Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-08-18
Addressed by Senator Reed Smoot
Az First Annual Reunion
AZ Manti.
REPLY TO POLITICAL DEFAMERS
Show That Measure for Relief of the
Indian War Heroes Was Not Killed
On Account OF Investigation.


Manti today, The attendance was large
and the enthusiasm over the event,
unbounded The main feature of the
gathering was the address Of United
States Senator Reed Smoot who delly-
cred an address that makes II very
clear that the charge that the Utah re-
lief or pension measure did not fail on
account Of the so-called smoot inyesti-
CATION The senator's speech to the
veterans follows in full
Mr., Chairman. Veterans Of the Utah
Indian Wars, Ladies and Gentlemen'
desire to express my hearty apprecia-
ton for your kind invitation to attend
the first annual reunion and camp fre
Of the comrades OF the Utah Indian
wars. / also appreciate the privilege
OF speaking to this body Of men and
expressing my interest In them ] as
sure you that there IL nothing that
would not do for your future welfare.
! never tire Of speaking OF the great
sacrifices made by our pioneer fathers
and mothers and also Of the stipend
Gus work accomplished by the indian
war veterans. | have taken consider
the different Indian wars which have
occurred in our state. In that study
| have learned of the lives that were
lost, the property that was destroyed,
and the hardshps that were endured
by those who participated In them. The
men were paid no salary nor were they
furnished with warm clothing or sufli-
Client food, but they were urged on
by devotion TO home, to country 10
family and friends. They never hest
tated, but advanced at a moments call
to protect, not only their own homes
and interests, but the lives OF all the
people, 1t Is this class OF men ! have
the privilege Of addressing, and | de-
sire to say that my heart and sympa-
thies are with you ! respect and honor
your labors in the past, and ! ask Gods
choicest blessings upon you In the
future. This gathering here today
must bring many recollections To you
Indian fighters, and ! am proud 10 at
tend this your first reunion, held, as II
is. I'm the county that was the battle
field Of the beginning Of the great
Black Hawk war,
MAKES EMPHATIC DENIAL.
For the last six weeks, have had
many Of the Black Hawk War veterans
call In person and relate story that
has gone the rounds, inspired by solne-
body unfrieudly 20 me- that the bill
introduced In the last Congress BY SEN
ator Kearns for pensloning the veter-
ans Of the Black Hawk war, would
have passed Congress II II had not been
for the investigation Of my case.
have a clipping taken from the Daily
state Journal Of July 30, 1904, which
reads as follows;
Failing TO obtain an answer from
Senator Reed Smoot to one OF the
most recent important questions re-
Gently propounded in Utah the State
Journal is prepared to make reply
which is incontestably correct. The
bill TO afford n pension to the Indian
war Veterans OF Utah was on the SEN
ate calendar and was expected TO pass
by unanimous consent, when two prom
inent senators Of eastern states-one
Democrat aud one n Republlcan--an
nounced 10 Messrs. Kearns and Smoot
that they had concluded 10 oppose the
passage Of the bill because of the as
founding showing made in the Smoot
investigation"
This paper, and other papers In Urah,
have published articles similar 10 this,
/ have paid no attention to them In the
past. but as many OF the indian war
veterans have asked me for an explana-
ton ] deem II proper 10 let them
know the facts,
KEARNs' INDIAN BILL,
Senator Thomas Kearns introduced in
the senate Of the United States on
Jan. 20, 1904, "A bill 20 extend the pro-
visions, limitations and benefits Of the
act OF July a. 1892, as amended by the
act Of June q, 1909" which grants to
Indian fighters IN certain sections OF
the country pension OF IS per month,
Including the men who fought In the
Walker Indian wars In the state OF
Utah In the year 1883.
will read you the bill introduced by
Senator Kearns. II is as follows.
"Be Il enacted by the senate and
house Of representatives OF the United
States Of American IN Congress assem-
bled, that the provisions of the act
OF July 81. 1892 as amended by the act
OF June a. 1902 be and the same are
hereby extended to include the Indian
wars OF the United States, which or
Cured IN the Territory OF Utah, down
to and including those which took place
In the year 1887 provided, that proof
OF service under the provisions OF this
or surviving widows OF such soldiers,
&C rrOborated attested by two reputable
Witnesses said evidence to be taken
az full and satisfactory proof Of SER
vice when no record OF service is In
Clude1 IN the files OF the war or treas
ury departments.
Sec q That all pensions granted
under the provisions Of this act shall
and the same are hereby, ordered paid
as OF date OF June 81, 1902, the date OF
the passage of the amended act"
REFERRED 10 SENATOR sMooT.
This bill was read twice and referred
10 the committee on pensions, OF which
! am a member. The bill was referred
20 me, and | imediately saw that It's
provisions would not help the Black
Hawk war veterans. / call your atten-
tlon 10 the fact that the bill specific
ally states that its provisions should be
extended 20 include the Indian wars Of
the United States, that Is, only those IN
the service Of the general government
would receive pensions, and the pros
visions Of the bin would not benefit the
men who had been In the service OF the
Territory OF Utah; thus failing TO meet
the very deficiency II was intended 10
remedy / vas told by Senator Kearns
that n the bill passed the way It was
presented, II would AZ least put the
Black Hawk war veterans on pensions
able status and that II the veterans
could not prove that they We're entitled
to a pension II would not be the fault
OF the bill.
WOULDN'T BE DECEITFUL.
o,c,,.raA th,. a,A - ,.v...-.. l.