Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-03-21
HARD on THE VETS
The Present Democratic Board
of Managers
REPEAT A MISERABLE DEMAND
That Small Surplus Of Pension Money
Shall Be Turned Over 10 the Home.
A Sharp Rebuke-


The board OF managers of the Michi-
gan Soldiers home have iatsiy resf-
firmed their edict that all the veterans
now enjoying the shelter OF that inst.-
tuition who are drawing \ pension of
sl2 3 month must either leave or turn
over IS OF II TO the home treasury.
Ine managers have not made il clear
whether all pensions over 81 must he
turned over, but that is the natural in-
ference 10 be drawn from their late
ruling. i had hoped that the expert
ence of the last year would deter the
board of managers from ever establish
ing this odious rule, but some persons
never seem to learn anything. The
democratic leaders are peculiarly stu
pld IN some things, and ! would like 10
ask their earnest consideration of some
aspects of this much mooted matter
"before it is everlastingly too late" as
good deacon used 10 say.
Its Political Expedisncy.
First, let us consider the political ex-
pediency of this action. Five hundred
and eleven voters are now borne on the
roll of the home. Perhaps as many
more who have at one time or another
been inmates of the home are still
alive, and are earnestly interested IN
all that takes place IN the home, and
especially in everything that tends 10
bar their Remittance # 1t shall ever be-
come necessary for them 10 re-apply.
These thousand or more voters have
friends who are more or less directly
concerned with this matter, and these
friends have a certain measure OF infiu-
ence. Besides this, back OF these old
veterans are all of the G. A. +. posts OF
the state, who are bound by all the ties
of "fidelity, loyalty and charity" TO
see to II that their old comrades shall
be treated fairly, not only fairy bu,
genera usly. Now IL seems to me to be
the height of folly to again revive the
this matter of taking the veterans pen
sions right on the very eve OF spring
election, aud with the thunders of a
presidential election already begin
ming to roll.
The Veterans Will Resent It,
The democratic leaders must know
that when you reach for mans pock.
ethook YOU at once arouse every par
ticle OF comhatiyeness there is in hinI
and he won't stop TO reason very much
until you let 20 of his pockets. 1t II
very clear that nearly all the veteran,
will resent this attempt to e1tort their
pensions from them. They may not
go to the extreme of an open revolt. a:
they would fear the consequences
These old feeble men are not the fight
ers they once were; besides, they have
no weapons or leaders, but they have
votes. Few of them have SO entirely
lost their manhood as to lick the hand
that smites them as n dog will do. They
are not at ali likely TO vote for the
party that proposes 10 extort from them
their blood money, ior soldiers pen
sion is virtually bioon money. Scarcely
man is drawing pension who is not
suffering from wounds or diseases
which can be distinctly traced TO bis
army services. | know of nothing SAD
der than the thought that this army OF
| pensioners is an army OF broken-down,
nerve shattered, suffering men.
know whereof speak. | was present
At the medical examination of several
hundred veterans while acting chap
| lam of the soldiers home, and it used
| TO make my heart sick TO see how Grip.
| pied and diseased these poor fellows
were. 1t is utterly impossible 10 pay a
man for the loss of health or limb. A
mans pension, then, Is not only his
badge of honor, but II constantly re-
minds him that he is q living sacrifice
on his couniry's altar. ! wonder greatly
that any soldier on the board of mana.
gers would vote To take away a mans
pension for any reason whsieyer.
Doubtless none OF the board are draw
ing pensions; !. may be none OF them
are worthy of a pension.
| BE this az II may. can hut hold that
it is almost,if not qu'te political suicide
| TO persist IN this course. even though II
may be possible, there may he some
| plausible reasons given for this acton
on the part of the board. This much
! for the political aspect OF the case. As
| ! propose 10 write several articles on
this theme, will only consider one
| other point just now.
Legal Aspect of the Case
When this very same matter came ur
/ last year ] called public attention tC
! legal points which might arse II the
tOafu li3dat hH albtfitbt W t4AA04AE VIZ
rule. This aspect of the case is not tC
be iguored. There are United States
statutes bearing directly on tEis very
| matter. and the board wlll do well to
study them carefully. Our United
States courts are not easily awed, ever
! by boards Of state institutions II - tc
be observed thst no national soldiers
home dsres 10 take soldiers pension
! from him and turn il into #. owr
treasury. The governor Of the Dationa
home may, indeed. keep back q part o.
| the pension during a veterans stsl
therein, but on his discharge every dol
| lar OF II mus; be returned 10 him
Think yeu then that the government
will allow a commsndsnt OF STATE
| soldiers home 10 cytort the major psr
Of veterans pension under thfes
/ OF d discharge ana convert his money q
sucn purposes as he may see fli7
| trust not, and Gozmandsni Mckee
should consider thls matter carefully
I before he obsys this rule. ]. suI
others. stand pledged tnst il there J
snv legai redress or protection % b
/ found for the vetefsns. Il shall h
/ foand and made the most Of.
CHkRIFs X GFBsox.