The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-07-12
Another Explanation that Doesn't Explain.


took occasion to point out what seemed to
us the injustice of an editorial in the Kansas
Chief, of May 18th, beginning as follows:
"Tbere is more trouble and fraud and steal
ing in the pension business than in any other
matter connected with the Government.
There are thousands of men drawing pen
sions, who are no more entitled to them
according to the laws and rules governing
the matter, than SO many men who were
never in the army; and there are thousands
of applicants working up their cases who
are just as little entitled" Of this bold
assertion, we remarked that it was "a speci-
men of the silly, yet at the same time, cruel
ISLANDERS that are being circulated by ire
sponsihle and malicious newspapers" and
called upon the editor to produce the evil
dence upon which he based his charges
observing that according to the records of
the Pension Office the percentage of fraud
was really but one-tenth of one per cent
In reply we have received an explanatory
letter from the Editor of the Kansas Chief
Mr. Sol. Miller-in which he says:
ST don't know whether you had my entire edi-
torial mott should say not, or your remarks
would not have been such as they were. presume
you found that extract floating about in the papers
That extract was the opening paragraph, prelini-
nary remarks, rs it We're, to editorial IN which
/ advocated precisely what you, in your closing
remarks, suggest that | should in justice, favor.
1t was an argument in favor of granting pensions
to all Union soldiers of the war of the rebellion
regardless of wounds disabilities, graded and
regulated according to circumstances l argued
that it the best way to get rid of the pension
frauds, and the tricks of the pension agents. 1t is
of no denying that there are thousands of fraud
ulent pensions existing and you know well enough
that paper cannot well come out and publish the
names OF all its neighbors who are evidently draw
ing pensions they could not legally get under pres
ent laws and regulations You also know there are
thousands of poor fellows who went through the
war; and came out apparently sound, so nearly
that they were too proud to apply for pensions;
as they become old and iniirn they feel that their
army service made them prematureiy So and they
tempted to resort to subterfuges in order to
cure pensions, which they need. My article was a
plea for these men, and for justice to them, by re-
heving them Of all necessity for resortng to tricks
to secure what they ought to have.
4 send you by this mail, a copy of the Chief, of
May H. containing the editorial and also one of the
oath, with another article, in reply to objections TO
my plan made by exchange. think, after
reading them, you viii conclude that you were on
the wrong track, in your EDITORIAL
We are glad to know that our contem-
porary is in favor of granting pensions to
all soldiers although we think the pend
ing claims for actual disabilities should first
be disposed of-and would have been happy
to have SO stated in the editorial in question,
had we been aware of the fact, but in view
of his reiteration of The charge that there
are thousands of men drawing pensions who
are not entitled to them, we see no reason
why we should modify orr criticism. His
charge either is, or is not true. If it is true,
it ought to be supported by proper evidence,
and if reasonable proof cannot be furnished
then it ought not to be made. Our con-
temporary declares that it is of no use to
deny that there are thousands of fraudulent
pensions existing. On the contrary, tits of
no use to affirm that such frauds exist un-
less the proof can be produced to sustain the
| allegation. To do SO is TO perpetrate a libel
and SANDER Are we not bound to believe
the accused innocent until adiudged guilty
according to the law and the evidence
Nor do we know well enough" as the
editor of the Kansas Cliff assumes, that " a
paper cannot well come out and publish the
names of all its neighbors who are evidently
drawing pensions they could not legally get
under present laws and regulations A paper
that possessed any moral courage could and
would do that very thing, and it is an evil
dence of the lack of it in the Kansas Chief
| that while it does not hesitate to attack the
character of our pensioners as a body, it is
afraid to make any charge for which indi-
/ vidual pensioners could hold it responsible.
IF there are pensioners who are evidently y
bogus within the personal cognizance of this
editor, it is just as evidently his duty to ex-
/ pose them. He would run no risk thereby,
unless the facts, when judieially ascertained,
should fail to sustain his charges land in
the case of evidently bogus pensioners
of course, no such result need be appre-
hended-but, on the contrary, would greatly
advance his journal in the esteem of its sub
scribers and the community in which it is
published No, brother editor, this excuse
will not do; it is of no use . to plead the
baby-act. If you are prepared to prove
that there are thousands of bogus pensioners
on the rolls, as you assert out with the evil
denee! If you are motif you are but
simply giving currency to vague newspaper
rumors- then the only manly course for you
to pursue is to squarely own up that such
is the case and leave the public to decide fo1
themselves whether mere hearsay or the
Official reports Of the Pension Office are most
deserving of credence.
-----o-------
ONE of the reasons urged by Mr.. Mcclure
of the Philadelphia Times, for closing the
soldiers orphans schools Of Pennsylvania
it will be remem bered, was that MANY of the