Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1907-01-26
A Communication.

My attention has been called TO
to the following editorial in the last
Grant County Herald, part of
which 1 quote, concerning the Ser
vice Pensions" which was passed by
the Senate few days ago:
"Affording fresh evidence of the
feeling of extreme generosity enter
tanned by the people of this nation for
the rapidly going veterans of the
Mexican and Civils wars. Twenty
years ago such a measure would have
been vigorously opposed, but today it
receives unanimous support of the
upper House of Congress, and no
sharp hostility is likely to be mani
tested toward the latitude of the Nc
Cumber BILL 1.-The government can
we'll afford this small additional re-
compense to the defenders in their
advancing years." SIT must be re-
membered too the cost of living has
materially increased and that So goes
little further today than So ten years
ago."
IL 10 OAOIl hOIu OuO OOO
unless there is in Congress someone
to champion a bill which shall also
extend their generosity TO the wives
of the soldiers of the sixties who
have become widows by reason of age
aud life's battles; who are now dis
abled in ability to care for themselves
alone, unless, they are financially pro-
vided for.
"The McCumber measure goes furth-
er in admitting complete disability to
perform manuel labor at siXty-twO."
If such is the case of the once sturdy
soldiers what of the widows of the
weaker sex?
IS it not slur upon this wealthy
nation to disregard the rights Of the
widow Of the soldiers who we're shot
down In cold blood or so mortally in
jured while in the line of duty that
their life went out in slow lingering
a going: while their wives nobly stood
by them to the last soothing them
with cheering word as the dying
whispers asked. What will become of
you and the children?" While. the
bereaved ones heart was breaking
with the thought of the struggle be
fore her to provide for The fatherless
children until they we're self-support-
ing?
What would the memorial be if the
dust and ashes could rise from their
graves when the Both of May rolls
round each year?
Not the blare of trUmpets, thread
bare eulogies or the fast fading flowers
50 lavishly provided with draping crepe
of waving flags: Their one appeal
would be. How is my aged widow
passing her closing days after her
noble sacrifice to her country in its
direst need"
Today there are soldiers and others
who will say. Hasn't government pro
vided for them in passing law to
grant them ample pension from
date of death?" I answer, yes, but
that bill only lived one year when it
was repealed. Many, however,-not
all availed themselves of that year of
grace-but further back was the trying
struggle of the wives caring for their
invalid husbands who were mustered
out of service: a brood of little ones,
and not a dollar to hire a nurse, or
provide medicine or even to provide
daily necessities
Many Of the present generation viii
say, 80 that is overdrawn." 1t is
only too true. It was bY such bitter
that our nation boasts of
it, power and wealth where our young
men own their automobiles, sport
their carriages and rich attire, and
perhaps look upon the veteran or aged
widow with Indifference or even con
tempt That period heretofore men
toned from the date of discharge to
day of death should of necessity be
embodied in an act BY some noble
man In Congress. whose name would
become a household word; who would
secure an arrears dating from discharge
with s. per month for each child until
sixteen, and nurses fees during that
period. Such an additional expense
TO the government would not be hard
to meet. The widows are rapidly pass
ing away and ten or fifteen years care
will be a great relief, then the govern
ment viii be the richer inpurse as well
as the knowledge that there will be no
cause to bark back to the thought,
This ought ye 10 nave done"