The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1882-05-24
PENSIONERS AND POLITICS.

Pensions and late United States Marshal OF
Indiana, is doing just what every one who
knows him expected he would do, and that
is to degrade the Bureau of which he has
charge to the level of mud machine for
the purpose of perpetuating Republican rule
in Indiana and elsewhere throughout the
country. The object which Commissioner
Dudley now has in view is to utilize his
power as Commissioner of Pensions a
to make the Pension Bureau potential
in influencing the soldier element
in Indiana to vote the Republican
ticket. and it is said il the Republicans do
not carry Indiana in November next ut
will not be because Colonel Dudley has not
used the power of the Pension Bureau to
that end" It is well known that Colonel
Dudley'is an inscriptions partisan, and
that in the last campaign he trained with ex-
Senator Dorsey, the Star Route thief, who is
now billed for the PenItentiary, and with
Joe Gray, the erudite Professor of the sci
ence of double tickets" Colonel Dudley,
it appears, became exceedingly excited be-
cause the Cincinnati Enquirer published
the list of few pensioners whose claims had
been attended 20 by Senator Voorhees,
a mere incident having no relation what
ever to the scope of the distinguished Sena-
tors labors in behalf of Indiana soldiers.
But Commissioner Dudley, it is said. "either
wrote or had written a statement which was
published in nearly every Republican
County paper in Indiana last week, to the
effect that the numerous claims presented
and obtained by Senator Voorhees, did not
constitute drop in the bucket when COM
pared with those obtained by Ben Harrison
and other Republican Congressman from
Indiana. 1t is supposed that Dudley has
manifold copies made of the article, and had
copy sent to every Republican paper in the
State, Whether me did or did not, it is a
significant coincidence that the article APP
peared last week in those papers word for
word, and in some cases under the
same heading" and it is further
charged that las soon as Dudley runs
across a claim which has been filed by a
Democrat he holds it back until he can send
for or see Republican member from the
same State, and advise him of the fact that
pension for John Smith, with large amount
of arrears is about to be allowed, thereby
giving the Republican member day or two
previous notice, so that he can notify the
beneficiary in advance OF the Democratic
member in language about as follows:
"'In looking after pension claims at the Depart
ment came across yours, and took the liberty of
interesting myself in your behalf TO urge it along
and am now happy to inform you that 1t has been
allowed
That there may be no mistake about this
we are permitted to publish the following
letter, which fully establishes the correctness
of the charge made against Commissioner
Dudley:
ATTIcA, Ind. May II. 1882
Hon. D. W. Voorhees,:
DEAR STR feel that I am under lasting
Obliga ions to you for your vigilance and personal
ate ton In my pension case I'm forwarding il 20
final ultsmatum. You will therefore permit me to
thank you fer your kindness and.respect Should
1t ever be In my power shall take great pleasure
in manifesting my fidelity by recprocatng the
favor. Respectfully,
P. ST. received the first notice of the granting
of my pension through the hands of Repubh-
can Congressman. stating that in looking after
yours. and took the liberty of interesting myself
in your behalf te urge it along, and am now
happy to inform you that IL has been allowed.
The receipt of his letter the first intimation
had of his taking any interest in the case.
We invite special attention to the P S. of
the Attica letter. 1t lets the cat out of the
bag, and discloses Dudley's duplicity effec
tually. The Journal of this city some days
since, realizing the fact that Democrats were
doing more for pensioners than Republicans,
published Washington special clarifying
Senator Harrison and other Republican rep
resentatives in Congress, for the purpose of
stigmatizing Dem Dcrats. particularly Sen
ator Voorhees,. But the people of Indiana
are not easily fooled. The soldiers of
l diana know that in Senator VOORHEES,
they have friend watchful of their inter
ests and ready to advance their welfare. Just
now Commissioner Dudley is asking Con-
gress to give him several hundred more
clerks The purpose is to enlarge the ca
pscity of the Pension Bureau as a political
machine. especially for carrying Indiana at
the next election. and 1t will be we'll for
Democrats in Congress to watch with un-
firing vigilance his maneuvers.