The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-12
GRAND ARMY IN POLITICS.
spEFCHEy or THE COMMhNDER-IN IN
CHIEE AMI COMMANDER NAY

politIcal influence OF tho Grand Army. OF the
Republic was initiated last evening at the
Seventy FIRST Regiment ArmorY whsre the
lO2 posts OF the q. A. II. OF New YORK
city give a reception to .Chlef
Gen Albert ID. shaw. Department Commander
Col Joseph w. Kay OF this state and Commo-
dore John II. Starin. The occasion was chosen
to present to Mr.. Starn large silver loving
cup purchased for him by veterans OF 1891 %
and given In remembrance oil his MANY Kind
nssses. tho inscription said. The presentation
speech was made by Gen. Shaw. who re-
ferred to Mr. starins annual excursion given
10 the veterans IS an evidence OF HE Kindness
thoughtfulness and patriotism. Mr.. starin sI-
pressed his thanks and said that he wished tho
value OF the cup might have been given to the
old soldiers instead OF to him.
Gen. Shaw said that he had som ethnR to say.
not only to the men assembled, but to oil the
@. A. r. and to the people OF the country a.
well. Thsrsfore he had written his speech
and sent II to the newspapers and to the Jour
nal Of the organization.
DEN. sHAw's SPEECH.
Gen Shaw said Ia. part: 1T my desire at
this great meeting OF the comrades OF Greater
Com Sn doT.in. Chief on the important aU..-
tion OF pensions
free%om 't to an .n.isved race. Their majestic
monument Is the government their vnlor pre-
served. All our present proud national posses
R!one OF great deeis and Rrent memorles, won
in rsestabishing the authority OF the Govern
ment over the whole Union. would have been
2 sad history oil lost liberties had 1t not been
For you and mo-
And Ms We meet to-day Roodly company
of veteran survivors OF the grandest crusade OF
the centures-to take counsel together re-
eardng the important subject OF pensions. |
wh e say t that ali we demand Justice and
what we denounce Is any narrow hypocrisy
and cant which ls beneath the he, dignity Of
In deal ing with our pen Ion policy. IL gladly
conceded that our American pension roll Is the
most generous among nations Our hearts are
warmed 10y the sentiment OF generous Justice,
as shown by the liberal psnsion LEGISLATION OF
ali all risht. What | wish to make clear ia
tho fact that some Of the regu atoms OF
the Pension Department ore unjust; not con,
forming to the fair construction and srrit OF
our pension laws. md unworthy OF being al:
lowed TO stand as rcpresen.ng the policy Of
aid OF the very veterans whom It all too slowly
recognizes under the law. That final and lust
Hc,ton on NEEDY and WORTHY applispntYn. has
Department, cannot he doubted. And its lack
OF judicial fairness and force by such admins
Hencrforth veterans should demand equal and
exact justice under present eractmrnts along
ds.y H oi pcra,onsy and ' nnna,r o.
otto evasop., must .loG. and atop ssoop. or
triots will ask tho reason why, In the right way
and at the right time. Patriotism Is a poor
provider. when exercised in mere words. and
BY favors passed. a. It appears in evidence. so
that he who runs may read am sorry TO be
compelled Cannot to MAKE these SaO'r 5Dn
comrades sluarely in the face. Referring to
The G s9;caIIt% gsnn'. DsC ,iS on rSyS6
mittee OF Pensions Of the q. A. II. says; As is
known To all men the decslon was horn At n
expenditures in order to adjust The same to
AMI 5ff
sn."' the 'S tann %o knife cot
was n:ees.ory to haze sSarr.s or a. least
was f randcreH: Order No. III was p rsvsSsa;
and thus the blood Of the soldiers became the
The climax Of Woo aud injustice is revealed II
this truthful stnt"mentj How long. oh Lord.
how long. shall this policy Of evasion dominate
shame on this ou'rry against an increased
pension cxpeEdture. under present laws: No
one who knows well gil the resources o. our
ability t. pay n!i Just rensions APPLIED for
cn III s,ress T any ny innh
sharks ana the like. has brought down upon
eriticsms-as unteservcd AZ they have been
cruel and even brutal in grcNt number OF cases.
practically HIS been during recent years..cnr-
ries with II 'inTratitqie ard injustice, OF the
Sa'e ,b. sort d,a r,Ysin%nt cGyel'nd Listened
%hat was the c.St SroS a as A,sr hs
propriated by Congress and spent in this in
yestlgation to verify this ella M OF well-known
total Of frauds brought to iisht. in az a really
heroic crusade to make a case with all tho
drastic power Of the Government behind it.
mr. ~ lnGiy ~ Z al ha on roll
the purest roll in the world II is purar than
the roll OF churches: or OF insurance companies.
ration. In Its small percentage ~ frauds
:, u was asked Yesterday II there were, not
my answer then will he my answer now. It is
true that, among the sacrifices Of The
Great War moral weaknesses of sad sort
Army life helps or hurts the manly ibre II
men; as rule. our war grandly Developed
Of tho Union. A small minority were wounded
morally. and their 6nr,len OF life has
$rs.. moran s9nTaV Wrect :' a.srv. nrs
which Is the dearest sit o. God to the the
valid claim upon the bounty Of the Government
their vaor In their outh h.! ped to save In their
Tended and preserved. should cheertuiiy grant
them pensions IN their time Of need Having
broken down through the temptations OF
wards OF tho nation in whose defence they
sadly wandered downward into the shades II
10 thus clear that those who are let us hope
unthink ingly criticised. are the most entitled
to charitable acts and words.
ITO sum II all up. the burden Of complaint is
against the enforcement of rule No. 225 and
the widows clause barring pensions ut an
income % 500 year. Neither, as We believe,
IA in keeping with the spirit OF the law A
soldiers " dow should not he permitted 10 sui
fer IN this land OF plenty, and We stoutly insist
that rule 225 should be abrogated and rule
No. 1914 re-pstablishei.
AT II time when tho saviors OF the country
need most the benefcent pensions pledged to
them when they volunteered, In view " the
wealth OF our national Inheritance, there
should be but one sentiment. 1. e-that OF a
prompt. generous and lust granting Of pen.
sions to all who are worthy and needy under
present laws. What Is needed, and what Is n OF
now enforced. Ia 10 have the present pension
laws administered ~ their plain. simple. con-
btructivN intent-without any attem pt to limit
expenditures plainly authorized in their enact
ment; and let all financial responsibility there
for rest upon Congress. where. 1t properly be-
longs;
for carrying out the present liberal pension
laws; this Ii the duty Of our sta ssmen Ours
Is the rIght TO enjoy the full fruition of n noble
appreciation OF our services. 0ttnglv exprsssoi
through laws passed for the aid and comfort OF
poor and deserving veterans.
The cheers o. n multitude MS the yaterans
painfully march in the parade OF honor carry
Ia han 40. a ...t l..,s