The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1910-03-31
SOMERSET VETERANS
MEET At MADISON
Meeting Of the Somerset Veterans
Association and Ladies' Auxiliary
at Madison. Splendid Day. Large
and Patriotic Session.

at Madison. Splendid Day. Large
and Patriotic Session.
The regular March session OF the
Somerset Veterans Association and
Ladies Auxiliary, was held in A. o.
u. w. hall, Madison, Thursday, March
II. The splendid springlike day
was favorable for one of the most
largely attended and interesting ses-
sions thus far held. The old boys in
blue gladly greeted each other after
three months separation, and the la
dies of the Auxiliary and friends in
Madison came and gave them loyal
welcome.
The session opened at 10 a. m. the
following officers responding to the
call of their names: Colonel. E. E.
Could; Lieut.. Col. F. T. Wing; Major,
Sewell w. Smith; Chaplain, Cephas
Walker; Adjutant, S. F. Emerson.
The choir rendered the opening song,
Mrs. Emma H. Dunton at the piano,
and the Chaplain offered prayer.
I'VE need Thee every hour" was
sung and the Adjutant read his report
of the annual meeting at Skowhe-
gan and was approved. Comrades j.
C. Collins. A. NJ. Thompson, H. c.
Cooper and James Nesbit were re-
ported as having died since the last
meeting and Comrades X A. Withee,
F. H. Wing and J. d. Emerson were
appointed to recognize the memories
of these departed Comrades with ap-
propriate resolutions.
The Adjutant read a letter from
Comrade John McEiroy of Washing
ton, D. c., thanking the Association
for endorsing him as the next Com
mander In Chief of the G. A. R.
Mrs. E. E. Gould, President of the
Ladies' Auxiliary, in beautiful verse,
welcomed the Association to Madison
and Comrade Cephas Walker re-
sponded to the welcome. Letters
were read from Comrades Amasa
Gregory and James Weston, who are
now absent, that were kindly re-
ceived
Invitations came from Norridge-
wock and North Ansop for the June
session and it was voted to go to
Norridgewock.
Hon. c. o. Small and c. w Green
of Madison were voted in as honorary
members of the Association.
Comrade e. E. Gould rendered the
song Tramp, Tramp. Tramp. the
Boys are Marching" and the audi
ence came in on the chorus.
The subjects of Pensions and 9TH
er matters connected with and grow
ing out of the Civil war was intro
duced and the following CONS. were
called upon to speak: c. F. Jones
S. F. Emerson, F. H. Wing, J. w
Moran, Ephraim Sprague. Rudolphus
Ryder. S. w. Smith, j. F. Woodsum
j. D, Emerson, w. II. Nottage. X A
Withee and j. M. Norton There was
4 division of sentiment among 1.-THE
speakers in regard to pensions, some
claiming that length of service should
be considered in granting pension
instead of age; that it is unjust to
place men who were in the service
nine months and some only three
months, unless wounded or disabled
on the same basis with those who
were led and pounded through three
or four years of service In other
words those old three years regi-
ments that went out in sixty-one and
siXtytwo and stayed there three long
desperate years should be pensioned
at higher rate than those which
were mustered in for only three or
even nine months. Other speakers
seemed to have the idea that there
should be no discrimination, that all
should be pensioned alike, but all the
speakers justly admit that those who
went to the front and offered life
and limb on their countrys altar in
the mighty drama of Civil war. when
the nations life was at stake, should
receive sufficient to keep them from
want in their old age, and that the
nation today cannot do too much for
them.
The following honorary members
of the Association were called upon
to speak and gladly responded to
their names: Hon. c. O. Small, c.
w. Green and G. w. Emerson. Es-
pecially was Mr. Smalls address
clear, concise and patriotic, giving
high honor to the veterans present
and expressing the best of wishes for
the success of the Association.
There were recitations by Comrade
F. H. Wing, Mrs. J. r. Bicknell Thel-
ma Adams and Naomi Fales. March
ing through Georgia" was sung and
Victor and Willie Robbins favored
the association with cornet and violin
duets and solos. Col. Gould express
ed his thanks to all present who aid
ed. him in his work as presiding of
ficer and after singing "Amerca" by
the audience, ranks were broken to
form again at Norridgewock in
June.