The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-18


&c mas been said that the pension system is
honeycombed with fraud and yet a careful
itnnVestlgation, carried on by a corps OF
trained detectives, has failed to reveal any
1raudulent practices among honoraDly as
charged Union soldiers, but in each instance
where fraud has been discovered the per-
petrator was found to be one who, in the
OLD days as now, hated the Union and the
Union soldiers. While much might be Justly
SAID in condemnation of the administration
OF the pension laws at different times,
ask you, in all candor, comrades, have re
uonably true that much of the unfavorable
criticism of the pension laws and their adj
ministration is caused by a class of would
be pension attorneys, who constantly indulge
in a system OF bckerinf and fault-flnd-
ing, through ignorance OF what the laws
are and in an effort to eXtricate themselves
leSSneSs and general incompetency, just as
the ignorant and dishonorabe attorney is
constantly berating the court and the jury
in his endeavor to impress his client with
his own worth.
Let us, as ex-solders and pensioners. be
a little more ready to accord justice to the
laws and to those to whom their admins
tration is intrusted, and to hold to a strict
accountability those to whom we intrust our
claims, and / am confident the result will
be such as to secure larger share OF JUS
tiee to the pensioner Every honorably dis
charged eX-soldier and sailor of the Union
army now surviving, and such widows now
surviving who We're married to soldiers or
sailors prior to their enlistment, are enti-
tied TO a pension as a badge of honor, in
equity and good conscience; and this much
to-be-desred result can be more readily
brought about by earnest and dispassionate
argument than by unreaSoning fault-hnding
and unjust criticism.
When we remember that for the year
ending March 81, 1898. there have been issued
55,170 original and 1854 certificates for in
crease restoration and rerating, making
total issue during that year of 10000 GER
tihcates, we can appreciate to some extent
the magnitude of the work, and when we are
confronted with the fact that a great and
generous-hearted people, through their Con-
hax-a nj tod fat.
hscal year with which to pay pensions, and
that in order to complete the payment of
the claims already allowed 90 t he VIII be
then, indeed we may well pause and give
the matter of pensions our dispassonate
consideration.
Much has been said as to the unreason-
ing criticism by certain people and certain
newspapers of the pensioners and the PEN
when men, under the guise of ex-sodiers
and pensioners, will hold meetings and de-
clare for pension Of 81 per day. for al ex-
soldiers and a disability pension in addition.
or for the payment of pensions in lump
sum? Such ridiculous and unreasonable de-
mands tend TO discredit every ex-union SOL
der
1.-The time has come when the Grand
Army OF the Republic. must continue with
redoubled effort to secure and insure justice
to the ex-soldier, his widow and orphans,
and to supplement that effort with an effort
to control the unreasoning, mercenary hypo-
critic, and Danish the ignorant and dishon-
orable pension shark from contact with our
pension system. The ex-soldier has more
at stake than few dollars in the way of
Increased pension; his honor and the honor
and welfare of his children are at stake.
and If left to himself and his own sense OF
justice and honor, none need fear the result;
but when Influenced by those who have been
living off the ex-soldler In years past, and
now find it easier to resort to dishonorable
practices than to make honest living,
the Intervention of the Grand Army of the
Republic is demanded. Let every member
of our order study both the pension laws and
the reports of the Pension Office and then
bring to bear his best and most intelligent
efforts to see justice done to our old COM
rades in arms their widows and orphans,
and a grateful people will ever applaud"
Commander Dodge will commend the man
agement of the State Soldiers Home, noting
the extension of accommodations the past
year. In reference to the war with Spain,
the department commander will say:
Our Nation is standing on the brink of
responsibilities the gravity of which has
never been equaled in our country's his
tory except in the year 1861 For more than
with continued peace, and happiness and
prosperity have attended us on every hand.
Civilization and Christianity have made ad-
vancement during that period never before
eQualed in our country's history but to-
day we are confronted with circumstances
and responsibilities the discharge OF which
again taxes the patriotism of the young men
Of our land as it was taxed in 1851. The
cause is the cause of humanity, the ad-
Vancement of civilization and who can say
that the present strife has not been visited
upon this people by reason of the disregard
by the human race of the teachings of the
Ruler of US all But let the cause be what
it may, the condition confronts Il people
ever awake to their country's best inter-
ests, and the call TO arms of to-day is be-
ing responded to by the young men, patriots
of this day and the sons of the patriots of
1861 to 1865. The cause in which they are
engaged is q noble one, the suppression of
ignorance tyranny and humanity, and
there is no doubt but the volunteer soldier
of 1898 will prove equal to the emergency
and stand firmly for the right and the cher
ished principles of our government, carry
| ing Old Glory to victory after victory until
| every Spanish tyrant is driven from beauti-
full and fertile Cuba, and il needs be, carry
| Old Glory on and on until she. is firmly
planted over an enduring republic in every
portion of our beloved America"
The department commander will urge that
| the duties of assistant adjutant general and
| assistant quartermaster general be con-
| tinued under the direction Of one officer as
| at the present time. He will express his
great obligation to Assistant Adjutant Gen
eral Smock and to other members of his
| staff