Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1894-10-13
RoBBina THE VETERANS.

(From our regular correspondent.l

An A. p. A. Roorback- Senator Faux.
as Rainbow Chaser.
(From our regular correspondent,
WASHINGTON, Oct. 8.-The U. S.
Pension Bureau, branch of the Gov
eminent in which political PARTISAN
ship should never be introduced, is
now being used to coerce applicants
for pensions to vote for Democratic
candidates for Congress. Certainly
more shameful abuse of authority has
never been known in Washington. II
is stated that no applications will be
acted upon between now and the date
of the Congressional election. except
those Endorsed by the Democratic can
didate for Congress in the district in
which the applicant has vote. and in
order that Democratic candidates may
have chance to try to influence the
vote of every applicant for pension
in their districts. they are furnished
with lists, giving names and addresses,
by the Pension Bureau. The number
of names on these lists furnished to the
Democrats in singleState-Indiana-
exceeds $4,000 There is double ig-
nominy i'll this sort Of thing for the adj
ministration. First, in trading upon
the necessities of old soldiers, man =
of whom are known to be sadly in
need of the pittance for which they
have applied. Second, in taking up
the time of clerks in the Pension Blu
reau to prepare lists of applicants to
be used by Democratic candidates,
thus lessening the number of appli-
cations granted aud robbing the old
soldiers out of just that much assist
ance. And all for the purpose of max
ing votes for the Democratic party,
which has, during the short time it
has been i'll power, managed to do the
country NOR. harm, aside from actual
loss of life. than did four years of war.
AS rule the old soldiers are thorough
ly patriotic, and for that reason it is
doubtful whether these tactics will in
fuence many of them to vote to send
a Democrat to Congress, thus helping
to continue the Democratic times Of
the last year and half
The roorback season began little
earlier in this campaign than it usual
ly does, but there is reason for the be-
lief that the publication of the first
one, that charging the chairman of the
Republican Congressional campaign
committee with being mixed up with
the distribution of A. 2. A. literature,
was premature. The Democrats were
quietly nursing it with the intention
of using it, in all districts where the
Catholic vote is heavy, a day or two
before the election, when il would
have been too late for correction, but
a newspaper man got hold of it and
having more desire to furnish his pa
per with sensation th.n to serve the
Democratic party he sent it out and it
was printed. OF course the story is
too silly to be accepted by any but the
most credulous. 1t carries its own
contradiction on its face. No man.
not an idiot, in Chairman Babcock S
position would hold any relations with
the a. 2. A. or any other organization
with similar objects in view, and Chair
slan Babcock is SO far removed from
being all idi.t that he is regarded as
one Of the best campaign managers the
Congressional committee has ever had.
Mr.. Babcock will this week go to his
own district, to look after his re-elec-
ton, leaving Representative Apsley,
of Massachusetts, vice-chairInan, in
charge of the Congressional commit
tee
The result of the Georgia Legislative
election has put the Democratic cam
paign committee into what closely re-
sernbles a panic. Its members now
concede the loss of one Georgia Con
gressional district to the Populists and
other Democrats say they will be lucky
if they do not lose at least three
There is disposition among Demo
Gratis to make Senator Faulkner, who
is chairman Of their campaign com
mittee. the scape-goat for the un
promising outlook of their Congress
ional campaign. They say that ht
either Intentionally niisrepresents the
situation or is such a confirmed rain
bow-chaser that he is unable to Sc,
things as they are. They do not OBJ
ject to him making his talks for pub
LEGATION rainbow hued, but they say
that he talks the same way to then
when they know better. and the,
think if he doesn't know any bette
that he isn't fit to be at the head 0
the committee. Hoke Smith comes il
for most of the blame for the result il
Georgia. He is charged with having
unnecessarily introduced the silve
Question into the State campaign ant
and with having, by his extreme pc
si.ion in favor of gold standard
| driven many silver Democrats int
voti. with the Populists.
The situation in New York is giyin,
the Democrats much trouble. largel
owing to their uncertainty as to til
real position Of the administration. ]
is presumed that the administrator
will be compelled. in self-defense, t
aid Hill to the full extent of its power
but it is not known that it will do SC
ard the Democratic campaign con-
inittee is in consequence afraid t
commit itself, although it is Owe
whelmed with letters and Telegram
asking what it proposes to do. ALI
which is entirely unobjectionable I
the Republicans.
Tt,a< Ts~.d Eaof:~~