The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-08-16
WANT A CHANCE FOR A LIVING.
OLD SOLDIER SAYS VETERANS ARE
NOT TREATED RIGHT.

Veteran WiIIiumsOn's Presentation
of the Confederate Soldiers Claim
Upon the People Before McLaws
Camp-Many Avenues for Obtain
ing IA Livelihood Closed to Them.
Committee in Behalf of Unem-
pIoyed Veterans TO BE Appointed
by the Camp-Gen. Evans and the
Georgia Division Reunion.
Considerable interest was interjected in
to the meeting of McLaws Camp Of United
Confederate Veterans last night by the
remarks Of Veteran g. a. Williamson on
the subject of the apparent indifference
entertained towards the Old Confederate
veterans by the people for whom they
fought. and his anecdotes illustrative OF
the point under discussion.
A veteran, said Mr.. williamson, has
small opportunity of making a living in
this state, if he has not an established
business and chances through misfortune
or III health to lose his position. The city
departments, clerical positions in the great
corporations and others of like character
are closed to him on account of his age,
and he can do nothing except run some
small business on a corner or peddle small
wares through the country. That he is
vigorous and quite as well able as a
younger man to perform the duties ex-
pected of him makes no difference-a
position is not 10 be had.
1t seems to me-" said Mr.. William
son, that the people of this state owe
something to the old soldiers who fought
their battles thirty-five years ago Not
charity, not a pension, for until we are
100 old and feeble to work for ourselves
We do not ask assistance of this charac-
ter, but an opportunity TO make an honest
dollar. Many of US are still vigorous
and active, but the unwritten law of bust
ness. as II prevails here, prevents our Sc
curing a position Give US something to
do, don't discriminate against us merely
because we are not as young as we were,
and this viii be all that we ask. We can
do the work; give us a chance.
ITO embark in business requires capital
that few of US possess, and It is neces-
sary to work for others or to work not al
all. II seems to me that the camp would
do well to appoint a committee with the
express object of securing positions that
they are capable of filling for Confederate
soldiers, and 10 urge similar action by the
convention of the Georgia division of the
general association that meets here in
November"
A motion to appoint such a committee
was made by Veteran Williamson and
carried, Commander Chestnut announcing
that he would make the appointments at
his leisure and after deliberatlon.
In illustration of his position that some
OF the laws made in the interest of the
veteran do not always work to his ad-
vantage, Mr.. williamson instanced the act
that permits the INDECENT veterans of the
81 n wifi
out the payment of state, county or mu-
niCipal licenses. He gave the names of
two men, who were carrying on a bust
ness under this law who were renegade
Confederate soldiers. having deserted from
the army of the Confederacy and served
afterward in the Federal forces.
On the same day that these two men ap-
Piled TO the Ordinary of the county for
license as Confederate soldiers to carry
on business. they requested two
ex-Union soldiers in the city to indorse
their application for a pension, scheme
that, like the countryman's hshtrap
caught them going and coming These
men were what the speaker called gal
vanized Yankees"
To explain this term he said that ne
went out on picket duty in August of 1854
while serving in the campaign around Pc
tersburg with a certain Sergt. Brown Of
the Twenty-ffth South Carolina Infantry
A'ACNu vac SCI SAINT Vi lle guard ana DUR
ing the night disappeared. His disappear
ance caused some little comment at the
time, but was soon forgotten.
In the spring of the next year Veteran
Williamson, while coming South on fur
Tough, was captured with a train load of
companions and sent to Charleston as
prisoners. He was confined in the Citadel
then converted into a military prison. The
morning after his arrival he was turned
out with the rest of the prisoners for in
spectiOn. and while waiting saw a senti-
mel, walking his post solemnly, up and
down. He recognized him and to his sur
prised Hello, Brown, what are you do
ing here?" received the answer I'll
man, I've joined the Yankees" II was
these additions to the Northern army. whom
Veteran Williamson termed galvanized"
Adjt. Wilson read to the camp during
the meeting a communication from Gen
Clement A. Evans, commanding, this divis-
ion of the United Confederate Veterans. in
reference TO the reunion 10 be held here in
November, in which Gen. Evans spoke in
high praise Of the work that is being done
by the Savannah camps, and the commit
tee in charge of the convention and ex-
pressed the belief that ii would be one of
the most profitable and interesi ling in the
history of tine order Al the convention
said Gen. Evans concerted effort would
be made 10 collect and preserve authentic
records of the part taken in the great
struggle by Georgia troops.
SUMMARY AT SARATOGA.