The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1903-07-30
THE PEOPLE ARE AGAINST 1T.

Editor News: I have read with no
little interest the articles written by
John l.. Evans and J. H. May. also
that of Mr.. Price, upon the subject of
maintaining a soldiers home in this
state by the legislature. This ques-
tion I understand is being made an
issue in the canvass now pending and
the voters of old Rankin are to speak
out at the ballot box August on that
subject, by casting their votes for the
candidates entertaining views in &C
coIdance with their wishes Now we
take it we are all friends of the old
soldiers and are willing to be taxed
for his cure and safety, SO as to make
his latter days as comfortable and hap
Ply as one can be made under the cir
cumstances, and are always ready to
lend his deeds of valor, and his I'M
selfish devotion and sacrifices to the
lost cause. Still the question re-
mains what is best to be done for him :?
Shall he have poor house supported
by state appropriations with all the
necessary and unnecessary expenditures
that will be attached thereto or to
continue the present system of pen
sions, that is the question to be de-
cided by the people. I wish to ex-
press my unqualified endorsement Of
what Mr.. Evans and May have said
on the subject, in favor of increase of
pensions and against the establish
ment of poor house. I could assign
many reasons here IN favor Of pensions
but will only say that in my opinion
there arc but few and very few old
soldiers in the state that could be in
duced to go to poor house, there is
something humiliating, besides all of
them have relatives or friends and
some have families that they would
rather stay with and spend their last
days at home with them, where SYM
pathetic hands would administer to
their wants and see that they are de-
Gently buried when they die.
Now with a liberal pension paid
directly to them, supplemented with
what fund would do for them would
be better than to compel them to stay
at poor house away from friends or
kindred. Now, Mr.. Editor, I will
say have no ak to grind in this mat
ter. am prompted to write this
only in the interest of the old soldier
and to save unnecessary taxation on
the people of this state I will say
further that am all old soldier my
self, and as an evidence Of my sympa-
thy and appreciation of their service
to the lost cause and desire to do
something for them in their INDECENT
condition, | introduced and caused to
be inserted in the organic law of our
state, the section compelling the Leg
islature to provide by law pensions
for wounded and INDECENT confederate
sailors and soldiers and their widows
I tried to fix the amount at $75 for
each, but the committee thought best
to leave the amount with the legisla-
ture so that they might increase it
from time to time as the condition
and circumstances demanded, and the
finances of the state would permit.
Then will state further that the con-
cessions Of opinions of the constitu-
tional convention as far as I was able
to judge was in favor of liberal pen
sions, and the appropriations made
would be sufficient to meet the wants
! and necessities of all of the old SOL
die1s. So i'll conclusion, I will say if
Mississippi wants to do more for her
old soldier, increase the pension
guard them with proper care SO that
the funds will not be gobbled up by
superintendent or managers. Give it
direct to them and let them stay at
home with friends and kindred.
10 w DnDTNcnNr