The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-07-10
Mek|hLEY'S BARGAIN
WITH GRAND army.

UEIlI ullAHD AilitIt. i.
Patriotic Order of Pension Grab
bers Traded Votes for Prom
ise of Free Hand to Loot
Treasury.
Washington, July 8.-At last the
Grand Army Of the Republic has come
out and shown in its true colors as an
aggregation or pension plunderers.
Gen'l Sickles, distinguished soldier
and most prominent member OF the
order, comes boldly and unblushingly
out in an open letter to Presidenvt
Mckinley, in which he admits that
there was bargain and sale last fall
whereby Mr.. Mckinley was given the
votes Of the order and reelected, on
condition that he dismiss loyal pub
lie servant, Commissioner of Pensions
III. Clay Evans.
In his letter General Sick1es asserts
that the Grand Army, particularly in
the Western States, votes at national
elections soley with regard to the adj
ministration Of the Pension Bureau.
General Sickles in letter to Sena-
tor Scott, of West Virginia, asserts
that in several close States in the
West the "old-soldier'' vote would
have been cast solidly against Presi-
dent Mckinley last year if assurances
had not been given that Pension
Commissioner Evans would be remov-
ed. This is in marked contrast to a
statement issued few weeks ago by
a past commander of the G A R, in
which he asserted that the Grand
Army was not responsible for private
pension legislation for other methods
of raiding the Treasury. On the con-
trary, politicians in Congress we're de-
clared by this authority to be response
bic for the looting Of the Treasury in
behalf of pensioners not entitled to
the Governments bounty.
The point on which General Sickles
attacks Mr.. Evans is the construction
of the law of May 9, 1900, which was
amendatory of another act and pro-
vided that the pensions granted
should commence from the date of
this act.'' General Sickles asserted
that this meant the date Of the origi-
nal act and that Mr. Evans thought it
meant the date Of the amendment.
The question was submitted to the
Attorney General Of the United States,
who decided for Mr.. Evans conten-
tion whereupon General Sickles de-
clares war upon him and writes to the
president as follows:
If you continue the present com
missioner in Office you will find your
self in painful conflict with the senti-
ments of civil war veterans, who, with
almost entire unanimity, gave you
their cordial support in November
last. So strong is this feeling in
Kansas and Nebraska, for example,
that in my judgment, both of these
States would vote for Bryan if an cleo
tion were to come off tomorrow.
The controversy has developed an
ugly scandal and one which is a ser
ious reflection upon Republican politi-
cal methods. In order to secure votes
for candidate for the presidency the
campaign mnagers-iif not the presi-
dent-promise Indirectly that Com
missioner Evans shall not be retained
in Office. Gen. sickles accepts such
assurances as guarantee that Mr..
Evans will be forced to resign. Conse-
quently, according to his own state
ment, he took the stump for McKin-
| ley in the West and induced the Grand
Army veterans to 4svote the straight
ticket y Now he threatens the Presi
dent that there will be Emusic" if the
promise of the Republican campaign
managers are not made good.
Talk about revelations What Dem
ocrat or Southerner has ever charged
the heads Of the Grand Army with
such unblushing bargains and sale as
these?
That typical Southerners seldom
have gout in their lower extremities
is explained thus by Victor Smith in
the New York Press: The moment one