The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1891-05-14

RELIABLE news comes from Wash
ington that, through the efforts of Sec.
retary of the Treasury Foster, 1l5 one
hundred days men, who were dropped
from the pension rolls by the late Com.
missioner of Pensions Tanner, have
again been restored and are now draw
ing pensions. A Washington cores
pondent, in speaking Of this affair, says:
"Ihe Secretary of the Treasury comes
from Fostoria. During the war Ohio
organized number of battalions of
of National Guards for service within
boundaries of the State. A great many
of these Home Guards belonged to the
Republican party, and Joined these
organizations probably because by
doing so they were pretty sure not to
receive any very serious bodily harm.
They fact that they could not be COM
PEELED to 60 beyond the boundaries of
the State to do their soldering was in
itself q great assurance.
"In the Summer of 1864 Gen. Grant de.
termined to strike the crushing blow at
the rebellion. He needed the service Of
every able-bodied soldier available. 4
requisition was made upon the Gov
ernors of several States for militia to
garrison the forts around Washington
City, so that all the veterans might be
removed for O general advance on Rich
mond. Gov. Brough, of Ohio, called
for volunteers from among the mem
bers of the National Guard. 1t was
held out as an inducement to them that
they would not be absent from their
homes more than 100 days; that they
would not be called upon before the
middle of May, and that they would be
back home before September; that
their only duty would be to guard the
city of Washington, and in doing this
they would be protected by forts, and
the entire army of the Potomac would
be between them and the rebels.
"The Ohio National Guards thought
it over carefully and finally thousands
of them concluded to take in what
promised to be q pleasant Summer eX-
cursion. One of the regiments formed
under these promising circumstances
was the One Hundred and Sixty fourth
Ohio Infantry, many of the members
being from Secretary Fosters own
county. The regiment left Cleveland,
May IA and arrived at Washington,
May II. Until August %, 1t garrisoned
Forts Smith, Strong, Bennett and Hag-
arty, all located within sight of Wash
ington, and the Summer was pleasantly
spent in taking in the sights of the
Capital City. On Aug. 81 they were mus
tered out and sent back home, having
been sent from their families and from
hard work ninety days. They had re-
ceived the same pay as regular soldiers
trials and risks.
"The time came, however, when they
thought they ought to be pensioned.
Soldiers who had been In actual service
and had been wounded on the battle
field were receiving pensions, and the
heroes of the One Hundred and Sixty
fourth Ohio Volunteers did not see why
they should fare any worse than their
neighbors because they had been smart
enough to make an arrangement which
kept them out of dangers way"
And now 115 of these men have been
placed on the pension rolls in Wash
ington along side of the veterans of the
war, who were wounded in battle.
Many of them have already applied for
an increase of pension, and q few have
received il. This, Notwithstanding all
the evidence that had been obtained as
to the fraudulent character of the
claims, showing that the afildavits by
which they had been supported were
nearly all paid for, and that most of
them were forged. Every true soldier
should protest, along with every patri.
otic citizen, against an outrage OF this
character. If this kind OF business is
not stopped, the whole pension system
is likely to become unpopular, and
eventually break down.