The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1904-09-30

manded IL. The Republican majority re,
fused the demand. The people can de-
termine by their vote in November
whether they wish an honest and thor
ough investigation A Democratic Con-
gress and executive will assure it.
We are justly proud of the officers and
men OF our army and navy. Both. how
ever, have suffered from the nei sistent
injection OF personal and political In
h heSn 6eo Fgromotions and appointments
instead of merit. Trials and court-mar-
tials have been set aside under circum-
stances indicating political interference.
IheSe and other abuses should be cor
rected.
Pensions for Our Soldiers and Sailors.
The National Democracy faVors liberal
pensions to the surviving soldiers and
sailors and their dependents. on the
ground that they deserve liberal treat
ment. 1t pledges by its platform ade-
quate legislation to that end But IL
denies the right of the executive to usurp
the power of Congress TO legislate on
tempted by Pension Order No. 49, and
effect has been given to IL by Congress
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
| refers, which is the one relating to pen
sions TO Civil War veterans, does not
| authorize pensions on the ground of age
IL does grant pensions TO those suffer
ing from any mental or physical disa-
bility. or disabilities. OF permanent
| character, not the result of their own
| vicious habits, which so incapacitates
| them from the performance of manual
labor as to render them unable TO earn
a support" This specified requirement
| of incapacity is i'm effect set aside by Or
der No. IS as to all persons over sixty
| two.
The war closed nearly forty years ago.
! In the meantime many of our soldiers
! and sailors long survived the age Of six
| ty-two, and passed away without receiv-
|
| neys hunting through the statute failed
| TO lind there "a provision giving a PEN
| sion To all who had reached sixty-two.
| Many prominent veterans urged the JUS
! tice OF congressional action giving ser
! vice 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 Ii read that
when claimant had passed the age of
SiXty-two years he Is necessarily disabled
3ne-haii N ABILITY 20 perform tn n manual
II elected, will revoke that order Eut
l go turner and say that that being
done. | will contribute nv effort toward
the enactment OF law TO be passed by
both houses of Congress and approved by
the executive that will give an age pen
sion without reference to disability To
the surviving heroes of the civil war; and
under the provisions of which n pensioE
may be accepted with dignity because
OF the consciousness that II comes as
a just cue from the people through their
chosen Representatives. and not as largess
distributed by the chief executive.
Foreign Relations.
The foreign relations of the govern
ment have in late years assumed special
the Philippines, we We're practically in
vulnerable against attacks by foreign
states. Those tropical posse ssions how
ever, 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 moro
circumspect i'm that the recent American
invasion of foreign markets in all parts
of the world has excited the serious APP
prehension OF all the great INDUSTRIAL peo-
pies. II is essential therefore. more than
ever. TO adhere strictly to the traditional
policy of the, country as formulated by
its first president ana never, in my 1uug-
ment, wisely departed from-to invite
friendly relations with all nations while
avoiding entanglng alliances with any.
Reform in Governmental Expenditures.
Twenty eight years have passed since
the Democratic party of the state OF New
York. in convention assembled. recon-
mended TO the National Democracy the
nomination of Samuel j. Ttlden as It's
candidate for the presidency, and de-
'clared IL to be their settled CONVICTION
that a return to the constitutional prtn-
cipes. frugal expense and administrative
purity Of the founders OF the Republic
is the first and most imperious duty or
the times-the commanding issue now
before the people of the Union: This
strong expression was called forth by
1S75. which an1ounted to s274. OOO. 0o0-a
situation which, in the opinion of ma
q yn on or Pgeo1m in the admins
tration of public affairs. As the eX-
penditure of the last fiscal year amount
ed to the enormous total OF S5S2 100000.
IL is evident that a thorough investigate
Of the public service ana the immediate
abandonment Of useless and extravaganza
expenditures are more necessary row
than thcv we're then. This astounding
increase Is out Of all proportion 10 the
increase Of our population, and hnds no
excuse from whatever aspect we view
the situation. The national Democratic
platform declares that Largo reductions
can easily be made in the annual q, sx-
pairing. the efficiency OF any branch oil
the public service" Can there lie any
doubt of the accuracy of this statement?
In this connections II is interesting to
note the recent administrative orders
forbidding government officers from maxi
ing public any statement OF estimates on
which future appropriations are 10 De
based.
II a man of ordinary intelligence and
prudence should find in the operating eN-
penscs of his business such a tremCn-
dous percentage of increase, would he
not promptly set on foot an inquiry Tor
the cause of the waste, and take imme-
date measures to stop IT, especially when
trusted employees have been found dis
honest and convicted. and widespread
impression exists that a thorough investi-
cation may discover other cases ot mai
feasance? When tho chief executive re-
ported 10 Congress t1dt,
forgeres and periuries, and by shame
less briberies the laws relating to me
proper conduct of the public service IN
general and to the due administration of
the postoftico department have been no
toriously violated - there was
general popular demand for rigid,
sweeping investigation by Congress, in
addition TO that undertaken by the e:s-
ecutivo himself. Such an investigate
| the Republican majority in Congress
] would rot permit, although the minority
insisted that the interests OF good gov
! eminent demanded IL. And the miEor-
| ity was right. Inc liberality, patriot
! ism and national pride OF the people
! should not be made an excuse for waste
| of the public funds. Official eXtrava gance
| Is official crime.
Reform In expenditures must be. had
! i'm both the civil military and naval es-
adjustments in order that the national
| expenditures may be brought TO a basis
| Of peace and the government maintained
without recourse to the taxes of war.
Conclusion.
I have nut aside a congenial work. to
| which 1 had expected to devote my life,
| i'm order to assume, as best / can. the re-
| sponsibilities your convention Put upon
| me.
/ solocit the cordial cooperation and
generous assistance of every man who
| believes that a change of measures and
of men at this time would be wise, and
urge harmony of endeavor as well as Wig
| orous action on the part of all so minded.
The issues are Joined ana the people