The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-04-05
A VIOLATED PLEDGE.

The Chattanooga Times has In the main been a defender of the President and his administration and has at times been, as we think. unnecessarily severein it's criticisms of those who have spoken either severely or slightingly of either Mir. Roosevelt or his official acts. But The Times can apparently find nothing exculpatory or defepsibie in the adminis- tration's course towards Pension Commis.. sioner Evans. After stating that Mir. Evans evidently rendered his resignation because he felt that the President wanted him to resign. The Times adds:
 There is practically unanimous senti- ment abroad that the President could not request MT. Evans's retirement without stultifying his record and subordinating a very high public interest to personal and party expediency, aiding the triumph of rank dishonesty at the expense of of ficial courage and fidelity. There is an equally general opinion that the Presi- dent cannot. and have/due regard for the honor of the veterans who fought on the Union side of the Civil War, accept Mir. Evans's resignation, except he has found that he and the country have been
 mistaken as to that officials fitness for his high place. We think it is a fair de- duction that 'higher place. can neither
 be offered him nor accepted by Mir.
 Evans, honorably. The so-cailed pro motion" is so inevitably tainted with mean politics that it is sure to cause a feeling of profound regert. if not violent disgust, though professional veterans and pension attorneys may approve.
 There is no shadow of doubt in our mind that the President has yileded to the pressure brought to bear on him by a class of men who should have received very little consideration at lis hands. During most of MT. McKinley's admin istration persistent efforts were made to secure the retirement of Mir. Evans, and these efforts came almost entirely from men who were not at all influenced by desire for the good of the country or for honesty and justice. The loudest demands for the removal of the Commits in him an immovable stumbling block in their path when they wanted to raid the treasury with illegal and often swindlins pension claims.
 To the credit of President Mckinley he steadfastly refused to be influenced by the clamors of the pension sharks. He believed MT. Evans was acting in the strict line of justice to Union veterans as well as to the government. that he was doing his duty in the vexatious and responsible position to which he had been called, and he estimated at their true value the sources from which the de- mands for removal came. and the wishes and designs of those who clamored for removal Had he lived to the end of his term we have no thought that Commits sioner Evans would have retired.
 MT. Roosevelt inherited that problem as he inherited others from his predeces- sor, and he solemnly pledged himself to adhere to and carry out the policy of Mckinley. That pledge he has violated in this instance, if in no other. We have not a shred of evidence to show that Mir. Evans desires to retire. That he is weary of the labors of his office anl of the war which has been con tinuously waged on him is doubtless true. That he would gladly be relieved of it all is probably also true. If he felt that he could honorably do so, but he is conscientious man as well as an honest and fearless official. and he has felt it duty he owes the country to endure the enmity and hatred of his enemies rather than suffer himself driven out by the attacks of. those who wish to get rid of him because they are unable to use him.
 There can be no doubt that MT. Roose- welt has yielded to the demands of those who want a more pliant man in the posi- ton, or. else has yielded from a wish to put some favorite of his own in the place. The plea that he will give MT. Evans something better is nothing but subter- fuge No position which he can offer the retiring Commissioner will hide the fact that he wanted the latter's resignation. No appointment or offer of appointment can change the opinion now abroad that Mir. Evans's resignation is desired be- cause he is in the way of those to whose wishes and demands the President should turn A deaf ear.