Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1893-02-22
From COmmander-in-Chief
Of the G. A. r.,
In Regard TO the Proposed
Unfriendly Pension Leg
islatiOn.
He Reads the Riot Act to
Congressman O'NieI.

"uICu, among Otner ihingS, the rolls
are to be expunged Of many names:
all persons with an income of 5000
are be cut off, as are also widows
not married prior 10 1870, etc, etc,
Gen. A. & WeisSert Commander
iu-Chief of the g. A. Il. furnishes
for publication letter addressed bv
h'm to Congressman O'Nein. of
Massachusetts, in which he says:
Il notice in morning papers that
you quote me in approval of your
proposed amendments to existing
pension Legislation affecting pen
slons Of inmates of soldiers homes.
Later, received your letter of the
9TH inst, asking endorsementof some
interview said to have been held
with me on that specific point.
Uncertain whether represented or
misrepented in that interview, ]
say to YOU that, while | am in favor
OF legislation giving the major por-
ton of the pension Of animate Of
a home to his family, yet. if he has
no family, l say let him have il all.
even if it amounts to fifty cents per
day. For Your proposed amend
ment generally, as published, have
no favor. They are all calculated
to restrict benefits heretofore accord
ed surviving veterans or their wild
ows. Your restriction TO less than
5000 income per year is particularly
obnoxious because it requires pub
lie acknowledgment of poverty.
Health and loyalty were all that
Lincoln asked of us when you were
= babe and we were battling to
preserve Congress for you to sit
in. l commend, for your consider
alton, the words of another son of
Massachusetts, as he voiced the
country's estimate of the services Of
the founders of the Republic who
were survivors in his time. Irefer
to Webster. Your warfare in adj
vance or those who, in the provi-
dence of God, may become soldiers
widows, is utterly repugnant to
even average manhood.
I'm the BODY of which you are a
membeg sits many a man who
fought us man fashion, open and
above board, front-face. Gordon.
his tace seemed with the track of
Union lead; Butler, short one leg:
Wheeler, the wild rider who gave
us so little rest, and that sturdy
fighter, Moore of Texas. They
where in line of battles, soldiers in
time Of war, but | hazard the pre-.
diction none of them could be in.
duced to lead IN such fight as YOU
are making. You cry out against the
sum total OF the annual appropria.
tons Tor pensions, and capitalists
and towards comprise the majority
Of those who applaud. Figure the
total on all the pensions from OK to
% and 1t IS little more than half
the amount paid in the same time
for interest alone TO the bond hold.
er. He5bought hi, bonds always be
low par, at times as low as IS. The
men now have the honor to com.
mand, and their deceased comrades.
Endorsed those bonds with their
hearts blood, and by their valor put
them on the road to par, and sat a
premium in the financial marts of
the world With tremendous uua.
nimrty they stood for honest mon.
ey in peace, insisting that Uncle
Sans promise to the bond holder
should be redeemed at 100 cents on
the dollar, with all interest payable
in good money.
The next president of the United
states goes into office, having been
voted for by hundreds OF thousands
OF veterans. / have no criticism for
their course. The soldier earned
the right to vote as he pleases-be it
Democratic, Republican or Popu-
list. some Of them, advanced in
years, enfeebled by disease, see fit
10 totter to the polls and vote the
Mugwump ticket, that is their right.
and / beg you to stop this warfare.
which will drive them 10 lay aside
their consideration Of other matters
germane to our system Of govern.
ment, and tend to weld them into
nearly solid political mass. Your
present course, persisted in, renders
that nearly inevitable in my opin.
Ion."