Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-09-19
PRODS PENSION
DEPARTMENT
NDER-lN-CHIEF RASSlEUR
CAUSTIC.
HAWLEY COMES TO DEFENSE
Thanksgiving Mass Meeting Held for
Prospective Recovery of President
Senator Hanna Presides-Ex-
Secretary of State w. R. Day Gives
Address.

Secretary of State w. R. Day Gives
Address.
Cleveland, Sept. 13-The feature Of
the business session of the G. A. K.
yesterday was Commander-in-Ch
Rassieur's attack on the pension de-
partment of the government. After
adverting to the Importance of judi
cial assistance in the administration
If the pension bureau and answering
objections to the G. A. R. bill, having
this object in view, the commander-in-
chief said:
I'VE cannot conceive that the meas
ure of duty to those who saved this
country will be belittled while this
country has hundreds Of millions of
dollars to engage in a humanitarian
war in the interests of the down-trod-
den of other countries"
He referred regretfully to the fail
ure of the veterans preference bill to
receive favorable consideration by
congress and urged further efforts to
secure it's passage. Later Gen. Ras-
sieur made another attack on the
pension department, and Senator
Hawley of Connecticut defended it..
He was loudly applauded when he
closed.
The thanksgiving mass meeting for
the prospective recovery of the presi-
dent was attended by an immense
outpouring, including veterans and
visitors. Senator NJ A Hanna pre-
sided.
Judge Days EuIoay.
Governor Nash, Judge William R.
Day, Senator Fairbanks and Others
spoke most feelingly upon the absorb
ing topic Of the day. Judge Day
spoke in part as follows:
"On Friday last said Mr. Day,
''the president of the United States,
having responded to an invitation to
attend the exposition at Buffalo and
taking part, delivered an address, ex-
pressing with great force and beauty
the supremacy of the victories Of
peace over those of war, and in rarely
felicitious language voicing the hope
that the nations of the earth might
dwell together in unity, was about to
close his visit by meeting the people
at public reception as has been his
wont On many occasions. On his way
TO the reception, a friend expressed to
him the thought that meeting so many
people might make unusual demands
upon his strength. He replied that
the people had ever been kind to him
and it was pleasure to meet with
them, and he found great satisfaction
in their expressions of confidence and
esteem.
With these sentiments on his lips,
at a time when the country was in
profound peace, when prosperity
abounded upon all hands, when his
worth and ability and gentle kindness
had endeared him, it was believed, to
all his countrymen, without warning,
he was stricken from the fullness of
health to the portals of death itself
Such an attack upon such a man I'M
der such circumstances in a country
like ours seems almost impossible.
Other presidents have been stricken
in the excitement following a great
civil strife and when the evil passions
of disappointed partisanship were
rife That man, thus blameless
could be attacked so must needs
make us pause moment and refiect.
1t affords TO the people Of this cou1i
try another lesson as to their duty in
dealing with those who encourage up
On American soil the growth and pro-
pagation of principles which make
taught that if we SOW the wind we
shall reap the whirlwind.
1T is one of the sayings of the
president, thought worthy Of empha-
SIS, that there are no classes in this
fair land Of ours. There must be no
place under our flag for the propagan-
da of the doctrines Of the anarchists. |
Laws must be enacted which shall
visit upon such criminals with Just
and sure punishment. Not only the |
pupil, but the teacher of such theories |
must be reached and punished. The |
kept from our shores; it's principles |
must be torn. root and branch, from
every foot of our domain until it's adj |
herents learn that to attack the gov
through it's highest official
IS one Of the most heinous Of crimes. |
sure to meet with swift and terrible |
retribution. Let there be no nook or
corner Of the civilized world in which
it can hide and call itself safe. We
are not met on this occasion to discuss
ways and means by which these ends
are to be reached. We know that the
American people will insist that every
thing be done which the law can 10
to make REPETITION of such horrors
impossible
Happily for the country, no less
than source Of unbounded joy to his /;
friends, we have every reason TO be-