The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1898-10-28
Love for the Old Soldier
Exists Only in Republican Platforms
and on the Stump


publican Congress Prevents the Efforts
80 Clsaz UP the Calendar OF Pension
Bills
So persistent have been republican
professions OF devotion to the welfare
Of e1-UniOn soldiers, 50 profuse their
platform promises. so emphatic their
assertions that officials Of other par
Ties could not be entrusted with these
sacred interests OF the nations de-
tenders, that the great mass Of veter-
ans looked forward to the election Of
'Comrade Mckinley" as the beginning
Of a most liberal pension period. The
Republican national platform Of 1896
says:
''The veterans Of the Union army de-
serve and should receive fair treat
ment and generous recognition When
ever practicable they should be given
the preference in the matter Of en-
pIoyment, and they are entitled to the
enactment Of such laws as are best cal
euIated to secure the fulfllment Of the
pledges made to them in the dark days
Of the cOuntry's peril"
The state platform adopted at
Hutchinson the 8th Of last June says:
s1ructiOn Of all pension laws, in the
spirit Of their enactment, without tech
meal obstructiOns or requirements.
We urge that preference be given to
hOnOrably discharged soldiers and sail
0rs in all appointments Of the state
and nation, as provided by law"
But all these promises and pledges
have been rUdeIy broken "COmrade
Mckinley" is the first president since
the war who failed TO give the old
soldier generous recognition" in his
first annual message.
From two TO five old soldiers,
worthy and capable, were candidates
for each position on the state ticket
before the late Republican convention,
all were turned down except one who
was given the least desirable position.
Within the patrOnizing territory OF
every DOstOffice in Kansas are old
soldiers with first class fitness to
serve as postmaster, but Republican
congressman and ex-cOngressmen and
congressional candidates working
through a Republican senator upon a
Republican president and postmaster
general have turned down almost all
such candidates and preference was
given" to dapper young politicians in
open violation Of law and platform
pledges. These political heeiers must
be rewarded or DIacated or bO-h- and
must have the Offices The old soldiers
are supposed to be loyal Republicans
who care for nothing but platform
promises.
COMMISSIONER EVANS.
Every old soldier knows that the
present IS the most niggardly and
cruel administration OF the pension
bureau since the war. From every sec
protests against Mr. Evans infamous
methods and demands for his removal.
The state encampment OF the
Grand Army Of the Republic held at
Wichita, Kans-, April 20 to p Of the
current year adopted the following
resolutions:
The administration OF the pension
bureau has been dilatOry for years. dis
appointing and unfriendIy to the thou
sands whose claims have been re-
fected OF neglected. Rules Of evidence
have been enforced with narrow con-
structfOns: calls for evidence have
been based upon slight and formal de-
fects in evidence already supplied; the
rating Of boards Of medical examiners
have been arbitrarily rejected, over
ridden BY the medical examiner Of the
department: rules OF practice have
not been made known to the soldier
or widow claimants. and they have
been held to a knowledge Of the prac-
tiee which they could not be presumed
20 have. and the bureau has failed to
administer the law in the spirit OF
gracious candOr which belongs to our
national pension laws; the head Of the
bureau has been indiscreet and appar-
emily unsympathetic,a and his utterances
have wounded the sensibilities Of the
soldiers"
The American Tribune, a Grand
Army paper published at Indianapolis,
In its issue OF February II, 1898,
printed the following resolutions
adopted by Shiloh Post, No 49, Of
Newport, Ind:
whereas the ex-Union soldiers Of
this country re1Oiced when the act was
known that William LOchren had been
removed as Commissioner OF Pensions
and II. Clay Evans substituted In his
stead, and believed they had a true,
patriotic friend who would deal fairly
and honestly with them, now find out
10 their sorrow that they have been
sadly disappointed and instead Of
dealing fairly and squarely with those
Who are at his mercy, he is putting
every obstacle in the way he possibly
can to prevent the adjudicating Of old
pension claims and pension increases
Of soldiers who are deserving, in many
eases, OF more than twice OF three
times the rate now paid them We
have become very tired Of seeing the
old pensioners Of the late war tradUced
and denounced as frauds BY a few
yeIlow-back. journals Of the East, and
have become disguised IN knowing our
present Commissioner OF Pensions is
trucking to the clamor OF these de-
testable and vicious papers: There
fore,
Resolved. That Shiloh Post, No 49,
Grand Army OF the Republic. Of New
BORT. Vermilion county, Ind, earnestly
requests President Mckinley to in
EediatelT remove ths EOn. II. Clay
Evans from the once he has proven
himself unworthy 20 an.
Resolved. mat Va are tired q his
contemplate tactics In trying 20 avoid
aad BFsTsaE worthy and bTokea-doWn
1880 49, --rEEs-rr Frn uFFHna-u 49,