The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1893-07-28
NOW LET THE FUN BEGIN.

NOW LET THE FUN BEGIN.
scar some bogus claimants so as to
leave mark by which they may be
known of all men, there will be no
cause for regret"
While one journal has thus EXPIRE ssed
itself, it must be acknowledged that
the Grand Army as body is opposed
to any thorough investigation into
Pension Bureau methods.
The Noah L. Farnham Post, No. 455,
(of New York City Department of
New York, adopted some resolutions
on this subject on March 8, 1898, and
sent them to other posts. In less than
month the Department of New York
began to discipline that post for it's
action and threatened its suspension.
With genuine pluck and sterling
patriotism the Noah L. Earnham Post
responded as follows:
'That it is the opinion of this Post
that if it is the desire of the Grand
Army of the Republic to pay pensions
10 people who have not incurred their
disabilities in the service of the coun-
try. and to those who do not need
them, then this Post does not desire to
remain in the Grand Army of the Re-
public"
For this noble and honest expression,
the Post was suspended, but hesitat-
ing to annul tho charter, the depart
ment officials began Systematic
''nagging" of the Noah I. Farnham
Post, which drew from the Commander
of that body the following vigorous
and manly letter:
''Our resolutions call at
tention to the fact that owing to the
enormous number of names that have
been fraudulently placed upon the
pension roll, the country is beginning
to look askance upon the whole system
and that the Grand Army of the Re-
public is beginning to tail into disre-
pute, owing to the opinion generally
entertained, and growing stronger
every day, that it is in danger of be-
coming mere tool in the hands of
the pension agents. We thought that
it was time for some one to get up and
say that there were some members of
the Grand Army of the Republic who
were not in it for revenue only. There
could hardly be stroL ger demonstra-
ton that our views were correct than
the very resolution OF 1884 to which
you refer us. What harm can the pub
lie expression of the views of old sol
diers in regard to pensions do anybody
but the claim agents?
SIN addition to our desire to have
the fraudulent claims taken off the
rolls we also state that we are opposed
to paying pensions to people
who do not need them, who
are otherwise in comfortable circum-
stances, and to very young widows
who marry very old veterans for their
pensions We leave the details to be
arranged by Congress-
I'm forwarding this copy of our reso-
buttons to you. we urge that you send
copy to each Post in this depart
ment, asking the following ques-
tons: ~
+ l. What is your opinion in regard to
paying pensions to people whose dis
abilities were not incurred in the SER
vice of their country?
2. What is your opinion in regard to
paying pensions to people in comfort
able circumstances who do not need
the pensions for their support?
3. What is your opinion in regard to
paying pensions to women who have
married veterans over 60 years of age?
AN answer to these questions would
be of great service in assisting Con-
gress and the people to form correct
idea Of the attitude Of the Grand Army
OF the Republic toward this interest
ing question.
'1should also be very glad to have the
opinion of the Department in the mat
ter, and l enclose duplicate copy for
transmittal to National Headquarters
with the earnest request that copy
OF our resolutions and of this letter
may be sent to every Post in the Grand
Army of the Republic. l am firmly
convinced that the good men do not
approve of paying pensions to frauds,
to bondholders or to giddv Young
widows who can take care of them
Selves
The Noah L. Farnham Post is con-
stantly in receipt of congratulatory
letters from other Posts showing that
the G. A. B. is not all in favor of un-
checked license in looting the treasury
in the name Of patriotism.
Allen r Foote, veteran, living in
the District Of Columbia, closes Wig
orous letter in the June Forum as fol-
lows:
''That this call to enlist for the
adjustment Of the evils of the present
pension system may be at once brought
to che knowledge of every intelligent
citizen, suggest that every daily and
weekly newspaper in this country
republish these statements,re resolution,
questions and afirmations and the call
for action on the same herein made.
In this way the request Of the COM
rade can be complied with who wrote
in 1891:
a