The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-08-22

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! eulable injury to the cause Of the old
soldier, just as tumblcbus might
spoil cupful Of good, pure and whole
some water.
Your lawmakers should advocate
sensible measures, which will meet
with the approval Of the conscience
aud the judgment Of the people. The
man who goes to congress advocating
visionary measures can have no int1u-
encc in that body and will not be able
to accomplish anything for his coz
stituents.
My friends. the old soldiers. as l
understand. do not complain Of the
! law. Generally speaking, the law is
liberal and generous. 1t makes ample
provision for the soldier, his widow
and orphan.
Enforce the Law.
"The crying want and need Of today
is not for more law, but for an honest,
fair and impartial enforcement of the
present law. Our pension law is en-
forced. if 1T all. through the depart
mcnt known as the commissioner or
| pensions. He sits as a judge and In
terplets the letter and the spirit Of the
law. His acts may be arbitrary, and
he may wholly ignore the law in its
application to 4 petition for a pension,
and there is no adequate relief from
his autocratic ruling. Therefore it is
Just as necessary !nat Your commits
sioner Of pensions should be an honest,
plrc and upright man as it is for your
Judge who cnforces the civil and Grim
inal law Of the land The law Of the
land makes ample provision for the I'M
parchment of a judge who is dishonest
and corrupt The commissioner OF
pensions sits as a judge. granting OF
refusing pensions as it suits his pleas
urc. He interprets the law according
to his whins or his humor or by IN
fucnce. Gehors the record. BE is
'one mind power'-lnighty, omnipotent
and most dangerous. he receives his
appointment from one man, and is re-
sponsible TO him and to him alone. He
deals with the masses Of the people.
He acts as judge upon the cases OF
thousands Of people, and yet those peo-
pie have nothing TO say rs to who
shall be their judge, or who shall in
! 1erprc: Tie law which was made IN
their behalf and in their interest. /
insist that this is un-American AID for
eier TO TIE geni,.s 0! republican form
of government Tie great iniquity Of
the present system is fully excmplifled
by Your present commissioner OF pen
sions. This is not the time CT The
place to discuss in detail lis work. 1t
IS sufficient to know that thousands OF
pctiticns from Grand Army posts in
this nation have been presented beg
sing for his removal. Your petitions
have only been answered by repeated
injury. You have pleaded. but the
powers have been deaf TO the voice
Of justice. You have inplored. but no
answer has come for yo1r relief.
BY Popular Vote.
Ny friends. this is i great injustice.
it is q great, wrong. Under the co:n-
mon law We learn that for every wrong
! there is Il remedy. There is l remedy
for tl.;s wrong. and. in my judgment,
this remedy IS simple and adequate. /
would ,l::inc the com pisSioner OF pen
sious III: elective office. would give
the OLD so!G:crs the opportun!t: 10 say
who should he commissioner Of pep
sions. and who should interpret tio
law that WAS made fer their benefit:
AS to now this should best be done
a,a not welded to an. particular
thecry. ! am willing to consult and
advise rs 20 low this Can best be donc.
At the present. it is my judgment that
it wo"d answer the purpose il q law
was passed providing that each Grand
Array post in this uation. should at
stated times hold an election in their
posts. permitting all beneficiaries over
the age Of >! years 20 vote for whom
they desire appointed commissioner Of
pensions. and the person who receives
the highes, number Of votes should be
appointed oy the president commis-
sioner Of pensions. II have the honor
to represent this district in congress,
it shall be my object and aim to do all
in my power to have law of this
nature and character passed. law
making it possible that soldiers. their
widows and orphans skall receive
fair and impartial treatment. and that
they shall have voice in saying who
shall be their judge"
All men may not agree with all the
ideas expressed by Judge Jackson, but
whether they agree with his ideas or
not. they must admire the visor with
which he delivers them. lie will make
his mark and will ranl, aEong the
strong men OF the house.