The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-08-20
To the Veterans:

anu SOH1e lTOIll OtneT StdLpS nave RESPONDED
nobly to my request for "reminiscences, anc
that ! feel deeply grateful to them fol
their support and cooperation. have
number OF very interesting documents
on hand, but unfortunately they are zoe
long for present use. have some Others
rades having written on both sides of the
paper. If your articles do not appear soon
you know the reason now. They will all
be given a place. Write as often as you
can think of anything good to write about.
Write as plainly as possible and on side of
the paper only. Yours gratefully,
S. o. Young.
Adjutant General Texas Division, U. c. "
~
DR.. S. o. Young. Galveston, Texas
Workman, Texas, August IL, 1S99-Dear
Sir and Comrade: There is a subject
which l think is or should be of vital in .
terest to every true and gallant ex-Con-
federate soldier that is now engaging the
attention of our u. C. V. association. as
well as Others outside of the organization.
l refer 10 the advantages being taken of
law
The aim, object ana intention OF It's
promoters We're right, Just and commend
able, so far as the object In view was cor
oerned, the pensioning of the old, disabled
confederate soldier who is destitute of
means and unable TO make support by
manual labor. The pttance of So per
month is Godsend TO their declining
years, provided they and they alone al Q
permitted to reap its benefits But | do
not think that their rights are properly
protected by the legislative enaetments
winch rendered the provision of the
amendment a law
In the first place the word "indlgent" is
not as fully and scrupulously defined as
II might or should be- nor the line as
clearly drawn between needy applicants
ana those who by little stretch or con-
science could be able to subscribe to tho
requirements of the pension law
another lame place In the enacted law
is where the question Is asked 'Dld YOU
ever desert the Confederacy?" The de-
signing applicant Of there should be such,
could have deserted the army in the face
OF the enemy and then answer this oues-
tion in the negative. DESERVING the Con.
federate army and deserving the Confeder-
aSy are by no means synonymous terms.
me spirit OF the law. no doubt, is clear,
Out the pnraseoiogy In this particular will
ADMIT OF a construction calculated to de-
Ieat the ends OF Justice II we're asked
the question whether or not deserted the
Confederacy during the war. and though /
might wear upon my brow the burning
brand OF deserter from the army, could
truthfully answer no and that hea r,
mained within the limits of the Confad-
eracy during the entire four years of
strife But enough of this.
ne most humiliating feature connected
WIN the pension law and its provisions ia
the rush OF many applicants for position
upon the rolls who under a strict con-
structloh OF the law and It's primary OBJ
Ject ana meaning are not entitled ia Itz
provisions. | was Confederate soIaIer
Ior tour years and three months. Fought
through the campaigns OF the army of
Northern Virginia under the immortal
stonewall Jackson and his successor until
me end of the fray. And I entered heart
anu soui INTO the contest for the passage
OF the amendment. In doing so I was
hrmly and decidedly of the opinion mat
no honest, true, gallant and patriotic Com
iederate soldier would ever apply for n
pension az long as he could possibly
weather the storms of life without IL. And
am convinced today that comparatlyely
lew oil TINS class of grand old heroes have
their names enrolled upon the applicants.
list which Is swelling so rapidly The dis
aDied and unfortunate OF this class are the
ones whose rugged pa:h Through The
rev hhrd old years yet left to them should
pe iehuered as smooth as possible by at
ieast the full constitutional allowance Of
20 per month But unless the county
Judges and commissioners exercise tb,
greatest diligence and severest censorshIn
IN regard to the favorable consideration
OF applications these old, worthy and needy
pattie SCARED veterans OF a lost but s.-
cred and glorious cause VIII receive less
.nan W per year. while others not so de-
serving or needy are seeking to gobble
UP lhe mons share Of The appropriations
wish 1t borne in mind that have the
greatest respect and esteem and the high.
est admiration for the true and faithful
cohIederate soldier that one man ever en-
tortained for another yet when see So far
as my observation goes less than 90 per
cent OF these old standing monuments of
tue worlds greatest and grandest soldiers
applying for pension, am forced 10 the
humiliating conclusion that there are MANY
seeking the benefit of this appropriation
whose war record was made far away from
the surging front where victories were won
ana martial glory decked the brow Of many
VINO are now struggling with adversely and
sc9rning to apply for a pension.
THIS may sound very strange coming
from an old Confederate soldier. but feel
deeply upon this subject and but voice
the sentiment of great many Others whom
nave heard express themselves In regard
to this matter.
! have heard OF some and know OF
others who have applied for pensions who
are able TO and are making a good living.
wniie there are Others. who claim to be in |
INDECENT circumstances when their wives |
OF children own good, comfortable hon. es. |
THESE things cast dark shadow over the |
name Of the Confederate soldier. but thew
exist all the same. and unless etrict meas |
ures arc taken to confine the pension and
dement's OF the pension law % those artu- |
ally IN need and unable to make living
the law VIII prove failure. its benefits
farce and its repeal Will be only .natter
Of time, The abuse Of the Fedc.al pen-
sion law Is burning shame ami disgrace
not only to the American congress. Int 10
the people as WELL And unless the nres-
ont tendency IN that direction is checked
and closely guarded the samo shameful
condition Of things will so;ner or later Is.
tain and exist In connection with our own
otate pension law. '''-
The fee allowed pension attorneyc (God
gave the mark) should be abrogated. as
shssp sharks are always on the alert for