Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-02-17
DICK
Defends the Eighth
In Reply to the Speech
Of Sims.
Dick Was Absent When
Sims Spoke
And Congressman Norton Took
up the Cudgel.
Tennessee Congressman Opposed
Pensions.

CuotuIos
Major General Charles Dick will to-
day 10 his maiden speech in the House
of Representatives, defend the war rec.
ord Of the Eighth Ohio volunteer in
fantry, Of which organization he was
Lieutenant Colonel during the recent
unpleasantness with Spain, says
Plain Dealer special.
Col. Dick will not only defend his
regiment, which, by the way, was re-
cruited almost exclusively from in and
around the generals home at Akron,
but he will also take several kinds Of
falls out OF one Sims Of Tennessee,
who for the last month has been prov
Ing himself to be one Of the most ran
tankerous sectionalists that the House
has been compelled TO listen to for
sevcrnl years. Judging from some of
the remarks made by Sims he scarcely
knows that the Civil War is over;
ut any rate he Is dead set against
the granting OF pensions to soldiers,
nnG he has made known his opposition
nt every available occasion in the
House. Last Wednesday Mr.. Sims, in
Il speech on the Legislative approprla-
ton bill, took occasion TO present his
views on pensions at some length, and
among some of the choice epithets that
he used toward the Grand Army of the
Republic, was organized pension
grnbbcrs, that treasury fnttcned, treas
ury fed, Organization called the Grand
Army of the Republic, grand army of
pensioners etc
In that same speech Mr.. Sims pre-
sentcd some statistics which he had
procured from the war department,
giving the list of reglmental organiza-
tlons that were engaged in actual SER
vice during the Spanish war. In this
list he gave the number Of killed,
wounded, and missing in each organ-
zation and then presented the number
of pension claims filed on account of
service. Among the volunteer reg-
ments mentioned was the Eighth Ohio
infantry, and his record showed that
III this regiment there were none lill-
cd wounded or missing rs a result of
service In Cuba, yet 447 members of
this regiment, according TO Mr.. Sims,
had fled claims for pensions. IT elicit
ed some surprise that Col, Dick did not
at once arise to defend his regiment as
some of the members from other states
did.
In the House yesterday afternoon
the same question again arose In the
discussion, and FOR time 1t was hot
and furious. Members from those
states from which organizations were
recruited that saw active service arose
to defend their regiments, but not
word was heard from Ohio until DR..
Norton, the dapper little Democratic
Congressman from Tf,in, took the
floor
"lI response to the gentleman from
Tennessee said Mr., Norton, '!ct me
say I am Rot here to defend tho sol.
dicrs of the lntc war. A distinguish
cd general, who WAS In command OF
one ot the regiments from Ohio. was
upon the floor when the statement was
made by thc gentleman from Tenncss-
&C 1t was for him TO reply. Gen. Dick
might lave taken NJ this descnsc, but
aiu here to dcfeGd the men who
fought under Gen. Dick, f ne speaks
no word for them, say that the hoacs
In ohio OF the men who made up that
regiment are today virtually hospitals
OF the boys who returned from military
service in the army Of The union."
Gen, Dick was not on the 1oor when
Mr. Norton arose for the defense OF the
Eighth regiment, but later he announc.
ed that today he would take the door
IN behalf Of his regiment, not because
of what Mr.. Norton said. but rather
because of what he did not say. Aud
he will then proceed to so after Mr.
Sims.
1t will be tho generals maiden eff.
fort.
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