The National tribune., 1901-05-09

| struction upon the pension laws that no
reasonable man would take. He said it
was not the laws that were at fault, but
it was the construction placed upon them.
The following preamble and resolu-
tions, offered by Comrade Sample, were
unanimously adopted:
Whereas, the administration of the
pension laws of the United States, by the
present Pension Commissioner, Hon. ii.
| Clay Evans is of such a character as to
| call forth the most earnest condemnation
| from men who wore the blue and fol-
lowed the flag from 1861 to 1860, and
| Whereas, the records show that over
| 10000 of our comrades passed away dur
| ing the year of 1900. many of whom had
applications on file in the Pension Office
| for years, and who had furnished all the
proof required by law, and yet their
claims had been ignored and they had gone
to their death. feeling that this great Gov
| ernment which was indebted to them for
so much had failed in its obligations; and
"Whereas, the first election of Com
| rade Mckinley TO the Presidency was
| brought about in the close States by the
united action of the comrades of the war,
| led by such men as Comrades Sickles,
| Howard Stewart Burst, Alger and Tan
ner, who, in all their public declarations,
stated that Comrade Mckinley would see
that the pension laws We're honestly and
fairly administered as intended by the
National Congress, which enacted them.
But if such was the intention, 1t is now
self-evident that Pension Commissioner
Evans has upon his own responsibility
taken the narrow and unpatriotic course
which is at present in vogue in the PEN
sion Department; therefore, be it
Resolved, That we, the Delegates to
the Department Encampment of the
| Grand Army of the Republic of Pennsyl-
yania, from Allegheny, County, declare
| that il is our candid judgment that Presl-
dent Mckinley owes it to his old COM
| rades-in-arms to ar once remove from the
office of Pension Commissioner the Hon.
H. Clay Evans and substitute some man
whose record as a soldier VIII so influence
his honest judgment that our old COM
rades may receive that justice which We
are satisfied they merit and will bring an
Endorsement from all patriotic people of
this Nation;
That every day that Hon. Fl. Clay
Evans is continued in Office it is menace
to the comfort and happiness of some of
our old comrades, or their widows or chill
dren.
And we therefore think that in order
to comply with the declarations not only
of the Republican but also of the Dem
cratic party in their National plat
forms, that they favor just and eqult-
able administration of the pension laws of
not the case and has not been since Hon.
H. Clay Evans assumed control of the
Department.
"Rasolyed, That copy Of this resolu-
ton be presented TO the Department En-
campment, and that we urge its adoption
by that body, instructing the Delegates to
the National EncampmeDt to vote for
resolution requesting President Mckinley
to at once remove Hon. II. Clay Evans
from the position of Pension Commission
er on account of his unfair and unpatriot-
ic actions toward the comrades Of war
and their widows.
Naturally, this decided action by so
large and influential a body Of comrades
excited the ire of the soldier-hating pa
pers, and the Pittsburg Post, which was
vicious Copperhead paper during the
war, which walled over every Union vic
tory, and exulted over every rebel sue
cess, which pronounced the war "fail-
ure," and called the Union soldiers Lin
coin hirelings," has this TO say editorially,
over the action Of the veterans:
"The movement OF the claim agents
and pension sharks to force Commission
er Evans out of the Pension Bureau for
his refusal TO keep an open door for ali
applications, got some surface aid at
Gil Chamber on Saturday, calling On
'Comrade' Mckinley to make short work
OF Commissioner Evans. 'Comrade' Tom
Sample, who fit into" and subdued the
rebellion, and has been getting well paid
for it, was the prime worker in this move
ment TO drive out Evans, whose offense
is that he simply and properly admins
ters the pension laws. No specific charges
are urged against Mr.. Evans, and the
| weight Of evidence is that he has made
faithful and considerate official. But
this very fact inspires the claim agents to
drive him from office. So far President
Mckinley has refused to be humbugged,
bulldozed or frightened by these meddlers,
and it will be 10 his credit and honor il
he continues so TO the end 'Comrade'
Tom Samples resolutions will 20 TO the
Presidential waste-basket, which is their
proper place"
Now, this is a deliberate lie in intent
and expression. None knows better than
the Pittsburg Post that there was not
claim agent present or instrumental in the
passage of the resolution. There was not
man there, or in any way connected
with that action, who had any interest in
| pensions further than a sincere sympathy
with his comrades and their widows, and
a genuine desire to see the laws on The
statute books properly executed. But it
is so easy to say claim agents and pen
sion sharks" and this stands in place Of
any facts or argument. Comrade Sample
can well stand the fling at him. His rec
ord and standing, and sincerity in the in
| terests Of his comrades, are too well
known to have abuse from such a source
regarded as otherwise than 4 compliment.
! We recommend the action OF the Pitts
burg comrades to those everywhere as an
example to be initiated.
WILL Andreu Cnrnerin call Chris Ma.