Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1898-06-03
TONGUE AND THE SOLDIERS.


Old Republican Soldier Gives HIS View
On oregon's Delegation.
PORTLAND, May 81,
The Oregonian dispatches from
!. Washington have for a few weeks
! been filed with accounts OF what ths
Hon. Thos. Tongue is doing for thu
old soldiers. One, few days since
stated that he had secured pension
for some one which made. nineteen
and that he was very proud of bis
record and that he had 400 on his
list;.at that rate he would have to
serve 40 years to complete his list II
he bad no addition in the future. l
seen by the last papers :that he now
claims to have secured 100. How long
has Mr.. Tongue had this great love
for the old soldiers and great regard
for their services
Has he shown 1t in his recommends
tions for federal position ? For years
they have been trying to secure
places to work on the Notifications
and other government work. When
they could join admission to the
divine presence IA divinity acquired
at West Point of the August petty
Official who had charge, they were
curtly referred to a foreman whose
first question was "Have you taken
out your first papers ?" asked with a
tongue so thick with brogue as to be
hardly intelligable.
Did Mr.. Tongue endeavor to assist
them ? They wanted work, they did
not ask for pensions. or all those
who were recommended by their COM
rades for any position, has he assisted
one to get what he asked for ?
Has not the course of the whole Or
egon delegation been an insult to
every old soldier in the state 2 Have
their appointees been men Of such
great ability, intelligence and ex-
alted character that no old soldier can
compare with them?
One was bolter and disturbing
element in his party who with his
partner by law, vile tricke:y defeated
the ablest senator u. N. Delphi that
Oregon ever had, and there is dis
pute whether one was forced to re-
sign for pocketing $35 out of a $75 sal.
ary which his clerk was supposed to
receive or only $25 out of d S65 salary.
Which If either, is correct? And was
not one deserter from the regular
army2 And is one who was sent to
distant port (ah my countrymen
what graft was there,l now being
investigated for his connection with
smugglers and gamblers9 Recently
there appeared letter from the Hon.
Mr.. Tongue, filled with patriotic sen.
timents, love for the old soldiers, and
sorrow because he could not accept an
invitation to attend the Annual State
Encampment of the G.. A, R. How
unfortunate that the name of the
inYitor did not appear for many
of us members of long standing have
a great curiosity to know who is
authorized to invite any one not a
member to meet with us at our state |
encampment. 1t would have been
very pleasant no doubt to have had
him there, perhaps he could have ex-
planned why he had turned down all
old soldiers. What is the necessity of
maintaining pension department,
with its army of clerks, officials and
examiners at an enormous expense II
the congressman can do this work
and get pensions for the poor old SOL
diers who, the Oregon delegation
seem to think are worthy of moth
Ing else.
Now, does not all this rot, all this
great overflow of love and regard on
the part of Tom Tongue and "me