People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1898-10-27


in spite of G.. A. Il. Protests and Re-
publican Congress Prevents the Efforts
80 Clear Up the Calendar of Pension
Bills.
So persistent have been republican
professions Of devotion to the welfare
of ex-UniOn soldiers, so profuse their
platform promises, so emphatic their
assertions that officials Of other par
zies could not be entrusted with these
tsacred interests of the nations de-
TENDERS, that the great mass of veter-
ans looked forward to the election Of
N'Comrade Mckinley" as the beginning
Noi most liberal pension period. The
Republican national platform of 1896
aays:
1.-The veterans of the Union army de-
serve and should receive fair treat
Dent and generous recognition. When
ever practicable they should be given
She preference in the matter of en-
DlOyment, and they are entitled to the
enactment OF such laws as are best cal
sulated to secure the fulfllment of the
pledges made to them in the dark days
of the cOuntry's peri"
The state platform adopted at
Hutchinson the Sth of last June says:
I'VE favor the most liberal con-
HtructiOn of all pension laws, in the
spirit of their enactment, without tech
Nlcal Instructions or requirements.
We urge that preference be given to
Aonorably discharged soldiers and sail
Ors in all appointments Of the state
and nation, as provided by law"
But all these promises and pledges
Aave been rudely broken. "Comrade
Mckinney is the first president since
The war who failed to give the old
soldier generous recognition" in his
-Erst annual message.
From two to five old soldiers,
worthy and capable. were candidates
Sor 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 pOstOffiCe in Kansas are old
soldiers with first class fitness to
serve as postmaster. but Republican
congressman and ex-congressmen and
congressional candidates working
9hrOugh 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 heeers must
De rewarded or placated or both, 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
2 cruel administration of the pension
bureau since the war. From every sec
dion of the United States have gone
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 % of the
current year adopted the following
RESOLUTIONS:
1.-THE administration OF the pension
bureau has been dilatory for years. dis.
appointing and unfriendly to the thou.
sands whose claims have been re-
3ected or neglected. Rules of evidence
have been enforced with narrow con.
structiOns; calls for evidence have
been based upon slight and formal de-
Sects in evidence already supplied; thu
rating of boards of medical examiner!
have been arbitrarily rejected, over
ridden by the medical examiner of thu
department; rules of practice have
S1ot been made known to the soldier
<or widow claimants, and they have
been held to a knowledge of the prac
%Ice which they could not be presumed
70 have, and the bureau has failed t
administer the law in the spirit o
gracious candOr which belongs to ou
national pension laws; the head of tn
bureau has been indiscreet and appar
emily unsympathetic, and his utterance
Aaye wounded the sensibilities OF tn
soldiers
The American Tribune. Crane
Army paper published at indianapolis
in Its issue Of February II. 1895
printed the following resolution
adopted by Shiloh Post, No. 40, o
Newport, Ind:
Whereas the ex-Union soldiers
! this country reIoiced when the act vs.
known that William Lochren had bee
removed as Commissioner of Pension
sand II. Clay Evans substituted in h
stead, and believed they had a true
patriotic friend who would deal fair
tand honestly with them. now find Of
to their sorrow that they have bee
sadly disappointed. and instead
dealing fairly and squarely with tho
WIN dIc at MS iuClNys 10 PUeSAA
every obstacle in the way he possib
can to prevent the adjudicating Of o
pension claims and pension increas
of soldiers who are deserving, In maj
cases, Of more than twice or thr
times the rate now paid them. Y
have become very tired Of seeing Il
old pensioners of the late war traduc'
and denounced as frauds by a fe
Yellow-back journals of the East, al
have become disguised In knowing o.
present Commissioner Of Pensions
trucking to the clamor of these
Vestable and vicious papers: Their
Gore,
Resolved. That Shiloh Post, No. 4
Grand Army of the Republic, of New
port, Vermilion county, Ind. earnest
requests President Mckinley to in
Il rop,nrra tba Hon II Nc