The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-02-06
Measure to Pension Aged Negroes
Seems Hinged With Presi-
Dental Ambition.
BID FOR BLACK POPULARITY.
Congressman Bartlett Says Hanna
Had Better Take In His Sign
if He Is Not a Presi-
tial Candidate.
REPUBLIC SPECIAL.

| REPUBLIC SPECIAL
Washington, Feb. 5.-Senator Hannas bill
| to pension former slaves has taken the wind
| out Of the sails Of the Republican leaders
| who are bidding for the favor Of the negro
vote in the South for the next Presldentia
| campaign.
If Colonel Mark Hanna is not a canti-
date for the presidency" says Representa-
tive Bartlett OF Georgia, 'he had better take
| in his Sign
The bill provides that former slaves. more
than 10 years old. shall receive n bounty of
$500 and a pension of SIS month: those
between Go and 20 wears old shall have a
bounty Of $500 and pension of s12 month
those between 30 and GO years old shall re-
ceive bounty of 500 and pension of s. a
month: those less than so years old shall be
entitled to receive 81 per month until they
are 90 years old, when they shall receive
s. per month.
Senator Hanna has marked upon the bill
by request" which is generally en-
ployed by statesmen when they are dubious
about standing sponsor for the measure
they have introduced.
Senator Mason of Illinois introduced the
same bill two years ago. and at one time
or another Republicans have stood sponsor
for similar measures. None OF these gen.
tlemen has ever entertained the delusion
that the bill could. by any possibility. be-
come law, nor does Senator Hanna.
That 1T will stir up warm and friendly
feeling among the old former slaves and
their descendants may, however. be among
the calculations of the man who at present
fathers IT.
1t will also make the race feeling more in
tense in the South.
The slave pension has its special cham
pion in man who recently organized here
what he calls the liberty party. with pen
sions for slaves as its principal platform.
He is now somewhere in the South levy
ing an assessment OF Is cents upon each Of
the prospective pensioners At least. that
is what he and his agents were discovered
doing several years ago when big scandal
was unearthed in this connection by q
negro preacher In Missouri.
The negro divine wrote letter to Senator
Cockrell. in which he stated that this man
and his confederates had played upon the
credulity of the former slaves throughout
the South to the extent that moro than
$780, 900 had been collected in assessments of
% cents each upon the promise that
bounty and pension awaited each former
slave as soon as the bill reached a third
reading"
Senator Cockrell made a careful investiga-
ton and referred :he matter to 'he Commits
sioner of Pensions. II. Clay Evans. who is
sued a statement that srch a law was al
most impossible.
A deputation of negroes went to the White
House several weeks ago to secure from
President Roosevelt his Endorsement Of this
slave-pension proposition.
The President declined so enphaucally
that the leader Of the deputation went from
the White House swearing vengeance upon
President Roosevelt and declaring that they
would control 100000 votes in the close
States Of the North which would lie thrown
against Roosevelt II he were the Republican
candidate in 1904