Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-13
That Ex-Slaves' Pension Scheme.

The following dispatch from Thomasville,
Georgia. tells a story that should surprise
nobody:
For two months a northern negro has
teen organizing negroes in this section of
Georgia and also in Florida into societies
for the alleged purpose of pushing Sena-
tor Hanna's bill to pension ex-slaves. He
posed as the personal representative of
Senator Hanna and said funds were need
ed to push the bill The negroes con-
tributed literally. and 1t is estimated that
the negro secured over $1,000. Last week
he cleft. saying Senator Hanna had or
dered him to Washington.
I'm the meantime. L. B. Wilson, an old
negro of this place. who had given $50,
grew SUSPICIOUS, and wrote to Senator
Hanna. Today Wilson received the fol-
lowing letter from the senator:
Senator Hanna has authorized no one
to collect money to aid in securing the
passage of this measure, and any efforts
being made along that line with the rep
resentation that 1t is done with his sane
troduced the bill by request. and on finding
that the Senate committee had reported
unfavorably ON similar measure in 1900,
he withdrew the bill 1t is not at all prob
able that favorable action could be secured
on such measure In the future.
"A. E. FISHER,
Acting Private Secretary
This fulflls a prediction made by The
Star at the time the ex-slaves' pension bill
was introduced In the Senate. The meas
ure had nothing of a practical nature to
recommend 1t. 1t was certain not to become
a law. 1t was one of many wild-eyed
schemes having their origin In moonshine
sentiment or In everyday money greed
which were floating about the Capitol at
that time. Mr.. Hanna. in what must have
been thoughtless moment for so capable
man of affairs yielded to request to
introduce 1T in the Senate. and that gave it
for the time a standing which it could not
otherwise have obtained.
He did not approve 1t, but that fact was
carefully suppressed by those who had the
game in hand and selfish objects in view.
They made the other thing appear. They
asked the ignorant to believe that the bill
had Mr.. Hanna's cordial Endorsement and
that it was his purpose to push it as rapidly
possible. But, as the ignorant were also
assured, he must have help, and that help
must take the form of subscriptions for
conducting a campaign before Congress. 1t
has probably not been difficult to mislead
good many credulous negroes living in small
towns and in the country on this subject
and here is the report of the operations of
man who has lined his jacket with
$4,000
Speaking but very few days after the
bill had been introduced in the Senate, Mr.
Cannon said in the House that it had no
earthly chance of becoming a law, and Mr.
Hanna in his letter now subscribes to about
the same sentiment. The proposition is
preposterous. and no pains should be omit
ted to warn negroes everywhere against
those who attempt to play upon them in its
name. The bill. of course, died with the
Fifty seventh Congress. and 1t is not likely
to be presented to the coming Congress-
Certainly Mr.. Hanna is through with 1t.
But no name could carry it to success, nor
even secure for 1t respectful consideration
by the country's national lawmakers
Neither party would touch 1t with a forty
foot pole