The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1904-10-06


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 10 find there a pro-
vision giving a pension 10 all who had
reached sixty-two. Many prominent
veterans urged the justice OF congress
slOnal action giving service pension
TO all veterans. Bills 10 that effect
were introduced in Congress. And not
until March Of this year did any one
ever claim 10 have made the discov-
cry that the President had power TO
treat the statute as il il 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 pen
sion.
The President of the Civil Service
Commission, General John c. Black,
formerly Commissioner of Pensions,
and Commander-ln-Chief of the Grand
Army of the Republic, indicated his
view of the order when in recent adj
dress he thanked the President for
what he had done. and advised his
hearers to use 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 II is pleaded In miti-
cation that a former Democratic Pres.
ident did something looking in that
direction. Even ii that were So
which is not admitted-0ur present du-
~ would be none the less plain and
imperative, Our people must never
tolerate the citation of one act Of
usurpation of power as an excuse for
another. The first may possibly he due
TO mistake; the second, being based on
the first, cannot he. In explanation,
however, II should he said that the or
der relied on simply provided that the
age of sevcnty-llve years should be re.
garded ms evidence of inability to per.
form manual labor. Few men are able
10 perform manual labor ut that age,
but nearly all men are at sixty-tw0,
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.
ROOSEVELT'S CHALLENGE.
The old inquiry, "What are you go
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 ut is easy to test
our opponents sincerity in this matter.
The order in question Is revocable at
the pleasure of the Executive. Ii 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. viii they authoritativcly
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
Il strong strategic position in the battle
of the ballots. On the assumption
that the order, rs stated by the Admin
istration, is revocahle at the pleasure
of the Executive, it having been an at
tempted, though perhaps unwilling ell
croachment upon the legislative power,
and therefore unwarrantCd by the Con-
stitutiOn, | except the challenge and
declare that if elected | will revoke
that order. But | go further and say
that that being done, will contribute
my effort toward the enactment of Il
law TO be passed by both houses of
Congress and approved by the Execu-
tive that will give an age pension with
out 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 il
comes as just due from the people
through their chosen representatives
and not as 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 &C.
QUESTION of the Philippines, we were
practically invulnerable against at.
tacks by foreign States. Those tropical
possessions, however, seven thousand
miles from our shores, have changed
all this and have in effect put us under
bonds to keep the peace. The new
conditions call for management OF
foreign affairs the more circumspect
thereeent= American invasion
of foreign markets in all parts of the
world has excited the serious appre
hension of all the great industrial peo
pies. 1t is essential. therefore. moro
than ever, to adhere strictly to tn,
traditional policy of the country al
formulated by its first president an(
never. in my judgment. wisely de
parted from-to invite friendly rela
tons with all nations while avOidln;
entangling alliances with any. Such {
policy means the cultivation of peac,
instead of the gloritication of war. an,
the Winding Of our own business il
lieu of spectacular intermeddling will
the affairs Of other nations. 1t mean
strict observance of the principles o
international law and condemns tn
doctrine that a great state. by rcasol
of its strength, may rightfully apprO
pirate the sovereignty or territory o
a small state on account of its weak
ness. 1t means for other American
states that we claim no rights and wi
assume no functions save those Of
friend and of an ally and defender q
against European aggressi0ns.
means that We repudiate the role @
the American continental policeman
that we refuse to act as debt c0,lecto
for foreign states or their citizens