The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1889-11-08

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pension Office war between the ex-
commissioner and the secretary of
the interior. 1t is asserted that the
suspension of hostilities is due to the
threat by ex commissioner Tanner
that he would publish a statement
which would make things very . un
pleasant for the administration. On
this threat announcement was made
that tie promised serial publication
of pension office literature by Secrc-
tary Noble would be suspended for a
time, and the public have for a few
days been enjoying a resi- from the
Tanner trouble.
But there is to be no relief from
pension office quarrels and the coonse-
quent display OF administration dirty
linen. When Tanner was gotten out
of the way, a new policy regarding
the old soldiers determined on, and
the a%pothecary :calcs busted and set
up for use in the pension Office, Secre-
tary Noble rendered TO w. W. Thomp-
son, of Albany, N. V, the position
of special pension commissioners,
whose duties, as Mr.. Thompson found
outlined to him, xere "to peep into
the back yard of veterans and reduce
and deprive them Of pensiops.o Dir,
Thompson was willing to accept n
office, but not one of hat kind. He
promptly resigned the appointment,
sending his resignation through the
routine channel OF the acting com
missioner of pensions, and in it ex-
pressing his views as to the charac-
ter of the duties assigned HIM.
MIR. Thompson was taken back at
receiving a letter from Secretary
Noble in which he was told she had
not the intelligence" to direct the pa
per to the only rerson who can accept
the resignation, that his ''intended
resignation is not accepted but that,
as ga slanderer and one wholly unfit
for the service of tie United States,
he is dismissed" and his services ''no
longer required" 1t did not take
long for Thompson to reply to this.
1t should be explained that Thompson
is an able and prosperous lawyer, for.
merly aprofessor III one of the AL
bany schools, is popular IN Grand
Army circles, and made some of the
best speeches in the campaign for
Harrison last winter. He was stung
to the quick by the secretary's letter
and sent this rasper in response:
Albany. N. Y. Oct, "a, 1889.
The Hon. j. w. Noble, Secretary, ETC.:
Sir-Your letter under date of Oct.
23rd, 1889, just received. 1t lacks dig
nifty, responsibility and exhibits the
writer in his true character. l am free
to say. personally you are a puppet, Off
cially a %sycophant and l%ickspittle and In
div!dually a coward and a craven. | dis.
like to waste postage On you. but | sim
ply desire to say that l will place my let.
ter and all m" relations with you before
the president. If he sustains you, as |
suppose he will. l shall be only confirmed
in the general conclusion tnat he has Sc
lected you and some Others of your cali
Der to misrepresent the men who made it
possible for Benjamin Harrison to insult
the nation by putting you in a place and
power which neither your services nor
character could Justify. and which your
whole personality is positive proof that
u violence to every senee of decency and
propriety was attended by your selee.
ton.
An effort On your part to torture yeuz
brief authority to injure any respectable
citizen will be in keeping with your viz,
oictive and pusillanimous nature and will
surprise no one who has gagged your
lack of manliness. /.
Yours with contempt.
William w. Thompson,
That may be calleda manifestation
of "vim and vigor.s' Tanner and
Datzell together could not have done
better. Thompson is an old soldier
who has repeatedly been under fire.
He is said to have the courage of his
words, and if Secretary Noble feels
aggrievcd at the language he can
have any kind of personal satisfac-
ton he desires by simply indicating
a wish to that effect.
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