The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1914-06-02
CONGRESSMAN HOWELL
ADVOCATES PENSIONS
FOR indian FIGHTERS

period has been now reached as TO
all the wars mentioned in the pres.
ent bill. while as to some over n
years have elapsed since the war.
Most Of these old survivors are in
needy circumstances, while all are
in old age, and. as estimated by the
Commissioner OF Pensions, the av.
erage pensionable period can not
extend beyond about seven years
hence. Many Of these aged men
were omitted from the act pension.
ing survivors Of Indian wars be,
tween 1882 and 1912. and for this
reason the present bill is the more
just, since It includes all the sur
vivors Of the recognized Indian
wars prior to 1856.
The act Of June ~, 1902. which was
evidently intended to include all ter.
ritorial militia actually engaged in
Indian warfare up to at least 40 years
before its enactment, failed to afford
relief to certain class Of worthy In.
dian fighters who had been called out
as the regularly organized militia to
suppress Indian hostilities. but who
had not been mustered into the SER
vice or received compensation from
the United States. The service they
performed was precisely similar to
that performed by the regular troops
and exactly Of the same character as
that for which pensions have been
granted to their comrades in arms.
The men who fought Indians were Is
olated from civilization by a thousand
weary miles Of rugged communication
or intercourse. Their families and
property were in constant jeopardy
and peril from marauding bands of
hostile, savage Indians. The dangers
besetting them made 1t necessary that
the settlers should be organized into
military companies standing constant.
ly prepared as minute men" to 60 in
to active service ut any moment in
defense Of the people against the
cruel and treacherous foe. To this
class belong the Indian war veterans
Of the Rocky Mountain West, who for
20 years were the defenders Of the
outposts of civilization against at
tacks and assaults of the red man
To their valor and self-sacriflce we
owe an everlasting obligation.
They acted with promptness and
decision in the fact of impending
danger; they did not question or fall
ter when the fateful emergency arose,
they gave no thought to the regular
iV of their service or the idea that
future recognition or reward might
hinge upon their names and service
being enshrined in the archives of
the War Department. They did their
duty fearlessly, faithfully, and fully,
in every crisis. They went bravely
onto the battlefield against foe that
knew no code Of ethics. Defeat meant
cruel and torturing destruction to
them and their loved ones. They
counted not the cost; nor did they
stop to calculate whether their SER
vices was regular or not with an eye
on future recognition. They gave
their strength and valor freely IN dc
tense of advancing civilization and
the safety and lives of the people.
The protection afforded by the mil
itsry service thus rendered by them
was clearly such service as rightly
deyolved upon the general govern
ment, but in the dread and danger
that constantly confronted the set
tiers there was no time to await
Federal action, II indeed the govern
ment was able to respond. Delay or
parley carried with it possibly indie;
scribable consequences.
Now, coming to the history OF the
Indian wars In territorial DAYS: the