The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1893-09-14
THE PENSION QUESTION UNFAIRLY
e-' .I.5' TREATED, ~ It

a.
The malignant organs of the Q. o. .
are now enlargins with much partisan
zeal on the action of the Grand Army
Pension committee at the Indianapolii
National Encampment. This pension
committee, which was fixed for itt
work by emissaries of the Republican
party, Zone a recent cabinet officer OF
President Harrison) reported resolu-
tion denouncing Hoke Smith, of Presi-
dent Cleveland's cabinet, on account OF
the present attitude of Pension Com
missioner Lochren, on the law of June
1890, known as the pauper pension act
Of course the Grand Army pension
committee that prepared this resolu-
tion In secret caucus, and succeeded
in having 1t adopted In secret session
of the ERcampment, where no news
paper reporters were allowed, knew that
1t was intended for political purposes
only, and that 1t was more effective to
attack q Cabinet officer, who lives in
Georgia, and who had nothing to dc
with the legal construction of the pen
sion laws, than to attack q gallant
Union soldier like Judge Lochren OF
Minnesota. OF course the Grand Army
pension committee knew that Hoke
Smith of Georgia, did not give the legal
construction to the pauper pension law
and that this Is the business of the
solicitor of the Pension Bureau. II
course the Grand Army pension COM
mittee also knew that Hoke Smith had
no part or lot in giving any general or
specific instructions to the parper PEN
sion act. The policy of the pension
office, the same as the policy of the
Treasury and the Secretary of State, Is
outlined by the President. Hence, If
the general pension policy of this Ad-
ministration was unsatisfactory to the
Crank Army select pension committee,
why not say 80, and fix the blame, If
there is blame, on the President. But
no, 1t would serve party ends better to
attack Southern man like Hoke Smith
of Georgia, and seek to array the rank
and file of the &. A. II. against the
Democratic party by attacking a
Southern Democrat.
All true soldiers; all liberal minded
patriotic citizens, will denounce such
demagoguery as this. Now, let US ask
seriously, who is responsible for the
present condition of our pension laws
We answer, without hesitation; the
Republican party.
The Grand Army of the Republic,
in two great National Encampments,
asked for the passage of q Service
pension law.
The Grand Army of the Republic,
not only endorsed this measure, but
over four hundred thousand (40OOOO)
ex-soldiers sent petitions to the last
Republican Congress in favor of a
Service pension law.
The Grand Army of Canton held
the largest meeting of eX-soldiers ever
held In this city since the war, In which
all old soldiers, whether members of
the e.. A. r., or not, were invited to be
present. At this great meeting, q re-
solution was passed unanimously ask
ing our Congressman, (Wm. Mckinley
to support Service pension law,
Did VIM. Mckinley do it2
No; he opposed it.
Did the Republican Congress carry
out the almost unanimous request of
the Grand Army?
No. Under the leadership of VIM.
Mckinley and Thos. b. Reed of Maine,
they repudiated the demands of the
Grand Army, and passed the so-called
pauper law. And now, three years
after the pauper law has been in force,
when it is ascertained that under this
law, thousands of men, who knew no
service during the war, are drawing
pensions, whilst 100000 claims of vet
Grams, disabled in war, have been laid
aside or pigeon holed by a Republican
administration, a Grand Army Pen
sion committee secures the adoption
of a pension resolution denouncing
Hoke Smith of Georgia, and attempts
to arouse sectional hate and prejudice
among the veteran soldiers, in the
interest of the Republican party.
1t is possible that many old soldiers,
who do not know the true situation,
will be fooled with this remarkable
performance, but the time will come
when it will react upon the authors.
No such action has ever before been
taken by the Grand Army in National
Encampment, Il and the Grand Army, as
an organization, is liable to suffer for it,
in the minds of all patriotic citizens,
who believe In fair play.
We believe that Grover Cleveland
will see to 1t that no true soldier has
injustice done him in the pension office,
We believe that Grover Cleveland will
see to it, that every soldier has fair
play. And every soldier of intelligence
in the United States knows that Judge
Lochren, Pension Commissioners, Ia
gallant soldier, wounded in battle)
would resign his office instantly rather
than see one worthy comrade deprived
of his pension. T.
The action of the pension committee
In Indianapolis will be repudiated by
every true soldier of the G. A. r. who
understands the situation. .....