Evening star., 1901-10-24
GEN. DYRENFORTH'S SPEECH
CONMANDER-IN-CHI SCORES COM
MISSIONER EVANS.
He Also Makes a Strong Appeal for
Pensions for Deserving
Old Soldiers.

In his annual address to the Union Vet
erans' Union, in session in Chicago, Mr..
Dyrenforth, the commander-in-chief, said
i'll part:
Comrades of the Union Veterans Union:
In the valley of the shadow Of death, in
the deep shade of sense of irreparable
loss, sorrowing for a beloved comrade, the
illustrious William Mckinley, late Presi-
dent of the United States. we meet under
less enthusiasm than heretofore, but with
no less determination, perhaps with great
er determination, than ever heretofore. to
do unflinchingly, as we did in war, even
unto death, for our comrades, that the
brave man who made SO many sacrifices,
suffered SO many hardships, periled his life
that his country might live. barred his
breast to the storm in defense Of the
Union, welded and cemented forever and
ever the mighty union Of states. forming
the greatest, the most magnificent the
freest and the happiest nation on earth,
the envy and, at once, the admiration of
the world with the great prosperity now
enjoyed by the present generation and our
fellow countrymen, under benign and Al
mighty God, shall not be forgotten, treated
with neglect and allowed to suffer. For
we are determined to stand together, recog-
IS,
during the war; ballots count now: and the
great body of Union defenders, aided by
their sons and grandsons, their SonS-1n-laW,
younger brothers and nephews-the veter-
an, the representative head of the family,
being the leader to whom the family will
rally-must be treated with respect by the
general and all governments OF the coun-
try which they saved, be respectfully con-
sidered and taken into account by the poll
ticians; and, aye, be properly treated by
the corporations. To enforce respect We
must show our power, the power of unity,
the power of united action, with one sense,
with one sentiment, the love of comrade
for comrade; and l say that hereafter there
shall not be a municipal, a county, state
or a federal election in which the vote Of
the Union defender and his kin with him
shall not be potent element
Regarding the pension office he said:
The sore here still testers. 1t is believed;
however, that a remedy can be applied
through judicious executive order by the
President.
with regard to pensions we wish to
have 1t distinctly understood that, while
We will help our comrades in this respect,
we are not organized merely to secure pen
sions; that the purpose Of this order Is In
no sense to make raids on the treasury.
But we propose that, where there is law
giving the veteran certain things promised
to him, that law shall be properly admins
tered, be enforced and absolute justice be
done. We are much more opposed to the
granting Of pensions wrongfully than we
could ever be at the refusal wrongfully Of
q pension. We fully recognize that the
pension roll must be roll OF honor, and
we resist the writing Of the name of any
man thereon who Is not fully entitled there
to appear. But we find that many name
that should be on the roll Is wrongfully
kept off by official action: and we object to
the quibbling, the Juggling. the petty an
noyances, the chicanery, in the administra-
ton of the pension laws, the, intentional
procrastination In the hope that the pen
sioner will die, the taunting Of the applf-
cant by tnsolent letters and the general
placing Of the pensioner and Of his agent
or attorney on the defensive and in the
category Of thieves. / say-and I say 1t
as emphatlcally as I can, and my state
the pension Office who is not afraid Of los
ing his place-that II in any case a large
arrearage Of pension has accrued the ap-
plicant need never expect to have his ap-
plication allowed. If such arrearage has
accrued various letters calling for all sorts
of stuff will be written to him. he will be
subject to special examination, and again
to special examination, and to special ex-
animation again, until he Is worn out and
bedeviled to death.
commissioner Evans boasts that he has
saved the country five millions OF dollars
in the last year." said the speaker, and
proceeding to score the commissioner Of
pensions he added:
'If applicants have been unjustly de-
prived of their pensions by Juggling and
procraStination such an assertion Is like
the boast Of the scoundrel who Dragged
that he was making money by avoidance
of payment Of his debts.
LAS said, we hope to obtain relief in this
respect by an executive order Of the Pres
ident. In which he will. as the one under
whom the commissioner Of pensions d.
rectly acts, as the one responsible, direct
that, where, as above shown, an applica-
ton for pension has been adjudicated. the
medical division, that is, however, really.
the single Individual in charge thereof,
shall be confined to rating the amount Of
pension: that Is to say. to rating the pen
sion and not rerating the adjudicating tri-
bunals and SO far undertaking the disabili-
ties Of the applicant that they fall below
understood by any sensible man to mean
multiplying, but implies. rather. an adjust
ment.'
The speaker then complimented Mr. John
L. Davenport. first deputy commissioner.
Secretary Wilson and others for their fair
ness to the old soldiers.
In conclusion, he said: II again refer to
our beloved comrade, feeling that we all
deplore and mourn his loss. Stricken down
on the 9th of September by a miserable and
sneaking assassin, he died on the 14th of
September. Our dear comrade was a man
Of nob1eS heart and generous nature, and,
though he was not always able to go into
details, occupied, as he was, In the turmoil
of great affairs. so that he was deceived
by a cunning enemy in the guise Of a
friend, who hates the soldier with the usual
hatred of invidiousness of one self-con-
scious of a contemplate record, yet he in
tended ever to be Just to his comrades.
Brave heart and true soldier, he has gone
to his last roll CALL May we, his comrades,
still left. marching on the level Of time,
meet him on fames eternal camping
ground, and In that house not made with
hands, eternal in the heavensr'
Adverse Action.
The District Commissioners have acted
adversely upon the request of e. H. Booth
that the trees on 21st street northwest be
tween G. and H streets be trimmed. A few
limbs in front Of Mr.. Booths residence at