Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-12-28
Unfair suspension Of Pensions.

| Unfair suspension OF fenBlOnB'
A Republican paper has been found which
il not afraid TO advocate the right in the
matter OF pensions. IL Is tho Cincinnati
Times star Listen to Il: "Tho order or tho
chief Of the @. A. Il. in regard 10 pensions
has the right sound IL indicates that this
organization IL TO thko a hand I'm ferretinR
out those pensioners who ought not to be
upon the roll. We trust that this means
exactly what II says. Let those who are
unworthy ofthis place be stricken from the
roll and let all pensions go 90 those who
deservethem." These are noble sentiments
to come from such an unexpected source.
Where Is the Republican paper with back
bone and decenoy enough to ro-echo Them
TX. o. Times, Dec. 20.
The Times ought to have better
sense than TO make that uttersnce.
Does II know Of a single paper, Repub-
lcan or not, that advocates or ever did
advocate fraudulent penslonsY That
urges the keeping on the pension rolls
of men whose names got there by fraud
and clearly have no right therep We
doubt II. Certainly no one else does,
What Republican papers and fair.
minded men everywhere desire is that
no upstart commissioner shall cut aud
slash at the pension rolls without in
vesiigation. The veteran who has a
pension shall keep II until II is shown
that he Is not entitled to 1t. The
course Of action Of the present admin.
istration simply means that the burden
is not upon the party alleging the
fraud, but that the government which
they have preserved shall FIRST brand
with infamy by the charge, then sem
tence, and after the stigma has been
effective, then cOncede TO them, whose
barriers and support Of character have
thus been undermined, the pitiful
privilege Of moving for a new trial
upon the ground Of newly discovered
evidence. This Is very clear and
distinct statement Of the Democratic
pension policy. 1t is this that Repub-
lican papers object to and will continue
TO condemn.
The resolutions adopted by the
National G.. A. II. encampment last
September sum up the demands alike
Of the Old soldiers and of Republican
papers. They say:
Received. That the Grand Army OF the
Republic LOOKS with sOlicitude, not TO say
alarm. upon tho proposition, that after
Npl L. hu IA al
the laws before which que lions have been
presented and adjudicatcd, upon evidence
submitted and cNa incd and upon which n
grateful nation has accorded pensions In
their hour u need to hose who In IT'S hour OF
need stood hctworn II end dcnth. tn. ofict ~
of that nation, administering pubic trust,
have arbitrarily deprived, without notice or
an opportunity 10 be- honrd, our needy and
distressed comrades of tho rights thus
solomnly adjudRed nnd confirmed to them.
We Declare, That every presumption
should be- made In favor Of such records 80
made; that no pr. sumption OF fraud shell be
INDUCED IN against them, and that no
change be made In tho pensions 80 accorded
until after charges have been male aud
evld nee In support thereof has been pro-
duccd, OF which charge each pensioncr las
had fun notice and full ant compl e. op
pOrtunlty TO bn hcnrl In support OF tn.
pension to accord 20 him; ana IL IL further
Received, That IA tho oommlsso ner OF
pensions, by his recent withdrawal Of the
obnoxious rulings Wilton hat been SO geuer
ally condemned, has virtual acknowledged
tn inc rr, ctnes II such rulings. We deem
II his further duty TO II once restore TO the
rolls the Thousands OF pensioners now
standing illegally suspended.
There Is not a word favoring illegbl
pensions but thcre IS whole volume Of
condemnatiol of illegal and unfair
of pensions already granted
Every Republican paper can ''re.echo"
the words the Times quotes IL is
exactly in line with the criticism al
ready urged against the pension ,lllce
rulings since last March.