The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-10-22
BRYAN and PENSIONS.

Candidate Bryan Has No Heart for the
Union veteran-He Passed Through the
House just One Private Pension Claim Dur
ing Four Years Seryice-Played into the
Hands of the Enemies of the Old Soldier.
His Record from the Book.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In his
speech at Hammond, Ind, Mr.. Bryan
used these words: Il served four years
in Congress, and anybody who desires
to know my position IN regard to the sol
dier aud his pension can find it from the
records of Congress- and the platform on
which l stood, for 1 never ran on platform
but what that platform contained a declara-
ton in favor of liberal pensions for soldiers"
This is the first time that Mr.. Bryan has
referred to his record ON the subject to
which he calls attention. He is willing to
rest his case on the records of Congress. /
have carefully examined the Congressional
Record OF the SD and SD Congresses, in
which Mr.. Bryan served, in order to find out
precisely what his record is on the questions
of deep concern to the Union veterans. The
Record shows that he succeeded in passing
through the House during the four years OF
his service just one private pension bill. lie
succeeded. in getting a favorable report on
Just one other bill Of the same character.
This report he called up May a, 1894
Congressional Record SD, I'd, p. 4430.l This
was the case of n soldiers widow, woman
II years old, helpless and pennies. Mr..
Bryan had one hour under the rule Tor
presentation Of the case and debate He
actually occupied less than five minutes
He yielded most of his hour to members
who opposed the bill. When he had but 10
minutes left he refused time to Mr.. Ray,
who wanted to favor the bill, and gave 1t to
Mr.. Moses, who opposed the bill. Then he
gave time TO Mr.. Jones' Of Virginia, who
consumed the entire evening attacking tine
bill before the House, and denouncing the
policy of pensioning such widows as Mrs.
Logan, Mrs. Hancock. and Mrs. Blair. The
course of Mr.. Bryan provoked Mr. Van
VOorhis, Of New York, to say: If the gem
tleman from Nebraska had deliberately
gone 10 work to prevent action here this
evening he could not have done it better"
In the course of the debate Mr.. Martin, of
Indiana, and others pleaded eloquently for
the old and helpless woman, who had given
her husband to the service of the Union,
and who died of disease incurred in the line
of duty few months after the war closed,
but Mr.. Bryan's fountain of eloquence was
| not throwing up any crowns OF thorns or
crosses of gold on that occasion. No man
and fervent interest in just and righteous
| cause than had Mr.. Bryan that evening.
| The fact is he made a farce of the whole
| business, as the Record dscloses.
| Mr.. Bryan never made a speech On the
subject o. pensions or in defense of the rights
of the Union veterans, notwithstanding he
was ever ready to talk grandiloquently on
every other subject. He represented dis
trict that contained hundreds of veterans,
and he says himself that he never ran on
platform but what that platform con-
| tanned a declaration in favor of liberal pen
sions for soldiers" Yet his record shows
that he neglected the soldiers and disre-
garded the declaration of his platform.
There is not q line in any statute relating
to pensions that bears the impress of his IN
fuence Thus, when Mr.. Bryan's posi-
ton in regard to the soldier and his pen
sions is found in the records of Congress
precious little is discovered that will con-
| vince the boys who wore the blue that the
| boy orator of the Platte" has much heart
| for them.--WM. III. MICHAEL.