The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1901-02-26
INDIAN WAR VETS
TREATED SHABBlLY
Record OfSendi0r KuykendalI
Who Killed the Bill
Thousand fira Political jan
ket But None for Soldiers
Who Did Their Duty

who enlisted in the Indian Wars o. lS)
1856 was passsd by the House almost
unanimously. The House was no doubt
animated by a paiii tic spirit Of justice
towards the handful OF old Indian War
Veterans 1t u surviving In Oregon.
Their descendants and fellow citizens
who knew Of the services they had
rendered we're members Of this legisla.
ture, and the organization Of native
sons and daughters we're 90 deeply il
terested that there was not a more
popular measure presented 70 this
legislature. Its passage by the House
in carefully guarded form was the first
recognition Of the services rendered to
posterity by these pioneers.
The Indian War Veterans bill was
treated in most disrespectiul manner
in the senate. II was reported without
recommendation, and Senator Kuyken.
dali moved hs indefinite postponement,
making a speech Of some length in which
he took the position that these volun-
teers we've not entitled to consideration,
as they we're only defending their own
homes against Indians and in effect
rendered no service which entitled
them TO such consideration. This state.
ment was not historically true. Indis
criminately turning down a measure Of
so much historical impoi tance was 10 siy
the least, cowardly act. II was bad
enough TO charge that the membersof
the House voted for a job without merit
when they passed the bill, and to i'm.
pate that the Indian War veterans were
a lot Of praiters,
But TO refuse them the scanty justice
Of rollcall on the measure was beneath
the dignity Of the senate and an act un.
worthy any representative OF the people
Of Oregon which owes 30 much TO the
Indian War Veterans. They we're col.
diers. That they performed their duty
at the time when they were called 10 the
defence Of the commonwealth ought TO
safety any honorable msn they were at
least entitled to the individual judgment
OF the members Of tho senate. This was
denied then in dlsgraceiul manner by
a man who has asked monopolistic legis-
lation IN his own profession continu.
ally, and his last bin was 80 unfair
aud unjust that II was properly
tabled In the senate at the request
OF the entire medical fraternity OF tho
state. The pitiance Of 500 a day for
services when the average wages in the
country was slOa day was thus denied
BY kuykendall 10 men who enlisted 20 |
fight hostile sayages at call OF country,
but he saw TO II that bis son was put on
the payrols during this legislature at
81 90 a day, sum that the 10y could
not earn at anything withno sufficient
duties la the Senate to keep him from
performing other services. II he had
let the bill 40 to vote and Il had been
doconily killed no one could object. Mr.. J
kuykendall could hardly face dele.
cation Of Indian War Vets on his record.
senator Huykendall championed tie
appropriation 10 send committee of
politicians on iunket 10 Washington
70 accomplish the very ends soughlb,
she bin lac indefinitely postponed and
Tor the very reasons alleged above he
championed that measure a. political
job lie made plea ior the bill 10
secure at We 'hinglon what he denied
them here and denied that there was
any reason for giving them anything
here Tor the services he wants the fed.
eral government 90 pay them for having
rendered. Inconsistency is not TO he
expected Of such statesman and il
would not be- pounied out here but for
The Shameful smsllnoss by which he
sought TO Keep from going on record for
a bill originating With man of the
opposition.
Col Montague the author Of the hin ia
plonecF II Oregn who has served both
as volunteer aud In the regular army
A. 'he only aud principal measure
OF the minority in this legislature il did
not deserve summary and insolyen, de.
cap''a''on' senator HuykendalI could
not stand up Car ten miautos in either
hoqse, much loss before an audience IN
Lane ooanty, or aaywhere in Oreson
and assure the arguments oi Col. Mon.
'sgoe on the noOr Of The house In i.yoy
al this ban Yet upon tho mere mi.
lormci assertion Of professional LEA.
uiosger, NOT loonded upon the facts Of
history, or upon any facts Nha,eyer The
sena'e indefinitely postponed il. Col
N0llf que aod the Ia lan Way Vs,er,ns
OF che entire state have a right 10 teel
oalrsged al this shabby treatment