Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-20
oLO SOLDIERS DINE.
UNION VETERANS OF PENSION
OFFICE HOLD BANQUET.
Eloquent Speeches by Gen. John G.
Black, Corporal Tanner, Vespa-
sian Warner and Others.


can laud ii at the annual banquet of
local Union veterans in the Carroll In
| stitute Hall. Most of the old soldiers
in attendance are now employed in the
United States pension office. and for
them the evening was particularly filed
with good cheer, because they heard
speaker after speaker declare that no
Union men would lose their positions
with the government as long as their
many powerful friends. both in Congress
and out of it, can fight for them.
Red, white and blue bunting and large
folds about the walls, making an appro-
pirate setting for the affair, and the
young old men, with spirits high. sang
patriotic airs with all the vigor that
once many of them did in Marching
Through Georgia" Every reference b.
the speakers to the Stars and Stripes
| was applauded. and there was even deep
er appreciation of the practical assur-
ances that the present-day clerks who
fought for the preservation OF the Union
more than forty years ago Will not be
displaced at their daily tasks by young
er men.
| John T. Clements was POSTMASTER,
and after he had cordially welcomed the
veterans and their guests he proposed a
toast, ITO those who gave up their lives
that our country might live The toast
was drunk in silence.
Gen. Green B. Raum was the first
speaker and was loudly applauded for his
patriotic utteranceS.
Gen. Blacks Eloquence.
Reference to the glorious reunion Of the
federal troops in Chicago in 1866 was
made by Gen. John c. Black. former PEN
sion commissioner, in his speech.
1.-THE only thing these youthful veterans
lacked said he, was the absolute real
ization. that we now enjoy that our work
during that struggle was not in vain. To-
day we see our nation standing at the
forefront Of all the world, and each man
here tonight is able to rejoice in the fact
that he helped to make this possible.
If this government Is not grateful to
the old soldier. as it is asked to be. thank
God. then, there is in the breast Of each
one Of us that tablet of memory that we
can never forget and which cannot be
bartered.'
Corporal Tanners Splendid Address.
"Corporal'' James Tanner spoke Of the
enthusiasm with which, as boys, many
of the men present rushed into the strug-
gle which was. to result in the preserva-
ton of the Union. They came out of the
war. he said, with maturity thrust upon
them. I'm those days when you boys
were needed at the front there were no
questions asked Corporal Tanner con-
tinued. Now. when you are old and
gray, objections are raised to your ability,
etc But when they make an assault
upon the old men let them not impeach
their capacity. The past speaks for their
integrity and character.
times now. he added, but IL they who
are assaulting the old soldier could go
back to the times that confronted us IN
our youth. what would they say?
bc cd
States Let the world see an object les
son."
Commissioner Warmers Speech.
Prolonged applause greeted Pension
Commissioner Vespasian Warner when he
said:
NC old soldier has lost his position in
the pension office since I have been in
charge and no one ever will be dis
charged under my administration
Mr.. Warner briefly outlined the efforts
made by the administra ton to sustain the
veterans. and incidentally remarked that
he was glad to have been a participant
in that struggle, which he termed 1.-The
greatest political event in the history Of
the country
THE people of this nation owe a debt
or gratitude to the survivors of the great
struggle which cannot be fittingly re-
paid. said Gen. Green B. Raum, former
commissioner of pensions, who also ad-
dressed the veterans He added that he
believed II the first duty Of Congress to
increase the salaries Of the entire clerical
force OF the government, and promised
to advocate such action before a COM
mittee of that body in the near future.
DIR. Franklin 7. Howe expressed his
pleasure at being present and participant
ing in an event Whe re old soldiers we're
gathered to listen to praise of their valor
| In which he felt a personal interest, as
ne had been a soldier and could greet
| the all comrades.
Accompanied by the PAMELA Orchestra,
| all present arose and sang the closing
hymn. America
BY unanimous vote Of those present
| John T. Clements was reelected chair
| man. OF the banquet committee for next
year.
Committee. and Guests.
The committee on arrangements consist
ed Of John T. Clements, chairman; B. r.
Chase, vice chairman: ]. A. Macauley.
! treasurer: NJ. M. Lewis, secretary; John
w. Wheeler, Harry jerks, ]. Tyler
Powell John Middleton. ]. s. Roy, G. B.
Moore S. F. Hamilton. S. w. McElderry,
W. H. Fl. Warman, NJ C. Davis and F.
". Mitchell.
Invited guests OF the evening were Cen
| ". W. Dudley. Gen. John c. Black. James
| Tanner. Col. V. Warner
Those present were
j. F. Allison. J. S. A. Baker, John W.
Bioodgood. Fl. F. Bonarden, II. II. Brow
er, Thomas +. Brown, d. E. Buckingham
H. q: Burlingame. DR.. Burke, ]. P. Bur-
, rell f. r. Campbell, O. A. Carpenter, c.
| II. Chapman. B. F. Chase f. NJ Clarke,
John T. Clements, A. w Conlee. J. n
Culbertson. Chaplain w. W. Curry Henry
| Gushing. NJ. G. Davis. J. w. Davis. New
| ton De Forrest, II. c. Duncan. s. II. Ell
| lott. J. II. Elliott. l. n. Everett, James
| S. Early, j. B. Ennis. George B. Fleming,
| +. D. Godfrey, John G. Greenwalt, John
| Grtnstead. Ferdinand c. Griffin, f. II.
| Holbrook. P. J. Hoflinger. NJ. b. Hayes,
| F.. p. Halstead. Charles Hanback,, Joseph
| T.. Hart. ]. A. Hunt Morris Husband. N.
| ". Hill. w. r. Hillyer, I. H. jerks. o. d.
| kinsman. II. N. Keene c. C. Griffin.
Charles Loucks Charles f. Lusby, NJ. Nj.
| Lewis, +. Livings, ]. A. McCauley John
| III. Mccormick, III. r. McCalmont N n
Mccullough, S. W. McElderry. James
| Mckee. c.. B. Moore, Fl. F. Maxwell.
| William A. Moore. John Middleton James
Matthews. Frederick w Mitchell. w W.
Macy, n. II. Merrill. DR.. Newell w. S.
| Neeley N. c. Newson, A. G. Perham. e.
| .. Payne. w. n. Paxton. ]. c. Peacock
j. Tyler Powell, George T. Paschah. f.
| Fl. Ripley. A. w Roome. Homer Riggs,
| James S. Roy. J. b. Robinson. Charles
Rhodes c. N Smith, w. F. Shuckers.
William G. swiggett. Elias sharer. w. P.
Seville. ]. III. Simpson, A. V. Stephens, G.
n. Spencer, Isaac Thatcher. E. u.
| Tracey. a. l.. Watson. William Wilson,
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