Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-01-09
Protective Pension Legislation

IL. ~, DCC. 81.
The democratic party intends to
keep up its record of hostility to
the soldiers. Concerning the pro-
posed extension ofthe pensionlaws,
in the bills which have been
presented by Senator ingalls, and
others, it was recently observed
by Senator Vest, of Missouri, that
The Soldier vote is up at auction.
The Republican leaders are
bidding for the soldier vote, and |
for one shall oppose their auction.
l have voted for pensions when l
felt that l was giving away the
money of the people; giving it
away needlessly, solely because of
my former connection with the
confederacy. | have felt that |
ought not to vote against pensions
lest the cry of.'rebeI should so
up throughout the land, and my
motive be misconstrued. Now,
however, l shall go no further. |
shall not permit partisanship to
dig its hands in the public
treasury and drag therefrom the
savings of the people, to distrl-
butte amongst a class. | have
been driven to the wall, and | shall
vote against all general pension
legislation"
There is the story, dressed in
his own best words; but it
expresses the intentions of the
democratic leaders.
Senator Davis, of Minnesota;
chairman of the senate committee
on pensions, says Il rather expect
that this congress will be able to
do something for the old soldiers,
despite the fact that there will be
bitter opposition from the demo-
cratic party. There is no doubt
in my mind that we shall accom-
plish something in the senate; but
the republican majority in the
house is SO slender that it may
not be possible to get anything
through at that end of the
capitol"
Congressman Morrill,, of Kansas
is chairman of the committee on
invalid pensions. He says: owe
are hard at work for the benefit of
our old comrades, and will do our
best for them, but there will be
determined and aggressive opposi-
ton on the part of the democratic
minority and we may be foiled in
our efforts. At any rate, we want
our old comrades to know that
their interests are in the hands OF
old soldiers like themselves, so far
as the republican side of the
house is concerned, and in the
committee rooms Of both houses,
but, we cannot force things
through a hurly-burly house, if
minority undertakes to flibuster.
The old soldiers of the country
have their eyes on this congress,
and every movement is being
watched carefully. Let the demo
Gratis oppose us as much as they
dare the soldier vote of this country
will snow them out of sight for
ever, if they stand in the way Of
our progress any longer"
That is straight talk from an
honest man. Congressman Nor
rill was a private soldier in 1861, a
sergeant in 1862, a lieutenant in
1868. a captain in 1864, and was
mustered out as a major, in 1865,
at the close of the war. He has
been in congress six years, and is
one of the ablest men on the
republican side of the house. The
soldiers have no better friend any
where than he.
Senator Davis was a soldier in
18th Wisconsin Infantry, and is
to-day a sufferer from diseases
contracted in the army. He is
one of the ablest champions Of
the cause of the soldiers, in the
senate, and as chairman of the
committee on pensions, his
eloquent voice will be heard in the
future as in the past, ringing forth