The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1898-10-28
Love for the Old Soldier
Exists Only in Republican Platforms
and on the Stump.

Comrade Mckinley Retains Clay Evans
In Spite of G. A. r. Protests and a Re.
publican Congress Prevents the Efforts
TO Clear up the Calendar of Pension
Bills.
So persistent have been republican
professions of devotion to the welfare
ct ex-Union soldiers, so 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 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-
ployment, and they are entitled to the
enactment of such laws as are best cal
scufated to secure the fulillment of the
pledges made to them in the dark days
OF the cOuntry'S peril.
The state platform adopted at
Hutchinson the 9Th of last June saws:
eve favor the most liberal con-
etruction Of all pension laws, in the
spirit of their enactment, without tech
nical Instructions or requirements.
We urge that preference be given to
hOnorably discharged soldiers and sail
ors in all appoint ments of the state
and nation, as provided by law"
But all these promises and pledges
have been rudely 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 GA the state ticket
before the late Republican convention,
all were turned down except one who
. was eiven the least desirable position
Within the patroniZing territory of
every posfofffce in Kansas are old
soldiers with first class fitness to
serve as postmaster, but Republican
coneressmen and ex-consressmen and
congressional candidates working
through a Republican senator upon
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 heelers must
be 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.
~Il
present is the most. niggardly and
cruel administration Of the pension
bureau since the war From every sec
ton 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:
"The administration of the pension
bureau has been dflatorv for years. dis
appointing and unfriendly to the thop-
sands whose claims have been re-
1ected or neglected. Rules of evidence
have been enforced with narrow con-
structions; calls for evidence have
been based upon slight and formal de-
fects in evidence already supplied; the
EdtrSlS vi DOdltS VI IhSuiCdl OAdmIucIS
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-o
tice which they could not be presumed
to 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 intliscreet and appar-
emily unsympathetic, and his utterances
have wounded the sensibilities Of the
soldiers"
The American Tribune, Grand
Army paper published at Indianapolis,
IN it's issue Of February II. 1898,
printed the following resolutions
adopted by Shiloh Post, No. 40. 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 H. Clay Evans substituted in his
stead, and believed they had true,
patriotic friend who would deal fairly
and honestly with them, now find out
to 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 adjudiea.ing of old
pension claims and pension increases
Of soldiers who are deserving, in many
cases, of more than twice or three
times the rate now paid them. We
have become very tired of seeing the
old pensioners of the late warotraduced
and denounced as frauds by few
yellow-back journals of the East, and
have become disguised in knowing our
present Commissioner of Pensions is
trucking to the clamor0 Of these de-
testables and vicious papers: There
fore,
Resolved. That Shiloh Post, No -,
Grand Army Of the Republic, of New