The evening times., 1896-09-17
BID FOR THE SOLDIER VOTE
Phrasein the Chicago Platform
Criticised.
THE COMMISSIONER TALKS
by Curious Punctuation of Clause Re
latine to Pensions. Intentional or
and Service Appears Us the Pension
Office Rule for Acceptance.

liberal in bidding for tue votes OF TIE old
soldier, but Ii is Extremely doubtful IL u
better attempt was ever made in any Ioliti-
cal platform to l.oodwiDk the Union veteran
than was made i'll the declaration or the
recent Chicago convention said u we'll
known politician today.
The particular plank TO which b e referred
was that one in the Democratic document
relating to pensions. Every applicant for
a pension from the government for service
in the army is fully cognizant Of the com
plc;e and thorough examination which is
made into his case, and the lcag string OF
red rape which it is necessary to 30 tn rough
before the same is granted. The inquiry
is even made into his physical condition
prior to the date OF his enlistment, If the
application for pension / S made on the
ground that disease was Contracted i'll the
service.
Tie fact that some thirty five years
have elapsed since those veterans re-
spoDded to their country's call, and went
10 tue front, makes it rot infreGuently ex-
trcmely difficult to procure convincing
evidence OF soundness before enlistment.
DOCTORS HAVE DIED.
Physicia ms who mighthavemadeexarn
tioDs have In most instances died, friends
with knowledge OF the cases have re-
moved to distant and unknown parts, Which
often makes il an utter impossibility for
man to prove the good condition of lis health
previous to entering tile army.
For this reason alone thousands have
made applications for pensions, either
for themselves or by their dependents only
20 have their claims Jected because OF the
.ack of such proof. But now the Chicago
platform comes along just as if the old
veteran was not ware of the existence Of
such procedure on the part OF the Pension
Bureau, and says, in effect, that ir the Y will
turn in and help elect the man who was
not outof the cradle when the war was be
ing fought all of these rejected claims will
be allowed. Not because they are 50 de-
serving, but beca use. as the platform NAL kers
state, such is the ruling OF the present
Commissioner OF Pensions to deem the
TACT of enlistment conclusive evidence
against disease or disab bility before enlist
ment."
The exact language of the plank is as
follows:
Recognizing the just claims OF deserv-
ing Union soldiers. we heartily indorse the
5ule of the present Commissioner OF Pen
sions. that no names shall be arbitrarily
dropped from the pension roll and the
Fact OF enlistment and service should be
deemed conclusive evidence against dis
ease and disability before enlistment
HEARTILY INDoRsE."
II will be observed that the wor,is OF the
plank heartily indorse" rule OF the
Pension Bureau which does not exist,
either in whole or in part, aud which has
never been adopted or followed by the COIN
missioner
On the contrary. the exact opposite has
and does exist at the present time, and an
applicants condition is determined prior
10 enlistment, frequently by special exam
iners. Commissioner d. /. Murphy has
been frank enough TO admit. when the Ian
guage Of The Chicago platform was called
to his attention; that no such rule, either
printed or written. did exist, aud, as a mat
ter of fact. though not in words. giving
the Democratic document the lie direct.
II am not responsible for the wording
of the Democratic platform. said Mr..
Murphy. "and knew nothing about it until
I saw it in the newspapers. l did give
office. and I suppose the widc-sprcading
of these gave the foundation for the declara-
tion. but must say. however, that the Ian
guage used is not warranted"
The point then arises as to who is respon-
sible notoDl ) for the grusser but the false
statement on the face OF the declaration.
in declaring that certain rule does ex-
ist and then unequivocally iridorsing it.
The Trainers of tie platform must have
known or, if ignorant, could easily have
informed themselves as to the truth OF the
matter. The question then asks itself, was
it done willfully to catch the vote OF the
unsuspecting veteran or was it done in er-
ror. In either instance, however, the fault
is apparent and this should lead, it is held
by the platform critics, to further inquiry
as to the soundDess OF other aud more vital
planks. If they would thus deceive the
pensioper, why would they not belle the
whole people?
DECLARES AN CNTRUTH.
If the Chicago document declares an
untruth in stating that a rule exists in the
Pension Office by which the fact OF enlist
ment is deemed conclusive evidence
against disease and disability tefore Gu
WHY DOt At-
gard to silver likewise an untruth. II the
lesser one is meant to deceive why not the
more important declaration.
II the Democracy is 50 woefully in error
regarding the matter of pensions, is it
not equally so as to the income tax
proposition, the government by injunc-
tom clause, or any other OF the reyo-
lutionary declarations. This, its oppo
nents claim, is good subject for reflec-
ton, and one which is bound to have n
tremendous weight not only with the soldier.
but all those who are cunscientiously seek
ing the truth of the niomentous questions
of the day at issue n the campaign.
The Democratic politicians, however, do
not, outwardly ut least, attach any i'm
portance to the very strict criticism of
their opponents.
They interpret the meaning of the plank
to be that the rule heartily indorsed"
is that one of the present commissioner
that no names shall be arbitrarily
dropped from the pension roll.'' Then
they stop and place n different construc-
ton upon the latter portion of the para
graph, the fact of enlistment should be
deemed conclusive evidence against dis
ease and disability before enlistment"