The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-06-06
WHERE WAS CANNON Z
G. A. r. Commander Coney's Bitter
Speech at salina.

test for commander stands about the
same as it did last night. There was
an attempt yesterday to spring the
name Of Arson Miller, of Council
Grove, and Captain Mcdowell, Of
Smith county. Neither of these men
are here, but they have communi-
Gated with their friends and both pos
itively refuse to stand for election.
The only candidates are r. A. Camp
bell, Hutchinson; H. H. Carr, Wichita,
and Captain Coney, the present COM
mander.
The feature of Tuesdays events was
the annual address of Commander
Coney. His address was lengthy and
dealt largely with what the depart
ment had accomp lished. On June 80,
1905, there were but 283 posts in the
state, but there are now 345 posts in
good standing, with a membership of
over 1000.
a reception was given at the parlors
of the National hotel last evening and
a campfire at the opera house fol-
lowed. The principal speaker of the
evening was Rev. Bernard Kelly. Mu-
sic was furnished by local musicians.
The w. r. G. occupied Odd Fellows
hall last night where an exempliflca-
large audience. The contest in the ".
r. c. has not changed from yesterday.
The friends of all candidates for presi-
dent are claiming victory.
Scores Speaker Cannon
Commander Coney in his annual adj
dress dwelt on Memorial day observance
and pensions. He made a savage as
on pensions. saying:
We did not in the days of the ma
TONS peril measure our loyalty and
heroic sacrifice by the cowaI6sy esti-
mates of financial cost We did not
question the compensation or recon-
pensation, beyond the saving of the
Union-our republic, one and insepara-
BILE forever. Now, in our enfeebling dis
tresS, our care. our protection. our COM
fort notwithstanding our sacrificed de-
votion) must be accurately measured
by the financial cost. It is, indeed, a
dark and gloomy aspect, with tens OF
thousands of our comrades and their
wives and widows in distressful need
Of financial help to prolOng their days,
bv providing for their necessities when
the benign picture Of the immortal Lin
coin. their beloved ideal, stands before
them with these words enanating from
his graceful lips sweetly tingling in
their ears: There is one debt this nation
can never pay, and that is to provide
for him who bore the battle and for the
widow and orphans. This debt has
never been paid and can never be paid
while one honorably discharged sur
vivor of the mightiest of all battles,
from 1861 to 1865, to preserve this ma
his Just rights and not fully and ade-
auately provided with all the comforts
and necessities of life.
Let that be met in good faith, re-
gardless of cost, and not longer hesitate
to place all of them on the pension roll
at living rate of pension. This we
demand and this we must and shall
have. Unfortunately we are without
capable and peerless champion on the
floors of congress now. They, too, are
Y-ior1fC and necessities nv
the financial cost, wholly oblivious Of
the fact that they would not be IN
congress but for our valor and fidelity
There has been no sincere effort made
to procure any general legislation for
us and in my opinion there will be
none until we assert ourselves with in
dependence politically, regardless of
partisan affiliatiOn; with me, the rights
of my comrades and their dependents
are paramount to any party or indi-
vidual Those most entitled to our
support must demonstrate 1t by deeds
and acts. and not by fragrant express
sions, for delusive purposes. The
speaker of the house is 20 years of
age he lives in the great, loyal state
of Illinois, that produced such an army
of heroes-Grant and Logan and their
patriots. Where was he when the
nation was in peril2 If he was IN
patriotic then, and too tremulous to
ioin with US at the peril of his life to
preserve our republic, he should not be
listened to now in denying to US our
lust rights. and subjecting our con-
gressional delegation to do the same.
Let our protest and demands be long,
loud and persistent
As TO Memorial Day.
Many regard Memorial day as they
do other legal holidays. as day Of
festiVitv: like Christmas. or day of
jollifcation. celebration and merriment
like July 4, January 1. and Labor day..
but it is not a day of recreation and
amusement" said Mr.. Coney. Tt is
unique legal holiday. unlike any other:
ii being holy day of reverent. solemn
and sacred commemoration. in memoir
lam for our heroic and patriotic dead.
who lived and died for humanity, for
the maintenance of the republic. and
whose Deeds services and their lessons
are periodically depicted in illustra-
lions that shall educate and elevate. No
diversion from this, on this day. will
ever be tolerated by a loyal and pat
rioticalIy devoted people, and those who
would and do divert it from its sacred
and loyal purpose must be regarded and
treated as disIoyal and lawless- It is
equally a Memorial day for all socie-
ties Gas we'll as Cor arm- and navy
survivors, by their respective organiza-
tons
This is a sad weakness in our legal
holiday memorial law that should and
must be remedied by our next legisla-
ture amending it so as to make it a
raisdemeanor to conduct and operate
circus, show, ball game, races or ex-
hibit of any kind on that day in this
state This viii put a stop forever to
such diversions, that are disgrace to
the loyalty and devotion of our patriot
ic citizenship. among whom It is TO be
regretted are some who, like the mule
seem to have no pride of ancestry or
hopeful interest of posterity. they need,
indeed. to be born again, or retncarna-
ted. then inundated, for fear OF degen-
Grafton back to unrighteous conditions
The circus did not parade IN Topeka
on our Memorial day because Of stead
fast action against their doing So