St. Paul daily globe., 1888-08-11
Asking Him to Go Down to
the Pension Office and Look
at His Record.
In Eight Days He Got Word
that His Pension Was
Raised from So to $24.
None Dare Tell Him Cleveland
Is Not the Friend of
the Soldier.
Special to the Globe.

FARGO, Aug. lob. F. Balch, Re-
publican living in the city of Fargo,
Dak., tells story, and produces docu-
mentary evidence to prove it, which
completely knocks out the idea SO
thoroughly harped upon by Republic
ans, that President Cleveland is op-
posed to granting pensions to deserving
old soldiers. Mr.. Balch was wounded
six times in the service. Both his
hands are crippled, an old wound in the
head affects him somewhat and others
disable him from performing severe
manual labor.
Mr.. Balch responded to the first call
of President Lincoln for volunteers, and
went out as a private in Company I,
Seventeenth Ohio Volunteer infantry.
On the 4th of August. 1862, he re-en-
listed in Company G, Eighteenth Ohio.
At the battle of Murfreesboro he was
taken prisoner, but reported dead. He
remained in Pine Forest prison three
months-was then removed to Ander-
SOnvi.le, where he spent eight months,
finally escaping by means of the tunnel.
Mr.. Balch is spoken of in Keys ''Ander-
SOnville Prison." as the man who acted
York toughs, the result of which was
that several of them were hanged in the
prison for murder. After his
ESCAPE FROM ANDERSONVILLE,
he made his way to Washington, where
he had long personal interview with
Mr.. Lincoln, MI. Seward and Mr..
Stanton.
Mr.. Balch did not apply for a pension
until 1882, when the government, under
Arthur, granted him So per month.
Then he had bill introduced in con.
gress for an increase, but it failed to
accomplish the object and he has since
drawn his s24 in each quarter
Along in June, this year, while in the
office of Taylor Crum, Democratic
lawyer of Fargo, discussing with Mr..
Crum and some other friends the best
means of securing the desired-and de-
served-increaSe of pension, he sud-
denly said: cpl tell you what, boys,
I'LL WRITE TO THE PRESIDENT
myself" His idea was greeted with
chorus of jeers by the Republicans
present, and, getting somewhat piqued,
he continued: "Well, laugh if you
thrown in the waste basket, but mine
will receive recognition. So he wrote
as follows:
LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT.
Fargo, Oak. July 3, 1SsS.-Grover
Cleveland, President. Dear Sir: Do
not consign this letter to the waste
basket. 1t comes from an old soldier. l
have been Informed that you are op-
posed to pensioning old soldiers, but
don't believe this report. | have noticed
several of the pension bills brought be-
fore you for your signature. 1 should
have vetoed them myself if l had been
do hot
is better to husband the pension fund,
and give it to deserving old soldiers in
sums that will do them some good.
Now, Mr.. Cleveland, the favor I am
about to ask of you will be small
thing for you, but it will be big as the
mountains for me, as | am unable to do
any manual labor. Will you just step
DOWN TO THE PENSION OFFICE,
| and if you find in any record any
reason for granting me an increase of
pension, please have it given me in a
sum that will do me some good: If not.
please take away the IS which / have
to pay the lawyers and others nearly as
much as it amounts to to get it. Yours
truly, b. F. BALCH.
REPUBLICANS LAUGH AT HIM.
Mr.. Balch says: "Some of my Re-
publican friends laughed at me. saying
it would go into the waste basket, and
that Mr.. Cleveland would never see it.
l am a Republican, but sent the letter
just the same, and in just eight days
got the answer. Here it is"
THE PRESIDENTS REPLY.
Executive Mansion, Washington,
July II, 1SSS-B. F. Balch, ESQ.,, Fargo,
Dak.-Dear Sir: The president directs
me to acknowledge the receipt of your
letter of recent date, and to say to you
that your request has been granted.
Your pension has been increased to S24
per month, which amount you will draw
on the date of your next payment. The
| president is we'll satisfied from your
record that you are entitled to even a
higher rate. He directs me to say to
you that, sat the expiration of six
months, go before the pension bureau
and be thoroughly examined, and
notify me, and will see that you re-
ceive justice"
[Signed] GROVER CLEVELAND,
President.
By DANIEL LAMONT.
Private Secretary.
Mr.. Balch further says: "Now as 1
] l. II II