The National tribune., 1891-06-04
A SPECIMEN LIE,

And It's Prompt Mailing by n Veteran Comrade.
The st. Louis Republic recently had sensa-
tional article with these big head lines:
PETER GOT HIS PENsIoN-HE WASN'T EN-
TITLED To 1T, BUT HE BULLDozED COM
MISSIONER RAUM.
1t went on to state that
Peter wettstein OF Leonardsvilie Kan, =
Il Kansas farmer. u native of Germany
and made good record as a soldier OF the Union
in the war of the rebellion. Peter never took
much interest IA politics, although he served ia the
army from July, 1861. To May. l565. He dis
covered some years ago that many of his neigh
bors who were camp-fOliOwers, Quartermasters.
poems, or tTee-mouths' men, or home guards
during the war, were drawing pensions from
the pRternal Government. Peter thought that
lac entitled to pension, too. True, his
health good and he able TO perform IL
hours hard toll daily on his farm. But the health
of his pen-iOneF neighbOrs was also good although
IA "A general rule they did not work as hard as he
did Two years ago Peter concluded that he was
mach better entitled to pension than most Of the
patriots ia his neighbOrhOOd who were enjoying
the Government bounty. so lie made application.
lie did not put his case N the hands OF pension
shark but applied direct TO the Commissioner. lie
heard nothing from il. After while he wrote TO
his Congressman, requesting him to stir up the
Pension Office people: But not being politician
the Congressman paid no attention To his cOmmu-
nicatiOn. D!sgusted and eXasperated he raised 500
by pledging his farm and started for Washington.
He announced that he would kill Raum III he
not granted a pension y. d. q. He in
formed kRnsans in Washington of
his intentions. aud they communicated the
information to IiauE. The Pension Commits
sioner sent him word that IL would be best for him
TO en- plOy attorney. Peter declined the advice
saying that he entitled to "A pension; that the
Government paid Raum To- give IL To him, and that
IL Ktum did not do his duty lie would kill him.
Peter hung around the Pension Office, and kept
close watch the door Of KauBls room. The
Commissioner lodged him for three days. and
then becoming convinced that the Kansas Dutch
man WAS dead ~ earnest aud desperate. became
scared and compromised. lie ordered Peters case
made special" and II was TaiToaded through In
As 1uTs This afternoon Peter received his ceTtid
cate emitting him TO a pension of s6 month. lie
did not enrich any Of the pension sharks and left
The force Of example had much to do with Peter
Wettstein. IL his neighbOrs had not been dead
beats on the Government Peter never would have
thought of applying for a pension or bulldOzing
Raum.
Comrade Wettstein Immediately wrote to q
friend, who sent him the article:
WAsHINGToN, ID. c., May TO 1891.
DEAR FRIEND: There ~ not a word of truth In
the inelosed slip you sent from the Republic except
as TO character and nativity; l am ia Washington
yet and expect to be for two weeks. i am pen
siouer from the date Of my discharge at So per
month, for disability Of my right arm, and which.
according to the law, should be increased to S24
applied for an increase in September. Isd5, and
again ia August, les6 and July, 1883. had at
torney for 1855 at the other dates had none. II
| unless they pushed, until the new law caims
PETER wErTsTEIE.