Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1904-10-06
specified requirement of incapacity is
in effect set n side by Qrlln,. No IS

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 a pro-
vision giving pension to all who had
reached siXty-two. Many prominent
veterans urged the justice Of congress
sional action giving a service pension
to all veterans. Bills to that effect
were Introduce i'm Congress. And not
until March of this year did any one
ever claim to have made the discov-
cry that the President had power to
treat the statute as if it read that when
a claimant had passed the age of sixty
two years he is necessarily disabled
One-half in ability to perform manual
labor and therefore entitled to a pen
sion,
The President of the Civil Service
Commission, General John G. Black,
formerly Commissioner of Pensions,
and Commander-in-C Chief Of the Grand
Army of the Republic, Indicated his
view Of the order when in a recent adj
dress he thanked the President for
what he had done, and advised his
hearers to rse their influence that Il
law might be passed to the same
effect. Full confidence after all seems
not to have been placed on the defense
of justification, for it is pleaded in miti-
CATION that former Democratic Pres
1dent did something looking in that
direction. Even if that were SO
which is not admitted-our present du-
ty would be none the less plain and
imperative. Our. people must never
tolerate the citation of one act of
usurpat;on Of power as an excuse for
another. The first may possibly be due
TO mistake; the second, being based on
the first, cannot be. In explanation,
however, it should be said that the Or
DER relied on simply provided that the
age of seventy-live Years should be re-
garded as evidence of inability to per-
form manual labor. Few men are able
to perform manual labor 1T that age,
but nearly all men are at siXty-two.
The first order is based on a fact that,
experience teaches, the other is based
on the assertion of that which is not
true as general rule.
ROOSEVELTS CHALLENGE.
The old inquiry, "What are you 60
ing to do about it," is now stated in
new form. 1t is said by the admins
tration, in reply to the public criticism
of this order. that 1T is easy to test
our opponents sincerity in this matter.
The order in question is revOcable at
the pleasure of the Executive If our
opponents come into power they can
revoke this order and announce that
they will treat the veterans of sixty
TWO and seventy as presumably in
full bodily vigor and not entitled to
pension. Will they authoritatively
state that they intend to do this? If
SO. we accept the issue"
This suggests the suspicion, at least
that the order was made to create an
isSue-that it was supposed to present
a strong strategic position in the battle |
of the ballots. On the ASSUMPTION
that the order, as stated by the Admin
lstration, is revOcable at the pleasure |
OF the Executive. it having been an at |
tempted, though perhaps unwilling en-
croachment upon the legislative power.
and therefore unwarranted by the Con-
stitution, 1 except the challenge and |
declare that if elected 1 will revoke /
that order. But I go further and say
that that being done, 1 will contribute
my effort toward the enactment of a
law to be passed by both houses of
Congress and approved by the EXecu-
tive that will give an age pension with
put reference to disability to the sur
viving heroes of the Civil War; and
under the provisions of which a pen
Sion may be accepted with dignity be-
cause of the consciousness that it
comes as a just due from the people
through their chosen representatives,
and not as 4 largess distributed by the
Chief Executive.
UNDER BONDS FOR PEACE.
The foreign relations of the govern
ment have in late years assumed
special Importance. Prior to the ac-
of the Philippines, we were
practically invulnerable against at
acks by foreign States. Those tropical
possessions, however, seven thousand
niles from our shores, have changed
I'll this and have in effect put us under
ponds TO keep the peace. The new
call for management of
.oreign affairs the more circumspect !
n that the recent American invasion
# foreign markets in all parts of the
world has excited the serious appre-
tension of all the great industrial peo-
lies. 1t is essential, therefore. more
han ever, to adhere strictly to the
traditional policy of the country as {
by its first president and
lever, in my Judgment, wisely de-
parted from-to invite friendly rela-
ions with all nations while avoiding
alliances with any. Such q
'olicy means the cultivation of peace
instead Of the glorification of war. and i
he minding of our own business in
leu of spectacular intermeddling with
he affairs Of other nations. 1t means
trict observance of the principles of t
International law and condemns the c
doctrine that great state. by reason i
f its strength, may rightfully appro- t
riate the sovereignty or territory of
small state on account of it's weak
less. 1t means for other American
tates that we claim no rights and will i
ssume no functions save those of a t
riend and of an ally and defender as G
gainSt European aggreSsions 1t
leans that We repudiate the role of +
be American continental policeman: t
hat we refuse to act as debt collector
tot fhni |