The Washington times., 1903-04-21
Organization Headed by
General Dyrenforth In
dignant Over Treatment
Of Brethren in Pension
Office.
Say Commissioner Ware
Runs Bureau in Interest
of Politicians - Things
Worse Than During Evans
Regime

the veterans by being appointed 10 one
Of the greatest offices at the disposal
Of the President, one of the prizes in
politics in the United States. we looked
for improved treatment for the veterans
in the Pension Office. and applications
for pensions. The treatment OF COM
rades in the Pension Office, however,
would seem to indicate that if any vet
eran there can keep it from being known
that he served his country in war he
had better do so; otherwise. the youth
fuI' Commissioner Of Pensions may de-
clare him to be too old TO be any good;
and there appears still 10 be many and
great complaints of delay and injustice
in the treatment OF pension claims. III
fact. there has been no Improvement II
the treatment Of the veterans over the
Evans regime. Gen. r. G. Dyrenforth,
commander in-chief of the Union Vet
Grams Union
Judging from statements made by the
veterans of the civil war. and some
of those Of the war with Spain. there
is almost as much dissatisfaction with
the administration OF Pension Office az
fairs under Commissioner Eugene Ware
as there was under H. Clay Evans.
Pensions Unduly Delayed
Assertions were made today that pen
sions we're delayed just as long; that as
many Just claims were rejected, and that
2 SYST ematic movement has been insti-
tuted TO drive the veteran out OF Office
and politics, replacing him with younger
men.
In consequence OF this feeling, the
movement to organize the veterans into
political party TO oppose the men
who have not treated them literally and
10 aid those who have, has received new
life.
It was said today Of the million veter-
ans in the United States. about six
hundred thousand have already affiliated
themselves with the new party, which.
II was also said. has been Endorsed by
the Grand Army Of the Republic The
Union Veterans Union Is leading the
movement. and the officers of that body
said this morning the veterans would
prove themselves determining power
in he coming Republican National Con
ventiou. and the election.
Campaign committees have been or
ganized in nearly all of the counties
and cities in New York. Illinois, Ohio.
New Jersey, Massachusetts. West Viz
GINA. Iowa, Kansas and Missouri, and
the work. so the officers of the Union
Veterans Union said. is progressing rap
idly in other States
Plan of the Campaign.
The plan is to try and force the cleo
zion of delegates 10 the convention who
will embody in the next platform plank
compelling more liberal treatment of the
veterans in the way OF preferment IN
Appointments 10 Office. and, if possible
force the party TO appoint to the com
nfssionership Of pensions men APPROX
ed by the veterans.
There will be more OF less surprise
among certain of the political leaders
in the next election, when they dis
cover Just what amount Of power the
veterans WELD IN this country" said
General Dyrenforth after making the
remarks which lead this article The
veterans have put up with all sorts OF
unfair treatment al the hands Of men
who took no part in the fighting for the
country. and now they have decided 10
90 into politics in a way which VIII
insure better treatment in the future.
IF the system OF displacing the vet
Grams in favor OF younger men, in
sugurated by Mr. Ware continues with
OUT ODUosition, il is possible that every
veteran in the Government service viii
be relegated 10 private NE II, OF
course. the veteran has become 100 recipe
10 hold Office there could be no OBJ
lection 10 peusioniug him on This
however is not true of most of the
cases Commissioner Ware has re
moved men who are not more than
ffty-eight years Of age. am hIly-
eight and [ do not think that MT W are
is much younger. This BENG ne caSt
why is Il that one man can remain
IN Office al that age without ms ElBcE
being questioned, while another OF the
same age is removed to make way for
younger men,
Trying to Eliminate Veterans
The only possible answer IS that
there is desire on the part of the
political leaders TO eliminate the yeter-
ans Every order issued by the present
pensfOp administration seems TO show
that such is the intention. Now, the
political movement on foot viii put an
end TO this.
with regard TO our other grievances.
It is harder now 10 get pension Grains
passed upon than it was under Evans.
The idea seems TO be TO prevent pay
neHt Of every pension possible, whether
the payment is justified or not. These
details will be presented al the proper
time -
General Dyrenforth concluded by stat
ing that by November he believes all
offthe larger States would be thorough
" organized
The veterans OF the Spanish war are
more reticent than General Dyrenforth
in discussing any grievance they may
have Gen. II. +. Urell. the National
commander. and Col Frederick Hodgson.
the commander Of the department OF the
District of Columbia. declined 10 go
into the matter today. but it was an
fnouneed that as soon as President
Roosevelt returned from the West
delegation OF the veterans would call
upon him and lay certain matters be
fore him personally.