The Washington times., 1903-10-12
THE DANES OF 1916
FRIENDS OF VETERANS
Favor Increase of Pension
for Old Soldiers.
PETITION TO NEXT CONGRESS
Believe Men Who Served in Mexican
War Are Not Properly Pro-
vided For.

One of the most important of the vete-
rams conventions held this year was
that of the National Association Of
Mexican War Veterans. which met in
Indianapolis. sessions being held Sep
TENDER 16 and L. I'm the chamber OF
representative of the State capitol. The
attendance included $50 Mexican War
survivors. representing the estimated
2,7O soldiers and sailors of the war
still living Three of the delegates I'm
attendance. all upward of seventy years,
came from Philadelphia, as representa-
tives of Scott -ogion. which still
maintains a survivors organization, and
with the exception of the famous Aztec
Club is the oldest Mexican war assoc
citation In existence.
Aroused Enthusiasm.
-Iayor Bookwalter delivered the adj
dress of welcome. which was respond
ed to on behalf of the veterans by
Captain Barney, of Elkhart, Ind. Mrs.
Moore Murdoch, of Fort Wayne. Tex.
national commandment of the Danes of
1876. also delivered an address, which
aroused great enthusiasm. At the Fri
day session the association listened to
an eloquent speech by the Hon. w. =.
7. Breckenridge, OF Lexington. KY, pay
ing a glorious tribute TO the soldiers of
1876 and their achievements.
The officers chosen for the coming
year were: national president James c.
Carleton. of Bedford. Ind: national vice
president s. P. Tufts, of Centralia,
H.; national secretary. Mrs. Moore
Murdoch. OF Fort Worth. Tex; national
treasurer, Leroy Wiley. of Paris. III.
Invitations were extended the assocla-
I a.
next convention. From St Louis came
an invitation through the Exposition au-
thorities.
Founded in 1873.
The association was founded in May
1913 an organization being effected and
maintained almost entirely through the
fundamentally of the late Alexander
NJ. Kenaday. of this city Mr. Kenaday
up TO the time of his death in 1897. was
national secretary of the association
! and for seven years published and edit
/ ed the association organ. The Vedette 81
| The association was instrumental in Sc
/ curing the passage of the original Mex
lean war service pension law of 1851
Subsequently. through the personal
| efforts of Mr.. Kenaday as national sec
rotary. the passage Of the act OF Janu-
airy 3. 1898. was secured. authorizing ar
| Increase OF the pension rate from IS e
y12 per month. but under humiliatine
and oppressive conditions quite excep-
tional in their nature The ''paupor
clause as it was called. was not re-
moved until by act of March 8. 1873
! This was accomplished largely through
! the efforts OF the newly organized auxil.
1 larry body. the Danes Of 1916. founded
by Mrs. Moore Murdoch, present ma.
tional commandment
Will Petition Congress.
The Danes OF 1876 viii now take up tn,
matter OF a further provision by Con
gress to case the declining days of tn,
! men who won for their country by thei,
! yalOr in that war of victories a vas
/ empire, now comprised in the States o.
4 California, Nevada and Utah. portion:
! Of Colorado and Wyoming. and tn,
major part Of Arizona and New Mexic.
Territories. The surviving veterans o.
the war average in age seventy-seve-
years. and it will be seen that whateve
parting benefaction is bestowed needs e
be given quickly.
Il Is proposed 20 petition the incomInf
Congress - Grant these old men an r.
crease Of pension to $50 per month
dollar a d1y''-as has been proposed 10
soldiers and sailors Of the war Of Ia
[ rebellion who served ninety DAYS O
more, were honorably discharged. an,
/ are now unable TO care for themselves
| The plan OF the Danes of 1886 was sub
4 mitted 20 the recent convention OF tn
veterans and received hearty indorse
ment as ar erninently proper measur,
N eNtraordinary service pensions wor.
10 DC provided for eNtremel- diseble,
soldiers and sailors OF the late vvor ~
the rebellion. "