The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-10-05
PENSION
PLEDGE IS EMPTY
Even His Own Party Is Giving
Little Support to His
Idea.
BY w. w. Jermane.

talked Of portion Of the Parker let letter o of
acceptance is that portion relating
to pension order No: 70. Not only
it, but politicians i s1a; in both par:
be Judged, Judge Parker pledge that
if elected he will revoke the order, and
in it's stead advocate the enactment by
congress Of service pension law, for
the benefit of every survivor of the
civil war. is not being It taken seriously in
Parker pledge to the Favorable atten-
ton of the old soldiers between now
and election day, but if the democratic
candidate should be elected, and should
revoke order No. rs, that would be the
act would increase the national expendi-
lures anywhere from 500 900, 900 to $780,
| 100000 a year, and of course, no party
pledged to retrenchment and reform, as
the democratic party. is now pledged,
would think Of thus increasing the bur-
den of taxation.
During the last session of congress,
Representative Sulloway Of New Hamp-
shire introduced q service pension bill,
drawn along the lines Sof the Parker let
ter, and it was hooted by the very peo-
pie and newspapers which are now find
ing so much comfort in that letter.
Post Against Measure.
The New York Evening Post, for ex-
ample, in discussing it, spoke of "the
Grand Army mendicants'' and open
sion grab ers,V and on March II, thus
characterized the scheme:
In itself a service pension is democrat
izing enough. 1t in no way distinguishes
between the worthless ''bummer'' who
skulked when his regiment fought, and
the brave soldier who served on the great
battlefields. 1t does not differentiate be-
| tween the veteran of dozen campaigns
and the ninety day soldier who passed
his time in a recruiting camp, any more
than it does between the millionaire and
the day laborer, the physically vigorous
and the physically incapacitated.
At no time has the national legislature
openly declared for a service pension for
veterans Of the civil war; The mere in
PRODUCTION of Mr.. Sideways bill, on Jan
81, was sufficient to bring out such a
chorus of protests from all newspapers
which recognized the seriousness of this
years raid on the treasury that there
was a prompt change of opinion in re-
gard to it's advisability among the repub-
lican leaders,.
The better element in the Grand
Army Of the Republic was not in
favor OF the SullOWay bill, for 1T re-
alized with the Evening Post, that a
service pension law would bring in the
"coffee coolers,' as well as the deserv
ing soldiers. It is believed that this
same better element is still opposed >te
such law.
The Sulloway bill was pressed pretty
seriously by some Of the members of the
house who were anxious to "play poll
tics' with it and the speaker, becoming
disgusted with the way things were go
ing, finally permitted it to be- known
that he would not longer stand in it:
way. His attitude created a conster
nation among the conservative mem
bers, who thought the time not ripe fo1
such legislation, and finally last ap
peal was made, to Ithe, speaker. MANY
members of the Eouse. who. when. be
fore their constituents, favored :
service pension bill, went privately t.