The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-13
BLAME WAR DEPT
The Volunteers Of Spanish-American
War Complain Of Difficulty in
Getting Pensions.
They Say a Scheme Was Worked
in Bringing Them to U. S.
for Muster-0ut.

e. "4Ol m
The volunteers who served In the late
war are having great difficulty In securing
pensions. Pension agents are most IN
different to the claims Of the Spanish
American war volunteers. 1t is Utmost
impossible to get one through unless 1T
is for some disorder of permanent ana
specific nature, that was or should have
been noted in the discharge. The gov
eminent adopted very shreWd plan In
the physical examination of soldiers.
When the enlistment was made out each
man was put through a severe physical
examination, and any Disagreement or
ailment d ,tected was noted. In this way
every mai that was accepted was In
good sound physical condition. The .serv-
ice in the Philippines was probably the
most severe of any required. Many OF the
men acquired diseases Of various kinds,
among which was chronic d1arrhoea. very
few of the men were granted discharges
in the Philippines, but were sent to San
Francisco for final papers. Especially was
this plan adopted in mastering out the
volunteer state regiments. In a body they
were returned to, the states. The ocean
voyage proved an excellent tonic, and by
the time of their arrival here the men
were in excellent shape. They We're then
put in camp In a heaithful place for
month or so, and when ordered up for
| final examination and muster out were in
excellent condition. This same scheme
| was carried out with the soldiers who
went to Cuba, and who laid in the fever
stricken camps of the south. They were
| brought home and fattened up prior to
muster out.
Volunteers criticise this plan. They re-
sent the action of the government In deal
ing with them as they would with live
stock-fattening them up to sell as live
stock is fattened. The excellent care and
| attention that were given to them for g.
couple of months prior to their muster out
| caused the temporary disappearance Of
many Of these diseases, which have since
returned especially chronic diarrhoea,
and in such cases it has been impossible
to secure pensions. The boys were all
anxious to get home and were willing to
take almost any old kind of a discharge.
They are now fighting their battles as
we'll as they can, and awaiting legislation
to give them that which they claim as
right. Those with specific ailments noted
a pension.
Pension Office View.
Pension Commissioner Ware thinks
that the recurrent ailments Of soldiers
who served in the Philippines described
above are due to desire to participate
in the distribution Of pension money, and
not to service in the Philippines or Cuba
or the United States, says T h o r.
n a rs Washington correspondent. If the
disabilities were due to the service, he
thinks that fact would be susceptible Of
proof which the pension office would
readily accept If offered: 1t should Of
, course be of sufficient weight to OVerbal.
ance that Of the certificates of discharge
. which describe the soldiers as being il
, good physical condition.
You know that some people have al
idea that it would be a good thing to ge
. their minds that it rather warps thei
Judgment" said the commissioner
; Because of that they, are apt to ascrib
= their disabilities. as due to the service
l wlen as a matter of fact, they may no
= be. Take a case of alleged chroni
I diarrhoea, which is said in T h e ] O u
u | n a | story to be the principal disabilit
e Of the Spanish war veterans. A MAJ
S might have had diarrhaoea while servin
: in the Philippines or in Cuba. He wa
treated for it and recovered and returne
y to duty, or started for home to be mus
tered out, as is alleged has been the cas-
e with number Of the veterans. He
|e cured before discharge. Some months G
;, some years afterward he has return {
s the complaint. The second attack migf
= have been due to any number of locs
lie causes not connected with the first al
Ill ldCh LII OIucI WOiuS, There is
!" pathological connection between the frs
A and second attack, to use the medics
Of term for it.
5? 1T is possible that some of the soldier
might have been suffering continuous
with diarrheoa or some other complain
ID from the time of the first attack up to an
y since the tinie they were discharged.
III their discharge papers is recorded the fa
l. that they had themselves said that the
1e were in good physical condition, and wei
not suffering from diarrhoea or any 9th,
O. ailment, for which they are now seekir
| to draw pension.
/ IF the soldiers can prove tn;
g diarrhoea or other disability was contrac
ed in the service and has continued sin,
that time, that proof will be accepte
The discharge papers Of the soldiers g.
accepted as prima facie evidence of col
n ditions at the date of muster out. But
the proof offered is Of sufficient weight
overbalance that Of the discharge, tn,
al the soldiers are entitled to and will g
ct pensions. The evidence offered will ha,
-. to be given its due weight, however, 81
g each case will be judged on it's merits
tn An Officers Opinion.
On An. officer of the civil war who W.
questioned by T he journal ma
j. said he did not entirely agree with tt
1g pension commissioner in saying that the
ell was no pathological connection betwee
to a case of diarrhoea contracted in W;
H. service in the field and an attack viii,
re comes afterward. He said that of his ov
ey knowledge men who served in the Chick
sh hominy swamps in Virginia, and we
e. compelled to drink the swamp water, su
g. fered at the time from diarrhoea and dy
EMERY. They recovered, apparently, b
&C even to this day attacks recur unt1
No certain conditions which would not affe
nG a man in ordinary health. He contend
vet that there was such a thing is interim
~, tent dysentery from which soldiers sufff
~, all due primarily to the original attack
ue - 1,,o-,- ..Ia;ona -.,L~ ...D..S 80, ",
LOO "Aio iA.SoiiS gu Tie VI