The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1891-12-11
PENSIONS.

How the Alliance Tries Not to Commit IT.
self on Pensions-A Characteristic CHM
1 erical scheme.
If there ever was quasi political or
! ganization in this country that tried
how not to commit itself upon any sub
ject it is the alliance, or its progeny
the peoples party-in relation to PEN
sions. Twice it met in national con-
vention at St Louis and Ocala and ig-
nored the matter entirely. Again, in
nationals, convention at Cincinnati the
platform adopted contained no refer
ence TO pensions A resolution was
adopted at the latter meeting demand
ing additional payments to the union
soldiers so as to equalize the green
backs, with which they were paid, and
gold including its premium. During
the last campaign republican speakers
asked what such demand" had to do
with pensions. No one answered. 1t
was simply bait to catch the unthink-
ing. While southern alliance speakers
were deDouncing the provisions made
by the federal government for the ex-
union soldiers as the pension steap
and 'the swindle." the ''howlers" in
the north were silent on the subject.
The Importance of some direct utter
ance in favor of pensions dawned on
the leaders, so at Indianapolis, they
passed a resolution 'favoring the
granting of pensions by issuing full
legal tender paper money to all hon.
orably discharged union soldiers who
are disabled or in needy circum-
stances. The pensioners are now
handed a draft on the United States
treasury which can be exchange for
gold, silver or paper worth it's face in
gold, at the option of the payee. The
money proposed above by the alliance
might possibly avail the pensioner as a
tender in payment of debt already
incurred aud existing, but what of such
paper money" when rendered in
liquidation of current purchases? Such
paper money would be fiat and
would be discounted in advance and in
purchasing power could have little or
no value. If not thus, why not con-
tinue the present method Of payment?
Why single out the wards of the gov
eminent and provide they shall be paid
in different measure from other
government creditors? What have
they done to merit such treat
ment? A decade or more must in
tervene before the aggregate annual
pension payments would equal the
present circulating media This would
inevitably bring about serious contrac-
ton of the present currency, because
gold and silver and all paper issues
based upon them would be withdrawn
from circulation and command pre-
MUM. Necessities tof life would adj
vance in price proportionately greater
than the discount on the paper
money" provided for the pensioners by
the alliance, and instead of benefit to
the ex-union soldiers, a direct injury
would ensue not only to them, but to
the country at large The scheme pro-
posed in the Cincinnati resolution was
for the sole purpose of getting plausi-
BILE basis for fat issues of currency;
the indianapolis proposition is of the
same ilk. Its only purpose is to de-
ceive, and If consummated will only
defraud the proposed benefciaries.
The alliance. nor the peoples party,
dares resolve or demand" anything
really beneficial in behalf of the union
veterans or their dependent relatives,
because the southern originators of the
alliance propose, in the language of
Col Livingston, the alliance congress
man-elect from the Atlanta ga dis
trict, when the alliance gets into
power. as we expect to do very soon,
we will abrogate all pension laws
Topeka Capital