The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-08
VETERANS May FIGHT
REPUBLICAN PARTY
J. W. Kay of Brooklyn Claims
Pledges Made in 1900 Have
Been Broken.

Washington. March 7.-Joseph ". Kay Of
! Brooklyn. who was in charge of the legs-
| lation demanded by Grand Army veterans
| before the last Congress, to-day made pub
| lie q remarkable letter addressed to Repre-
| sentative Dick Of Ohio. which indicates
| that the veterans are about to make war
| on the Republican party.
Mr.. Kay urged the resolution that would
have given preference TO soldiers and sail
ors In public employment The resolution
| failed to receive consideration by Congress
In his letter to Mr.. Dick Mr.. Kay re-
cites some hitherto unwritten history OF the
campaign of 1900. when President Mck1n-
ley and Senator Hanna. Mr.. Payne, Senator
Scott and Mr.. Manley of the Republican
National Committee made pledges TO the
veterans. The letter proceeds:
THE conditions in the campaign OF 1900
both as to the political situation and that
of the national encampment. were alto
gether unsatisfactory. AS to both. the sky
was overcast. A solution Of all was found
at a meeting at the Palmer House, Chicago.
veterans ell OF whom were past command
ers-in-chief or department commanders.
being present from States where the situa-
ton was the worst. the outlook most
threa tening.
.Siclsles was asked to organize another
whrlwind tour, in 1886 hut ne emphat-
thing. He did consent to act as chairman
of that meeting. and appointed a commit
tee of five to walt on some persons IN
representative capacity at the Auditorlum n,
being one of the five. The four others went
TO the National Committee stated the STU
alton. and what was wanted. whcn vas
agreed to- viz. A change in Commissioner
Of Pensions and the passage OF the veteran
bill then pending (BromwelIs). and the ap-
prevail of court OF pension Appears oiii'
the latter wish being vetoed by the fresl-
dent later on but confirmed as TO the
others, and at the encampment all OPPOSE
tion was sufied- . ,r,.,
ton ever perfected among veterans Was
brought to bear in every doubtful iocanS.
You will recall this. ] called personally on
Saturday morning. saw secretary! fayne'
went over the ground with him and others,
and. losing my return ticket TO New YORK,
bought another. went directly TO w ashlng-
who congratulated me. and he then ana
there called for a draft OF his letter of ac-
ceptance and changed it, at my suggestion,
10 read as 1t went to the people.
And then returning to New York. the
other matters were taken up and every
where the fighting was forced until the close
ans Patriotic League deserved and received
the thanks of Mr. Hanna Mr.. Manley and
Mr. Payne. in letters to myself and others.
In the name OF heaven. is the sense OF honor
lost entirely among Americans?
When I reflect that even the change in
the Pension Commissioner was brought
about only because the promise concerning
II was made known to President Roosevelt,
and he. holding 1t to be matter OF honor
which might not be pushed aside. made the
change and under such circumstances no
power on earth could have saved Evans. 1t
seems to me that political honor is not re-
garded at its value, or as having any,
except. in rare instances and by few men.
Among these I place President Roosevelt
and Mr.. Payne. The latter has stood by
the guns.
When I think that nearly three years
have passed since the promise of 1900. and
from thirty-eight to forty-two years since
the promise of the people in the great war
days. to the men who saved the nation were
made. all being dishonored through nonper-
Torrance, 1t seems to me that national hon
or and personal political honor alike must
be at low ebb.''