The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1889-10-30
THE PENSION MIDDLE.
4 Load of Embarrassment That Is Slowly
Killing Mr.. Harrison.

THE PENSION MIDDLE.
4 Load of Embarrassment That Is Slowly
Killing Mr.. Harrison.
Corporal Tanners letter to Private
Dalzell was, of course, intended for
publication, Notwithstanding the COR
porals protestations. Any one know
ing the irrepressible instincts of the
two men for notoriety can readily i'm
agine that the "private and contiden-
tial' was affixed to the document
merely to enhance it's Importance
when published. The letter tends to
increase Harrison's embarrassment,
for it lets out additional unpleasant
truths concerning the Pension Office.
OF his successor, tie present acting
Commissioner, Tanner says: "Smith
also issued an order stopping all re-
ratings. He did not object to it until
after had rerated him and put him
up to twelve dollars for the loss of his
arm and leg, thereby putting $751; 35 in
his pocket. held, and still hold,
that ne was clearly entitled to 1t; but
is it not contemplate that man who
had had that done for him, and who
had acauiesced cordially in his own
case, should now be so pronounced
against the rerating of poor devils
who, perhaps, from the effects of
malarial poisoning, chronic diarrhea
or some disease of that kind, suffer
twice as much as man does from
amputation?"
While Tanner was still in official
life, one of his enemies, Bruce, of Col
orado. was promoted by Noble, and
he complains bitterly about this addi-
tional insult. At Belleville, ILL.,, there
was a reunion of $4,000 veterans, at
which the Governor of Illinois and his
staff were present. The feature of the
occasion was the unqualified indorse-
ment of Corporal Tanner by the
Grand Army. General Pavey, in a
speech, gave thu Administration some
severe blows, and said that Tanner
had been sacrificed in the interest OF a
lot of whangdoodles because he loved
the soldiers. The veterans whooped
for Tanner long and loud.
Private Dalzell, to whom Tanner
wrote and unbosomed himself, has
spoken very plainly about the scurvy
treatment of the bounced Commits
sioner. The following to the Cleve-
land Plain Dealer is terse and direct,
and explains pretty fully the present
aspect of the pension muddle.
Ihave said, and 1 repeat it. that upon any
grounds yet alleged publicly, the decapitation
Of the poor, legless private who was at the
head of the Pension Bureau is unjustifable
and an insult to every other private in the
Union.
say this as one who for three years wore a
private's blouse
say it as free American citizen I say it
as Republican who has never kicked or
scratched.
Now, if that is treason, make the most Of it'll
care nothing about policy. All am con-
| cerned about is whether it is the truth.
| You and I know that Corporal Tanner was
not turned out because he talked foolishness
sometimes, as is alleged to be the only cause
| for his dismissal.
That is popycock. The fierce light that is
| said to beat upon thrones has been turned
| with million candle power on that vacant
chair of Tanners! No wonder Warner de-
| clned it. Nor will any one accept it until
| assured that he is free from all supervision or
| interference above. II he is liberal he will
simply carry out poor Tanners policy. II he
| is stngy and mean he had better never to
| have been born. I pity Tanners successor. I
| curse his prosecutors and laugh at my critics
and snap my fingers in their teeth and ask
| them for Gods sake to quit lying.
Now, this must be very cheerful
reading for the President He is now
called upon to decide between Noble
and Bussey on the one hand, and the
G. A. R. on the other. The organize
tion over which Alger presides be-
lieves in Tanner and Dalzell, and will
only indorse the Pension Commissioner
approved by those two worthless. The
Administration has by no means got
rid of Tannerism, and never will while
the Grand Army has any thing to say
about the Pension Office. All the
anti Administration elements are get
ting together on this pension middle
to worry the life out of the Admins
tration. Anger and Foraker are at
the head of the mutineers. So well
does Harrison realize. the enmity of
the Governor of Ohio, that it is cur
rently reported in Washington that
instructions have been given to the
Administration people in that State
to put the knife into Foraker on cleo
ton day, by trading him off for votes
for Republican candidates for the
Legislature. Foraker is we'll aware
of this, and as he is fighter all
through, he is bound to make it ex-
ceedingly warm for the President.
There are good grounds for the re-
port that the President's health is fast
breaking down under this load of en-
barrassment He finds that the Pen
sion Office under Grand Army auspices
would bankrupt the Government, and
he dare not further provoke the ven
geance of that organization. 1t is a
pretty kettle of ish.-Albany On. Y.
Argus.
THEY WILL GO SLOW.
|