would not dc
for the Grand Army of the Republic to &C
on record against system designed to in
quire into the qualification of applicants
for subordinate positions upon which the
efficiency of the public service depended
AS a congressman he had seen the working
of the rule under the law in the depart
ments and had come to the conclusion that
system to ascertain the fitness of aspir-
ants was needed.
The resolute position assumed by Mr..
Johnston had q marked effect upon the en-
campment. Several comrades took Gdes
with him, while others opposed Pending
the consideration of a proposition to mod
ify the resolution so as to change the rules
the point Of order was raised that 1t was a
political question, having no right before
the encampment, and Commander Dodge
sustained the objection, and thus the mat
ter ended 1t was evident that out-and- out
repeal did not control the encampment
when the ruling was made.
There was greater excitement over the
resolutions presented by the Richmond
post, condemning Pension Commissioner
Evans and asking the President to remove
him. Objection was made on the ground
that some of the charges were not sus-
tanned by evidence. and that the language
of the resolutions lacked dignity. The res
olutions came to the encampment with the
disapproval of the committee on resolutions.
The motion to adopt was first opposed by
James T. Johnston in a vigorous five
minute speech. While Johnston was speak
ing there was marked change of senti-
L.
and Gil r. Stormont of Princeton, spoke
against the resolutions and C. w. Travis,
of Charlottesville, and others in favor.
The resolutions were referred back to the
committee to report new draft, which it
did, in the following language
Whereas, 1t is currently reported from
various sources that many of the rules OF
the Pension Department under the present
administration are inimiCal to the interests
of the veterans of the late war and impose
hardships upon applicants for pensions; we,
therefore, demand the most liberal con-
struction of the pension laws and of the
evidence presented by applicants, and ask
that no man be. appointed to or be retained
in the office of commissioner of pensions
whose constituency is opposed to pensioning
Union soldiers; It is the sense of this en-
campment that the time has arrived when
every honorably discharged Union soldier
should be ipso facto given a reasona bic
service pension and his honorable discharge
and proof of identity should be a sufficient
of any attorney. We denounce all rules
which tend to defeat or delay this great
assent that all frauds upon the pension
system ought to be speedily detected and
severely punished.
A sharp discussion followed, the objection
being to the new resolution that it lacked
definiteness, but it was carried by a de-
cided vote.
One resolution relating to pensions did
not encounter any opposition. 1t declared
for the same pensions for officers and pri-
Yates, denounced granting large pensions
to the widows of prominent officers and the
passing of special pension acts by Congress
for individuals and the removing of the
disabilities of men under charge Of deser-
ton.
There was not as much interest mani
tested in the contest for department COM
mander as there has been in previous years.
There were four candidates for that posi-
ton each of whom received the following
vote: Daniel l.. Brown. of Indianapolis, 81
B. B. Campbell, Anderson, So; r. P. Finney,
IDArr al %
popular Methodist preacher, 294. In accord
ance to the usage Benjamin M. Hutchins,
of Columbus, was elected senior vice COM
mander. On the third ballot Jesse Fl. Car
penter. of Angola. who served in the navy,
was elected junior vice commander. The
council of administration elected is as fol-
lows: Ben Starr, Richmond; II. A. Root,
Michigan City: George w. Lucky, Ogilville,
and w. L. Dunlap. Franklin. Governor
Mount was elected delegate at large and
Lieutenant Governor Haggard alternate.
District delegates and alternates were
elected as follows:
First District-Elder Cooper, Evansville.
delegate; Charles w. Wheeler Princeton,
See second District-Arkman Carnahan,
Washington. delegate; DR. j. M. Jones,
Third Distributions H Sowle, New AL
bany, delegate; w. f. Wiley Charlestown,
a Fourth District-W. r Strickland Column
b,1s and Rev Thomas Jones, Seymour,
delegates Henry b. Sparks. Rising Sun,
and John F. Spencer, Moores Hill. alter
Fifth District-Elias Kemper, Mansfield.
and Ellis Weaver. Pittsboro, delegates; Fl.
II Woods Martinsvile, and James Robert
son Terre Haute, alternateS
Sixth District-Wm. II. Swope. Milton.
delegate: Elisha Weakley, Shelbyville, al
seventh District-John w PAYER. Indian
apolis delegate; B. w. Sullivan, Indianap-
Eighth District~W. H. Younts, Eaton
delegate: A. o. Briggs. Elwood, alternate.
Ninth District-Chas. w. Scott, Lebanon
and J. A. Swovelsnd. Upton, delegates
Waugh, Upton, alternates.
Tenth District-Jas b. Roach, Monticello
delegate; II. A Root. Michigan City, al
Eleventh District-Albert p Miller. Wa
bash delegate; Daniel "A. Smith, Kokomo.
twelfth District-Amos r. Walter Fort
Wayne, delegate; David r. Redesheimer,
Morrisville. alternate,
Thirteenth District-James D. Brander,
Elkhart. delegate; Franklin S. Cutter, South
Bend. alternate
Geqaer, Ridgevine DELEGATE: Geo W.
Steely. West Lebanon, alternate.
Eleventh and Thirteenth Districts-Cor-
nelius Bed. Denver, delegate; James H
Cisney. Warsaw, alternate.
The resolution of thanks to the people of
by request of the resolution committee. is
a grateful acknowledgment of the veterans
10 a city which has done everything in the
best manner to welcome and care for its
guests. Past COMMUNICATIVE Walker
seconding the resolution, said that no state
all had so comfortable convention hall as
hat which Columbus has furnished thic