Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1904-04-08
CANTON SOUTH DAKOTA. FRIDAY APRIL 9. 1904.
CONGRESS TO the RESCUE.
National Aid to be Refused
State Homes Where Pensions
Are Taken from Members.

State Homes Where Pensions
Are Taken from Members.
Congress il determined that state SOL
dier homes, where canteen is run and
the pensions of the old soldiers held up
and issued to them in canteen cheeks,
shall receive no aid from the National
Government, and the taking OF any
part of an old soldiers pension for the
use or benefit of state home is de-
nounced in measured terms, and Con-
gress seems determined that the taking
of pensions from old soldiers must stop
South Dakota was the last state to de.
lnand q part of the pension money
earned by the old veteran in defense of
his country and at the risk of his life
The taking of any part OF an old SOL
diers' pension is crime against help
less old hero who in youth stood for
flag and country. In his old age full
of rheumatism which he contracted in
youth in. the army, he Joins soldiers
home and there the hesrtless demand
of home board compels him to give up
80 much of his pension to help support
the home or buy whisky which is sold
to them through the canteen. The
people of South Dakota did not ask
that the old soldiers be deprived of q
part of their mesgre pension to support
the home. The people of no state
asked that the old soldier be robbed Of
part Of his pension to support any
state home. The great majority of
the old veterans have sons and families
grown up and are tax payers. then why
ask the poor helpless old veteran to give
up part of his honorable reward to sat-
isfy whim of men who have an
idea old soldiers are not entitled to any
thing; il the state gives them home
they should not grumble or kick if they
are robbed. =
At the coming state encampment OF
the Grand Army, some action should
be taken by the veterans to see that
their comrades have justice done them.
The amount taken in this state is not
30 much 40 in the eastern states where
the poor old broken down and helpless
victim of human greed is allowed to
keep 81 q month out of his pension,
some states let him keep$2, some a and
most of the states allow him IS. South
Dakota takes everything over $12, and
If he won't submit TO this system of
skinnjng he is fred from the home.
The writer is familiar with this sys-
tenn of robbing old soldiers. and had
occasion to study The subject closely,
being asked once for paper on this
question, to be read at q meeting of
home commandants. We took the
ground then and we take the ground
now that there is no legal right to COM
pei an old soldier to give any part of
his pension to a home If his old age
and helpless condition compels him to
submit to such unlawful extortion.
then the act is nothing short Of robbery.
Call it what you may in defence of
the cowardly crime, there is not one
single argument in justification of the
unholy act. The National homes
takes the pension from veterans bnt
only for safe keeping and when he is
discharged he gets his money.
The people of South Dakota do not
now and never did ask that the poor old
soldier be robbed of part Of his pension.
Give it back to him. Let him feel that
this honorable mark of service is not
dirty commercial deal. A pension is q
sacred badge Of honor, badge no man
should take away.
There is nothing on earth an old
soldier loves more than that pension
draft with the face of Sheridan upon it.
When he is asked to divide it with peo'
pie who were born since the war, he
feels like rebelling, but he isn't able.
He submits in silence with tears in his
eyes, as he hands it over with q trem.
bling hand. Shame. This infamous
robbery of old soldiers must cease. It's
disgrace; it is q horrible evidence of
the lack of patriotism among the old
soldiers who are not compelled to seek
home yet. Why not stand up like
men and defend their comrades now
when they are not able to defend
themselves. Congressmen Bell Of Cali.
fornis and Hemenway of Indiana, say
that the taking of pensions must stop,
and the directors Of state homes will
soon find government aid denied when
pensions are taken from the members.
The csntsen is disgrace to any home
where one il permitted. 1t robs the
old soldiers and keeps the undertaken
busy.
The old soldier may not be good for
much. He is helpless and unable to
fight for his rights any longer. but tor
Gods sake don't rob the old hero In the
closing days Of a proud memory.
Money to Loan.
Money to loan on real estate at popu