Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-08-10
From Past Dept. Commander
J. Wesley Gilman of Oakland,
Endorsing Good Work for Soldiers
Done by Congressman BurIeigh.
A Case Worthy Of Formal Thanks by Sergeant
Wyman Post Of Oakland.


Editor Somerset Reporter:
wish to heartily corroborate the
article in a recent issue of your paper
relative to the constant and success
full work that has been accomplished
for the old soldiers of the 3rd District
by Congressman Burleigh in the time
he has served as our representative at
Washington. He has, at all times. been
loyal and true to every soldiers inter
est. and any man who wore the blue,
no matter what might be his station oy
his politics, could write at any time in
the full assurance not only of a prompt
reply, but also of his earnest and
energetic cooperation. Scarcely day
has gone by since he has been in Con-
gress that has not seen a pension
awarded some soldier in this district
by their fruits We shall know them,''
and the official records show that no
member of Congress has surpassed the
splendid record of results for soldier
constituents that has been made by
Congressman Burleigh, and those who
have anywhere near equalled it are in
deed few and far between.
In this connection | wish to tell lit
tie story which came under my imme-
date observation. Many old soldiers
in the 5rd District can tell similar ones,
but this will serve to illustrate his I'M
selfish devotion to the soldier interests
committed to his charge:
In 1897, the first year of Governor
Burleigh's service in Congress. very
worthy widow residing in this town
had a claim for Il pension which had
been pending at the bureau of pensions
for nine years. a blind daughter by a
former husband also resided with her,
a very intelligent young lady who had
been educated in a Western school for
the blind. Both were in poor health
and in very Strengthened financial cir
cumstances. As this stage of the stu
aticn the daughter went to Augusta
and had an interview with Governor
Burleigh. prior to his first departure
for Washington. The result was that
he took hold of the case with his char
actcristic energy and push. The diff
Guilty was that proof could not be OBJ
tanned of the death of her first hus-
band which occurred in Baltimore in
1871 or 1872, and thus establish the
legality of the marriage with the Sec
ond husband-the soidier-who was al
so deceased. II wars impossible for
them to secure proof of the husbands
and fathers death without theaeXpen-
diture of money at Baltimore-and this
they did not have.
This was the condition of the case.
when it was called to Mr.. Bureigh's
attention. His sympathies were thor
Nv Inf ut
the department showed him that moth
ing could be done to advance the claim
until the required evidence of the first
husbands death was furnished. At
this point 90 out of 100 members of
CongrSss would have dropped the case
with an expression of regret that ow-
ing to this lack of evidence they could
do nothing further to advance it. But
not so Mr.. Burleigh. His sympathies
were too thoroughly enlisted, and.
watching an opportunity when a long
debate afforded him a chance to slip
away, he went to Baltimore, where he
put in two days, in the scorching heat
of July, securing the evidence neces-
sary to place this poor blind girl and
her mother in a condition of independ-
ence. He employed, at his own ex-
pense, an attorney and a justice, and
by an exercise of rare tact, was able to
secure all the evidence required. This
included the statement of the physi-
clan who had attended the soldier in
hiss last illness. and the landlady at
whose house he died. both of whom
had declared to the Grand Army men
of Baltimore, who had attempted to help
out the matter. that under no circum-
stances would they furnish the testi-
mony@ sought Of them. Governor Bur-
leigh found that the doctor had taken
needless umbrage at a letter that hal
been written him by. the claimant.
while the landlady feltaggrieved at an
unpaid board bill which the soldier had
owed her at his death. 1t speaks well
for Governor BurleiShs diplomacy.
that where others had signally failed.
he was able to smooth them out AMI
secure the testimony that meant so
much to an unfortunate woman and
her blind daughter in a little country
town here in Maine. Besides this tes-
timony. Governor Burleigh hunted up
the priest who had performed the
burial service, and secured an affidavit
from him.
Commissioner Evans was not a little
surprised when the testimony was
placed before him, and said to Con-
gresham Burleigh, There must be
merit in this case, Governor when a
member QfsCohgress has it SO deeply
at heart that he will goin this weather
and at his own expense to look up evil
dence for it, / will See that it is
given an early and careful examina-
ton"
And it was, with the result that the
claimant was given a pension of IS a
month with over 800 in back pay.
| When this money was received. the
/ fortunate girl hastened to Augusta to
see Governor Burleigh. who was then
at his home in that city. to thank him
| for what he had done. She urged that
he should at least let her reimburse
him for the money he had expended
! i'm her behalf on his trip to Baltimore
! but he refused to take a penny, telling
, her that he had already received ample
nav for all he had been able to do, in
| the satisfaction he felt in his success
Here was a poor girl. without money
or political influence. and yet Congress
man Burleigh made her cause his own
q. la bac hundreds of OtharS-9uC