The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-10-21
THE SOLDIERS WE'LL FED.
An Ex-Confederate soldier Tells OF
His Experiences.

His Experiences
Congy esssoral RecovE, Page ITS
Congressman Allen DEM, Of Missss%
irp5-Being an CID ana experienced soldier
and having had much experience with ra-
lions AMI the want u them daughter,
might be permitted 20 express SEINE opln'
ION on this subject. want 70 say that my
experience was with the raions issued 10
an army that judged hy is achievements,
vas as good as the world ever saw.
Aud when look over the bill OF
fare now issued rs the rations tn orr
soldiers. 1 can but think of what u
bauaueting feast IL would have been
to the soldiers who made such rep
ntation for soIdierly qualities on
both sides in this nation thirty-five
years ago.
jus, listen to this bill OF fare. This is
The daily ration now required by law 20 be
furnished the soldiers. (Mr. Allen then
gave the full Official statement Of a sol
dier's rations)
Why, Mr. Speaker, when I was a soldier
this ration. cooked as We knew how 10
cook, would have furnished a feast more
tempting than any thar could be scr before
me ROW by Delmonico. There may be
teers who have never been accustomed 10
army life. but / understand that the resu-
lar soldiers are well satisfied with their
rations, and 1t is admitted that the commits
sary department, is opposed 10 this change.
When the volunteers become Injured 10
camp life, think they Will be we'll salts
fed too.
/ am willing to do everything necessary
- ~ 4
But Il you want good soldiers, you DO not
ant 10 coddle them TOO much. You hear
a great deal of talk about hard tack" and
SOW belly" but have not been real hun
CRY since the war that did not crave
hard tack and bacon.
Way, Mr.. Speaker, a man with good
appetite who Is really hungry, who can get
some hard tack or bakers bread and a
piece Of bacon, put stick through it, hold
1t over the fire and broll IT, and drip the
grease on his bread and eat it, has what
is 10 me a very good repast, If he can
get enough OF it. When l get hungry, as
l have many d time, | think much more
about broiied or fried bacon and bread
than l do about terrapin and champagne
or lobster a la Newberger or punch u Ia
Komani. daughter and applause,l
Why. sir. last year l bought a few boxes
Of hard tack and took them down to some
Of my Old Confederate friends just as a
reminder of old times. LaughterD l DO
not want our soldiers confined 10 hard
tack and bacon. but you see by this bill
of fare they are not confined 10 il. You
do not want to overdo this thing and get
your ration too big. Our army is not go
ing out just for the purpose Of eating.
daughter and applause) They have other
business III hand to which they will prop
erly attend il you viii give them Il reason
able amount Of food and chance to fight.
Look at the regular army, who have
been furnished with the rations now pre-
scribed by law. You will not see a finer.
healthier or harder set of men anywhere.
They have plenty OF such things as ex-
perience has demonstrated was best for
them. Let the government see that the
contractors DO not swindle them in the
quality Of the food furnished. do not care
much about this proposition 10 furnish
cheese, but l doubt very much il it is
made as much in the interest of the sold .ors
as it is III the interest OF the people who
have cheese for sale.
AIR Speaker, so far as | am individually
concerned and those who cooperate with
me in this house. We want TO give to the
administration every possible facility for
the proper conduct Of this war. l do not
believe there will be found on either side
Of this house anyone voting to obstruct a
successful prosecution Of this war; it is
not a partisan war.
l do not believe If we had a Democratic
administration that you people would want
for partisan purposes to hamper or impede
that administration i'm conducting u war
against foreign country, and 1 for one
protest against the efforts which
have been or may hereafter be made
ia make political capital in favor OF
against any political party. es-
pccialiy when there is no more
ground for IL thnn exists up to this
time.