The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1904-09-29


and sailors and their dependents on
treatment II pledges b: its platform
adequate legislation to that end. But
it denies the right of the executive to
usurp the power OF congress to legis-
late on that subject. Such usurpation
was attempted by pension order No
IS, and effect has been given to ii by
q congress that dared not resent the
lsurpation. 1t is said that this order
was made in the performance OF
duty imposed upon the president by
act Of congress-" but the provision
making the imposition is not pointed
out. The act to which the order re-
fers, which is the one relating to pen
sions to civil war veterans, does not
authorize pensions on the ground Of
age. 1t does grant pensions to those
suffering from any mental or physical
disability or disabilities Of u perma-
nent character, not the result Of their
own vicious habits, which so incapaci-
tates them from the performance of
manual labor as to render them una
BILE to earn support" This specified
requirement Of incapacity Is In effect
set aside by order No. - as to all per-
sons over sixty-two.
The war closed nearly forty years
ago. In the meantime many of our
soldiers and sailors long survived the
age of sixty-two and passed away
without receiving any pension. Skill
full pension attorneys, hunting through
the statute, failed to find there q pro-
vision giving a pension to all who had
reached s.Xty-two. Many prominent
veterans urged the justice Of congress
sional action giving service pension
to all veterans. Bills to that effect
were introduced in congress. And not
until March Of this year did any one
ever claim to have made the discovery
that the president had power to treat
the statute as if it read that when q
claimant had passed the age of sixty
two years he is necessarily disabled
Qne-half in ability to perform manual
labor and therefore entitled to a pen
sion
The present pension commissioner in
dictated his view Of the order when in
recent address he thanked the presi-
dent for what he had done and advised
his hearers to use their influence that
law might be passed to the same eff
feet. Full confidence, after all, seems
not to have been placed on the defense
of Justification, for it is pleaded in
mitigation that former Democratic
president did something look ing In that
direction. Even if that were So which
is not admitted, our present duty
WOULD be pone the less plain and I'M
perative, Our people must never toll
crate the citation of one act of usurpa-
ton of power as an excuse for anoth-
er. The first may possibly be due to
mistake; the second. being based on
the first, cannot be. In explanation,
however, 1t should be said that the Or
der relied. OH simply provided that the
age of seventy-five years should be re-
garded as evidence of inability to per-
form manual labor Few men are able
to perform manual labor at that age,
but nearly all men are at slxty-two.
experience teaches; the other is based
on the assertion Of that which is not
true as general rule.
The old inquiry, what are you go
ing to do about it," is now stated In a
new form. 1t is said by the admins
tration. III reply to the public criticism
Of this order. that lit IS easy to test
our opponents, sincerity in this mat
ter. The order IN question Is revocable
a q at
our opponents come into power they
can revoke this order and announce
that they will treat the veterans Of
slxty-two and seventy as presumably
in full bodily vigor and not entitled to
pension. VIII they authoritatiyely
state that they intend to do this? II
SO, we accept the ISSUE
This suggests the suspicion at least
that the Greer was made to create an
issue; that it was supposed to present
q strong strategic position In the bat
tie of the ballots. But as the making
of that order WAS, In my judgment, an
attempted though perhaps unwilling en-
croachment upon the legislative power
and therefore unwarranted by the con
stitution, the challenge is accepted. If
elected ! will revoke that order. But
/ go further aud say that. that being
done, l will contribute my effort toward
the enactment Of law to be passed by
both houses Of congress and approved
by the executive that will give an age
| pension without reference to disability
| to the surviving heroes OF the civil
war and under the provisions of which
| a pension may be accepted with dignl
| ty because of the consciousness that it
| comes as a just due from the people
through their chosen representatives
| md not as largess distributed by the
| chief executive,
Fereten Relations.
The foreign relations Of the govern
msnt have In late years assumed
| special importance. Prior to the ac-
| qutsition Of the Philippines we were
practically invulnerable against at.
tacks by foreign states. Those tropical
| possessions, however, 1900 miles from
our shores, have changed all this and
have In effect put Us under bonds to
keep the peace. The new conditions
cali for a management Of foreiSn az
fairs the more eireumspect In that the
recent American invasion Of foreign
markets 10 all parts of the world has
excited the serious apprehension OF
all the great Industrial peoples. 1t is
essential, therefore, more than ever
to adhere strictly to the traditional
policy of the country as formulated by
its first president and never, In my
judgment, wisely departed from-to in
vite friendly relations with all nations
while avoiding entangiing alliances
with any. Such . policy means the ful-
| tivation Of peace instead of the glorifica.
ton of war, and the minding Of our OWL
business In lieu Of spectacular informed
ding with the affairs Of other nations
It means strict observance Of the prin
ciples of International law and condemn
the doctrine that a great state. by 'rea'
son Of its strength. may -ightfully ap
propriate the sovereignty or territory o.
| . small state On account OF Its weakness