Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1898-01-20
A Reply to- the "Pensions" Ar
ticlc.
SARvERSVILLE, Pa,
Ian Il 1893 |

jan 1 - 1910.
EDITOR CITIZEN: In your issue of
the 18th inst you republish an article
from the New York Press, under the
heading of Pensions, which many old
soldiers consider as rejecting on their
services and moral standing in their re
spective communities.
We have been accustomed TO read
such articles above referred 10 for the
past 30 years. but only in the Bourbon
Press Of the land, the Bourbon" pa
pers at all times favored giving liberal
pensions TO all deserving soldiers, the
word deserving" had become very ia
miliar to all Democratic writers and
speakers and after thirty years Of solid
ham mering away at this one word, pa
pers not claiming TO be in accord with
'Bourborism' have taken up the howl
The Democratic party defined the
word to mean not one. and from the
tone and language of the article refer
red to, the same Interpretation il at
least implied
From March 4th, 1893, to March 4th.
| 1897, there was al administration in
power, with the whole machinery of
this great nation, and with n firm determ-
ination to purge the pension rolls OF
| all undeServlng names, in their power,
and what is the result?
Are our friends the Republican party
| intending TO take up the work of purg
| ing, where the Democratic party left
| off? Such appears to be the intention.
| IL is no use TO try to make us believe
that the conditions of our exchequer re
| quire the cutting down
Of pensions Why Was not thi.
cry raised in 1912 when it required
one hundred and eightyfy million
| dollars year TO pay pensions? Then
there was not one word Of complaint
not even from our friends on the other
| side. but now since the sum has been
reduced forty five million, the money
| power of the land il awakening to the
1 fact that the old soldier is getting too
much, so they make the old charge and
cry fraud There was no cry OF
fraud from that quarter when the old
| soldier was getting fifteen million and
| the bondholder two hundred million
| dollars per annum, IA interest on his
little investment in the fracas. The
soldier invested his life health, peace
and happiness; the bondholder his gold
after it had risen TO 2.S5. The soldier
| was paid in forty cent dollars, ont oi
which he had TO pay the highest prices
TO maintain those dependent on him,
! and now when the average of them are
on the shady side Of three score years,
when their remaining days should be
made smooth and comfortable, they
are threatened with want and need and
the poor house, by those who are clam
oring to pay reasonable pensions to
all deserving old soldiers.
| Now | would advise very little haste
in moving ON the pensiOner, and light
attacks on the pension rolls, for there
were over two and one half millions OF
these old soldiers, they were good men
and true and have thirty two years the
start OF those howlers, and have i'm
| proved the time, and raised, trained mp
and educated at least five million stal-
wart voters TO vote for and take care OF
| them {. f. SMITH.
Our correspondent evidently saw
more in the article referred to than we
| did
Time and again have we heard old
soldiers and pensioners assert that the
names Of dcserters, and men who were
never ut the front during the war are
on the pension list.
The soldiers have two great organiIa-
tions the @. a r. and u V. H. and
it is for them TO see that the pension
list remains a Roll Of Honor"
The publication Of the list for each
county giving names dates, amounts
and reasons for granting would proba-
bly, end this talk regarding it