Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1910-06-24
DALLAS MAN ELECTED.
DIR. ESfBREE CHOSEN COMMAND
Err OF INDIAN WAR VETERANS.
Society Decides to Urge Congress to
Grant Increased Pensions and
Back Pay.


Back Pay.
Agitation looking toward the plac-
ing of the veterans of the Indian wars
on the same basis with the veterans
of the Civil and other wars in the
matter of pensions was strongly em-
phasized at the annual Grand Encamp-
ment of Indian War Veterans of the
Northwest, held in the White Temple
in Portland, Tuesday. There were fully
400 persons in attendance.
That no attempt will be made, by
means of initiative, to agitate the
claims of the Indian War veterans was
the sense of the gathering, but COM
mittee was appointed for the purpose
of going before the State Legislature
and working on this subject. Five vet
Grams entitled to back pay from the
Government were selected as follows:
James Campbell, j. Walker, Harvey
w. Scott, T. v. B. Embree and c. Will
Jams.
Letters were read from the Oregon
Congressman at Washington which
showed apparently that the only draw
back to securing recompense for the
Indian War veterans was in the per-
son of Speaker Cannon, who, it is
said, has opposed the granting of in
creased pensions.
One of the important matters of the
day was the election of officers for the
ensuing year. T. V. B. Embree, of Dali
las, was chosen as grand commander,
and Harvey w. Scott was selected as
senior vice-grand commander. Other
officers who were elected are as fol-
lows A. B. Stuart, Junior vice-grand
commander; Otto Kleeman, grand ad-
jutant; Charles Chambreau, grand
commissary sergeant; w. D. Ewing.
grand chaplain; John Storan, captain
of the guard, and Patrick Maloney,
grand marshal.
There were present at the gather
ing veterans from all of the states of
the Northwest, including oregon,
Washington, Idaho, Montana and CAL
ifornia. There was also one man in
attendance from the State of Alabama.
Washington was especially well rep
resented, there being delegates from
Puget Sound and Olympia, as well as
several other parts of the State. OF
Indian fighters there were about 175
present, the rest being widows of vet
Grams and members of the Sons and
Daughters of Indian War Veterans.
Dinner is Happy Surprise.
Business matters were attended to
in the morning. while the afternoon
was given over to a repast given by
the Sons and Daughters of Indian War
Veterans, to speechmaking and getting
acquainted.
Considerable feeling was displayed
by the veterans, who expressed them
selves vigorously in general conver-
sation in regard to the manner in
which the Indian war veterans have
been treated with regard to back pay,
pensions and payment for personal
property lost during the wars.
81 think it ought to be worth more
to kill Indians than 1t is to kill our
white brothers." said Grand Com
mander Embree. "At least, am sure
that the veterans of the Indian wars
deserve just as much consideration
from the Government as is given the
veterans of other wars. | am sure that
1t would be easy to have our bills pass
ed IL the Fasteners could be made to
understand the merits of our claims >
IAN Indian war veteran, apparently,
is worth more dead than alive" said
Otto Kleeman, grand adjutant. He Is
given a pension of sS a month while
he is living, but when he dies his wild
ow receives $12 per month. We should
have a pension of not less than SIG
per month, even as the Civil War vet
Grams receive, and from that amount
upward.
loss of Personal Property Heavy.
There is another factor also which
must be taken into consideration, and
this is the loss of personal property
entailed by the men who fought in the
Indian wars As an example. ! might
cite the number Of horses which were
killed, belonging to men who could II
afford to lose them. Horses were vcr'
valuable in those days, as there va'
very little good stock-other than tht
native cayuses-to be had"
The social feature of the annua
gathering of Indian fighters was wei
taken care Of yesterday. The luncheon
served by the Sons and Daughters o.
Indian War Veterans was a pleasan
surprise to all the visitors. 1t va
served in the basement Of the Whit
Temple.
An interesting address was mad
during the afternoon by John w. cul
len. who gave his experiences duriE'
the Indian wars at Olympia. He fougii
under Captain Goudy. other speaker
were comrade Wills. Cyrus II. Wake
Patrick Maloney and COmrade Wilkes
|-OregOnian.
/ n....I.. Ut.flas