Evening star., 1902-08-04
GRO WING, IN FAVOR
New politis Organization of
Veterans Advances.
COL. STR RATON'S VIEWS
PARTISAN sues NOT TO BE
DEHT WITH.
Bonds for Pensioners-Retire fol
Veteran Officers and Privates-
Other Reforms Contemplated.

Strait
has not been organized with a view of
meddling with party questions. such as the
tariff. reciprocity, ship subsidy. interoceanic
canals, or financial conditions and their
remedies It's foundation rests solely and ex-
clusively on the ground that the veterans of
the war of the rebellion have perfect right
to organize, combine and unite as a political
brotherhood. If reason for this right
were necessary, the fact might be recited
that these men offered up their lives in COM
bination, they gave up their homes and hap
piness together, they sacrificed the opportu-
mites of youth and forfeited the equipment
for the future in the education and expert
ences which must be obtained In early wears
and faced unf1inchingly the inconcefvable
hardships, dangers and disasters of war
that the Union might be preserved.
There are interests which NAV arise per-
tanning especially to this body of men, as
well as to their descendants, which cannot,
as experience has heretofore taught, be ac-
complished individually or outside of a COM
pIete and harmonious organization, and
complete remuster of the old boys into a DO
Hcital, close-column en- masse-an organtza-
tion. which. when the opportune time comes,
will move forward as one man and obey
the orders OF their leaders as they formerly
did those of their commanding generals on
the field of battle. This is the corner stone
upon which this new order is to rest"
Organizations Real Purpose.
Touching upon some Of the particular re-
forms to be accomplished, Col Stratton
continued:
THE retirement Of regular army and ma
val officers exclusively Is defective, because
of Its tendency to make class distinctions on
the one hand and its one-sided justice on
the other. AS an Illustration of this fact
I may state that man who was educated
nF thn
Point or Annapolis and who took an oath
Of allegiance to defend the nations flag
against all enemies, both foreign and do
mestic, and afterward fought four years to
destroy that flag is eligible and has under
that law been retired on the pay and rank
of a brigader gerferaf of the regular army
while the volunteer officer who gallantly
defended that flag IN The civil war for four
years. and since That time served his gov
ernment In the capacity of clerk, has his
grizzled locks contemptuousiy referred to as
premature indications of mental decay and
physical decrepithde, and is therefore un-
tremendously thrust1out upon the world
to make his way as best he can without
further recognition or annuity the part
of the government he helped to save.
Contrast these two conditions and decide
which of the two >isgthe better entitled to
the enjoyment of. the provisions and bless
iEgs of the retirement law.
Obstacles to Overcome.
There is such a labarynthian network of
social relationship as well as blood connec-
ton through the intermarrying of senator's
and representatives daughters with regu-
lar army and naval officers existing at
present that it is next to impossible to get
this matter of unjust retirement to the
front in the halls of Congress for fear it
will hit relatives all around.
1T must not be understood that our asso-
citation favors the absolute abolshment Of
the law of retirement by any means. but
only recommends the enlargement of It's
scope SO as to cover In under the shadow of
its wings the deserving volunteer we'll
as the regular army or naval officer. A
bill the association has formulated will be
introduced in Congress early in the coming
session.
Retirement Plan.
''It provides for the retirement OF volun-
teer officers and enlisted men OF the army,
navy or state militia while serving under
or by the authority Of the government Of
the United States.
This bill radically differs from all pres
ent retirement laws, and Its provisions in
details are therefore interesting. These are:
THAT on and after the passage Of this
act any person who has been, Is now or
shall hereafter be employed In the land or
naval service of the United States incitd-
ing members of a state OF territorial militia
or National Guard, either as an officer or
enlisted man. and who while in the line Of
duty, has sustained the loss of a leg, an
arm, one eye, both eyes. or I rs otherwise
been injured or incapacitated frc-'l the per-
formance of manual labor In : nsiona BILE
degree shall Gas the case may b' be placed
upon the retired list of the arr navy.
That all officers of the mill - or naval
service to be retired under II provisions
of section l. providing for re = 'tration on
the retired list. shall receive th rank. pay
ana allowances next above the ne held at
the time such Injuries or disabilities were
received
THAT all non-commissioned officers and
enlisted men to be retired under the pro-
visions Of section 1 shall be placed upon
the retired list of the army or navy with
the rank. pay and allowances OF a second
lieutenant of the army or junior second
Lieutenant in the navy. as the case may be-
THAT any officer or enlisted man elect
ing to accept the provisions conferred by
this act, and whose name Is now on the
felt all claim to invalid pension to which he
Is or may be entitled; and no ofhcer or en-
listed man who Is now on the retired list
OF the army or navy shall draw pension
from the government.
mo officer enlisted man whose name
Is on the retired list of the army or navy
shall receive pay or allowances for any
service during the time In which ne may
be employed in an appointiye capacity un-
der the authority of the federal govern
ment. state or municipality in which he
may be so employed. uJr
IAN laws or parts 5o laws affecting the
retired list Of the army and navy which
are In conflict with this act are hereby re-
pealed."
organization's Makeup.
Discussing the probable makeup of the
new organizations the colonel said that he
was deluged with letters from flag defend
ers' associations, prisoners of war associa-
tions. soldiers home associations and or
Spanish war vetgsans, The last named or
siastic regarding the, new organization. AS
said: pi.*
ANY person w6o' can show any military
antecedents whatever will not be debarred
from membership We intend to be very
liberal in this rsspecf and are not afraid
OF betrayal. We are hon-partisan and put
stress on this feature One other thing 1
desire to say Is that in the near future we