Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-24
PUBLISHING PENSION ROLL.
EXPRESSIONS IN THE JOURNAL
AROUSE VERY WIDE INTEREST.
Warrington Post Writes nm Editorial
Which Is Promptly Replied To
by Patrick O'Farrell-SOme
interesting Points.

The expressions in The Journal or the
question of publishing the pension roll have
attracted general interest \ number of the
leading papers of the country have taken
up the matter. approving OF condemninS
the position, taken by The Journal
The Washington Post in a recent issue re-
fers to the subject as folloks:
The Kansas City Journal, noticing a criticism in
the Post Of the 0ipo.ittor 10 publishing the pension
rolls. states that this paper has neglected ITS 'prin-
only influential newspaper that objects 10 the pro-
posed publication. its yiews should have due prOmi-
minority. however small. 10 a fair hearing There
in.e. The Journals neglected argument shall be
government has reason to believe that any individ-
ral Pensioners are IN the -o!ls Sronsfuily it has the
tisation Of their cases. But. III the government
has no reason TO suspect Individual pensioners Of be-
ing WTOngfully on the rolls, theG IL has no right to
insult the veterans by casting suspicion On the PEN
sioners as a body"
1t strikes Us that this argument consists mainly OF
4 totally uuwarraHted assumption. The publication
OF the rolls would not cast suspicion on the pension
es as a body Many of the pensioners desire such
publication, and their comrades aud friends advocate
il. No dOubt exists in any quarter that a great ma
jOrity Of the cx-soldiers whose names are on the lists
deserve all they are receiving. and IT is generally be-
lered that many of them ought to have more. II Is
the government TO publish the fact. whether II be IN
the blue book or on the pension rolls. The Pov does
not believe that there are many pensioners wno nave
been guilty OF fraud in the presentation OF their
claims. This is one reason why the proposed pubiies-
ton Is desirable. II Will silence A deal OF clamor
that can be stilled in no other way The Post does
believe, however. that there are thousands of names
lawfully on the rolls that should not have been put
there. And this is one good reason for making the
lists public II is not animosity toward the old SOL
diers that prompts the demand for puhlieation-a de-
mand that comes as freely and loudly from the vet
Grams as from any other quarter. The heart of the
nation is as true to them to-day as it ever was. and
its loyalty can know no change
To this on the following day reply was
made in the Post by Patrick O'Farrell. an
attorney of Washington His reply is as
follows:
To The Post.
Irish Bulls have been known for centuries. The
Post this morning says: The Post does believe.
however. that there are thousands of names lawfully
On the rolls that should not have been put there"
Boyle Roache never equaled that. and had 1t ap-
peared over NV signature. the paragraph giving this
'buTr' would have travelled tar and wide.
There are numbers of young dudes. with their hair
parted in the middle. who write about pensions with
no more knowledge of the subject than 4 cow has Of
navigation. Colonel Van Horn. editor Of The Kansas
in the article from which the above paragraph was
clipped, has the practical knowledge OF a soldier and
a legislator,
You say the soldiers favor the publication Of the
pension roll. i say that 80 per cent of the soldiers
are opposed to II. Why should their names be pia-
carded like criminals, Has there ever been any mo-
tive assigned for the publication Of the pension list
excepting that found in the li0eious attacks upon the
honor and integrity Of the pensioners as such.
II required money and men To put down the rebel
lion and save the country The men who bought
bonds furnished the money. and they have received.
since the war, s.. 500, 0Oo. 900 interest IN gold bonds paid
for In currency worth from IS to 50 cents on the dol
lar. During this same period the pensioners received
81. 900. 900, 600. so that the bondholders are far ahead II
the gunholders.
The soldiers voted TO make these bonds as good a.
gold. but they are not clamoring to have the names
OF the holders OF these bonds published throughout
the country