The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-10-04
THE PRESIDENTS PENSION yETOES.
Six Thousand People In Detroit Hear
Mr.. Blaine.
Money Denied to Veterans, Loaned
Without Interest to Banks.
How New York Democrats Look
Upon Governor Hill.

DETROIT, Oct. 3.-Mr. Blaine spoke ABOUT
twenty-five minutes this afternoon 10 an au
dienee Of 5000 people in the Detroit Rink
The cold weather prevented a meeting In
Recreation Park. Mr.. Blaine was loudly
cheered, but quite a large contingent Of
Democrats made their presence and sympa-
thies known when, In the course Of his
speech, he referred to Gen. Jackson and
President Cleveland Gen. Alger presided
over the meeting. Mr.. Blaine spoke Of the
veto power, and reviewed its use by various
Presidents, from Gen. Washington down.
commenting on the fact that President
cleveland had used 1t over 800 times, against
70 by all his predecessors. Continuing, he
said And Of those vetoes by President
Cleveland, 206 have been used to prevent a
pitiful pension Uf s4 a month, or SO a month,
a few, believe, Of S12 a month, to worn
down and starving soldiers Of the United
states lCheers and cries Of Heart
Hear And he Is the first President Of
the United States who ever vetoed bill for
the relief OF soldier that had offered his
BODY 70 the cannon shot and shell OF an ene-
my OF his country. fCheers.l There was
l believe, a charge that the men
to whom pensions were to be given
had not been soldiers Of the.UnIted States
There was not a single question that the
men who were to be relieved by the pensions
sought were In sore and pressing need Of
bread. There was not In any single case,
the slightest question involved Of the con
stitutional power Of Congress 10 grant the
pension. All of President Cleveland's
Yetoes Of pension bills read precisely as
though they were decisions Of the commits
sloner OF pensions, for an application for
pension, under the existing law. We all
know that from the foundation Of the
government, there has been a general pen
sion law TO provide for a general class Of
cases. we 90 our best by general law to
reach all cases. But, In generalizing, there
Will always be found exceptions and every
one Of these 206 that met a veto from the
President came outside the general law, but
not outside Of the personal merit Of the men
who applied for relief. lApplause.l Every
case had been before a committee Of the
Republican Senate. Every case had been
before committee Of the Democratic House
and every case had been passed by the Re
publican Senate and Democratic House
Mr. Blaine then turned TO the surplus
which he said the president had been indus
triously aecumulating for the last year and
half. More than sixty millions had been
loaned without interest, to the various banks
thorought the country, resulting 10 an an
annual gratuity Of S3,0O0,000 given by the
president and secretary Of the treasury to
rich bankers when IL might more worthily
had been bestowed on poor soldiers.
Upon the close Of the speech. three cheers
were given for Mr.. Blaine. Gen. Alger step
ped to the front platform as Mr.. Blaine took
his sea and enquired whats the matter
with James G. Blalne?" To which the au-
dience responded thunderously; "He's all
right" and then there were further cheers.
Mr.. Blaine was followed by Gen. Adam
King, Of Maryland, and others. Mr.. Blaine
will go by special train tomorrow morning
to Adrian, where he will address a mass
meeting.
Trouble In the Camp.
New YORK, Oct. 3.-The following petit
tion is being extensively circulated among
the Democrats in this city
81 AM A DEMocRAT."-David B. Hill.
10 GrOUer CleUetdHd President Of the United
States and Presidential Candidate Of the Dem
ocr0ttc Party, Washington, ID. O.
We, the undersigned Democrats, desrous alike
Of the triumph Of Democratic principles in the
ly unite In calling your attention 10 the efforts
made TO defeat the regular nominated candidate
Of the Democratic party-David b. Hill-by fac
ton which falsely arrogates to Itself the claim Of
The Injury TO the Democratic cause which this
faction can accomplish depends largely upon your
permission, unrebuked, Of its constant assertions
that "you are better than your party and that
HILL"
We beg you not to delay to make public your
emphatic denunciatiOn Of the assertions and ac-
tons OF this undemocratc faction Of the party
and, properly rebuking IL, so heartily 10 endorse
Gov. HilPs candidacy as to render abOrtive the ef
fort TO divide the Democracy OF the State OF New
York by falsely trading on your name.
Pledges are also being circulated among
Democrats opposed to the reelection Of
Governor Hin, the signers declaring their
Intention to vote against the Democratic
gubernatOrial nominee. It Is said that 1000
signatures have already been obtained.