The National tribune., 1900-03-08
RINGING RESOLUTIONS.
Kansas Post Goes squarely to the Root Of
the Matter.

After reciting the history of pension ad-
miniStration under Presidents Harrison and
Cleveland, Post 174, of Eldred, Kan, says:
Whereas Comrade William Mckinley
was nominated and elected upon Il plat
form and upon public declarations pledged
TO revoke the dishonest pension policy
of Grover Cleveland and his subordinates,
has been adhered to in Il far more intensi-
fled and aggravated degree, until in the
last year there were 10Y 900 pension
claims rejected and those that were allowed
We're at rating far less than they were
legally entitled to; and Il far more vicious
policy of abusive villlfication of pension
claimants and their attorneys, and PEN
sioners, than was ever previously permitted
by this grateful Nation; n policy that
branded all pension claimants and their
witnesses as perJurers and frauds, and our
comrades widows as dissolute women; a
policy that obstructed, perverted and nulli-
fled the pension laws, thus rejecting the
just claims of our comrades, and their
widows and dependents, and not granting
10 those allowed what the laws and evidence
entitled them to, thus robbing, under the
pretense of law, all pension claimants; a
policy that has held from adjudication
hundreds, of thousands of Just, legally
completed pension claims; all of which has
been and is being done in violation of law,
honesty and decency by the present Com
missioner of Pensions, H. Clay Evans; and
Whereas the attention of the President
has been called to this repeatedly, by over
80 Departments and two National 6. A. r.
Encampments, and two-thirds of our
Grand Army Posts, and other soldier or
ganizations, and by our National G.A.R
Pension Committee, that called upon him
last July and last November, and vet he
has been needless to our earnest appeals to
correct these wrongs, known TO him, and
which he has the power TO do. under section
All United States Revised Statutes: There
fore, be it
ResoLued. That we demand a revocation
Of this dishonest and unlawful policy so
Indignantly continued under the present
Administration by H. Clay Evans, and we
ask that the just, legal and generous policy
of Comrade Benjamin Harrison and hic
able subordinates be promptly reinstated
with extended liberal application, and we
further demand that all pension laws, like
all other laws, be construed and applied
in the generous spirit and intent of their
enactment: and to this end, having no
faith in the ability or integrity of II. Clay
Evans, we demand his summary removal:
And be it further.
ResoLred, That in the furtherance of all
this, believing it to be the only sure means
of redress, in face of all the facts herein
set forth, we do hereby demand of our
Representative in Congress, Chester /. Long,
that he Join with our faithful champion,
Hon. Charles Curtis, of Kansas, in support
of his resolutions to appoint a committee
of ex-Union soldiers of the House Of Repre-
sentatives, 10 thoroughly investigate the
policy and method of administration of the
Pension Bureau, with plenary legal powers;
and that he also support the other bene-
ficiary bills introduced by Mr.. Curtis in
our behalf, known as III. II. No. 1870.
1886 and 4141 and use his utmost
endeavors TO secure their passage, and for
such other and further relief and redress
from our just and valid complaint is herein
set forth.
We deeply regret that this action has be-
come necessary; for the men who preserved
this Nation and thereby made practicable
the policy Of expansion upon which our
Government has now embarked should not
be compelled to plead for justice.
JOHN SHANNON, Post Comma ndcr.
w. 7. COLLINS, Adjutant