The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1891-10-19
1T is THE OLD GUARD"
A Proposed New Organization Of the
Veterans of 186I-65.
THEY OPPOSE BOGUS PENSIONS.
Every Member Must Have Served Thirty
Months, be a Grand Army Man and
Must Not Hold Pensions Except for
Gunshot Wounds.

A movement is on foot in this city TO or
ganize an entirely new veteran association.
The gentlemen interested in it are all
Grand Army men, holding positions Of
distinction in that organization, and they
are all Republicans, too
They propose TO establish a corps that
shall be known as the Old Guard, and no
person will be eligible for membership
thereto who is not Grand Army man in
good standing, and who has not a record
Of at least thirty months service in either
the army or the navy.
The object of the organization will be
TO oppose the fraudulent granting of pen
sions and TO expose those who are now
drawing unearned pensions from the gov
eminent. The founders Of the associa-
tion say that they have become annoyed
and even insulted by men who never saw
any actual duty, or who, after serving
out short enlistment terms, came
home perfectly well, only TO discover
twenty-five years after the war closed that
they had caught cold and contracted ma
assert, have pushed themselves to the
front and are always the loudest takers
when a discussion Is started pertinent to
the war of the Rebellion.
Many holding pensions here and In
other States are claimed TO have no actual
work, in the streets or at their desks.
One case is cited in this city, that of n
man who is required by his duty TO walk
many miles day He is paid by the gen
eral government TO do this, and at the
same time draws disability pension.
There are few similar cases in one of the
city departments, and one of the men in
the department referred 10 was recently
put on inconsequental duty with reduced
pay when il was ascertained that he had
procured a pension, and for what reason.
Instances have also come to the atten-
tien of the promoters OF the Old Guard
organization OF the use Of fraudulent afli-
dayits 20 secure these shady pensions, the
aiiiants barely knowing the petitioners.
This fact leaked out through the rather
bold APPLICATION of a would-be pensioner, "a
member of the Fourth Rhode Island, TO
comrade Of the Third Rhode Island, to
swear that he knew him; that be saw him
on the field OF duty, and that he knew the
applicant 10 have become disabled by
reason OF a cold contracted while i'm the
service. The application was refused and
without any ceremony, either, the petit
toner for the favor being told that he was
not known TO the person he bad asked to
sign his papers, and that If they were
signed aud sworn to it would be perjury
and prison offence. A second request
was made TO the same person and by the
same applicant, this time the argument
advanced, despite the reason of the first
refusal that one comrade ought TO stand
by another and help him get what he
wanted. The papers have not yet been
signed.
IL is the intention of the Old Guard to
secure full dress uniforms similar to that
worn by the First Light Infantry Vete-
rams and to have them ready TO be worn
at the coming Grand Encampment at
Washington next summer. No military
organization is permitted TO participate
in the Grand Army parades at their an
nual encampments; but the Old Guard
of Providence, by wearing their Grand
Army badges on their breasts, will be en-
titled TO position in the Rhode Island
division and they are going to make as
good an appearance as is possible.