The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-24
THE WAR ON PENSIONERS
AN INNATE OF THE MARION HOME
SPEAKS FOR HIS COMRADES,
And DenOunces as LibeIs and SLAM
ders Some of the Charges Preferred
by Certain Newspapers.
10 the Editor of the indianapolis Journal:


rot. The charges of wholesale fraud cannot
be sustained, and whatever may be the plot
behind the scenes, the bulk of the stories
of gross fraud and padding of the pension
rolls are infamous lies. Does any fair
minded man or woman credit for an instant
the assertion that we are a nation of per-
jurers? The records of the courts show
that perjury is a rere crime compared with
many others in the sad catalogue of Of
lenses against the law and morality. Yet,
ii we are TO give credence to the statements
printed in some of the leading journals, and
copied by those of lesser repute all over the
country, we admit, practically, that false
swearing to obtain either for self or other
a pension, is common in all cities and in
every hamlet in the length and breadth of
the land. Now, every one in the least post
ed knows just what evidence is required,
and that it requires the completely of from
five to ten persons to make good case.
And while many would like to see an old
friend or acquaintance secure pension in
his declining years, and believe he would
be justly entitled to it, they are not ready
to commit crime in order to obtain that
desire.
For years the administration of Grover
Cleveland had at its command all the power
of the government Vast sums of money
were spent on special service work, boards
of examiners were sent out through the
land to discover cases of those who were
fraudulently drawing pensions and who
were not sufficiently disabled in the estima-
ton of these special officers or by common
rumor in the neighborhood in which they
were known to be continued on the pension
roll. AS grand total of the result of years
of the spy system, we find about 167 con-
victions for improperly, illegally, and fraud
ulenty procuring pensions and about one
in 10000 dropped from the lists What does
this prove? Is it not the most conclusive
evidence that the immense distribution or
public moneys so attractive to human GU
pidity found comparatively few who would
rob a generous people? Near the close CT
the last administration, confident tnat IL
would bring the appreciation OF the Whole
people il was declare ed by HOke Smith, sec
rotary of the interior, that the pension roll
of the United States had been purged and
it had become what the Nation intended
a Roll of Honor
CHARGES AGAINST WOMEN.
Agvin, it is charged that women are fol-
lowing up old soldiers for the purpose OF
marrying them to secure the widows PEN
son in case of deCease. This may be true
in a very few instances, but are we to be-
lieve that the majority of women are SO
mercenary? What average woman would
take upon herself the burden of marrying
an old man solely for the purpose of secur-
ing for herself the paltry pension to which
she would succeed in the event of his death?
If DESTROYS of making money or earning her
own living, there thousand other and
moro desirable ways in which such as she
can attain such an end. Ordinary house
work is paid from Sc TO SIS per month, and
found, and there is always demand Tor
such labor. How much more desirable
position for any woman to he housed and
fed in a condition of comparative independ-
ence than to be subject to the WhlmS ana
caprices of any old man, with her monetary
reward contingent upon his decease. In
this connection take, for instance, an eX-
ample of many thousands of cases which
have arisen in the past and likely TO be re-
peated in the future. An old soldier Suner-
ing from the results OF army service ufa .pl
longer to do much work. deprived Oh the
companionship of the devoted wife with
whom he had lived all his matured life, and
who was familiar with all his virtues and
faults patient and forbearing as good wom-
en- usually are. He has children married,
but none of them want him around He IS
in the way. This is but natural, as their
interests, their companionship IS no part OF
his being. The old man Is very lonely. he
casts about him and finds no place as a ref
uge, except one of the soldiers homes. he
declares his intention OF going there. A
woman, old or young. who has known him,
and recognizes some gooa ira tre eS p ie hin
pities the old fellow. We are told that pity
is akin to love-" He recognizes the SYM
pathy extended to him, and they agree to
pool their capital; he will put in his pension
and she her labor, and so they can manage,
after marriage, to pull through many DAY
that would otherwise be infinitely lonely TO
them were they alone. In my opinion, 1t
would be a measure of economy for the
government to encourage the marriage OF
such persons.
BY the erection of military homes the au-
thorities have recognized the old soldiers as
the Nations wards. In these homes hospi-
tails are provided, where the time of Skilled
trained nurses is taken up in caring for
those who can no longer do so for them
selves Any one who assumes Such Oner-
Gus charge out of the homes is certainly
deserving of recognition and saves the gov
eminent extra expense. 1t is an outrage
and vile libel upon woman to declare that
the women, as rule, marry old soldiers
solely to get their pensions, and the per-
sons who make these wholesale charges
against them and the survivors of our wars
should be made to prove them:
1t is an undisputed fact that no large
amounts of money paid out by any govern,
classes as that distributed every quarter for
pensions. Very little is boarded by the re-
cipients, but 1t goes out into all the diversi-
fed channels of trade and commerce. and
in many trying periods has been the life
blood of business generally
LITTLE DRUNKENNESS.
Unfortunately small part of it may be
improperly spent. and right here / want
other lies perpetrated at the expense of the
veteran is that which is so eagerly swal-
lowed by all who just now seem to be so
intensely interested in this question. An
unusual amount of drunkenness and dis
sipation is laid at the door of Uncle Sans
pensioners, in and out of homes" Now
without making up tabulated array of
statistics-hecause, while figures may not
lie, we do know that lies will hgure--a close
examination of the facts they really ex-
list discloses the bare fact that smaller
percentage of men in the homes are addicted
binary walks or pursuits of life. Take, for
instance as an example those in the
home where this is written. There are
about ], 700 regular members, and quar-
terly pension day about per cent. of them
may be found in saloons, drinking or other
wise carOusing. Go to any of the resorts
of ordinary working men, following any
trade, after their weekly or semi monthly
pay day, and you will find a much larger
percentage of drunkenness and misuse of
hard-earned money. Again, the old soldier
is a conspicuous mark at such sad times by
reason of his uniform, which makes him
easily identified by every one l am not
drinking man and have no desire or inten-
ton to make plea for those who degrade
would like justice done to those comrades
who unfortunately cannot control their ap-
petites, and who, by their surroundings, the
monotony of their everyday lives, their iso-
lation as 1t were, from society and many of
the pleasures which go to make much of
some excuse for trying to find oblivion in
the liquor that both cheers and inebriates