The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-10-26
Republican Party Wholly
Responsible For Caring
For Old Soldiers.
Democrats Opposed All Friendly
Aida banning Record.
Taft Great Friend Of
& a R

The Republican party has Just cause
to be proud Of Its pension record.
With the aid Of patriotic men from
other parties 1t waged to a successful
conclusion the greatest war OF modem
times.
1t has never ceased to honor the
officers and men who composed the
victorious army. Every Republican
president elected since the close of that
war had been conspicuous officer of
the Federal army with the exception
Of President Roosevelt. whose bril-
liant record in the Spanish war Is a
matter Of just pride to tile American
people.
Republican Pension Legislation.
Republican legislation for the old
soldier, his widow and his minor chill
dren has been generous and bounttfui.
Tie Invalid pension law Of July Ii,
1862, aud the dependent law of June
%, 1880. are monuments Of Republican
achievement and bear witness to the
county's tender care of its soldiers
and lis sailors and their families.
The act OF June q, 1880. is a fitting
illustration Of the generosity of the
Republican party toward the veterans
of tile civil war. This law was passed
by a Republican congress, was signed
by Republican president. ana through
Its administration there was expended
during the next fiscal year a total
amount of $G9.I9SSGo.T1. The number
Of soldiers receiving the benefit of
this net was 443721, while the num-
Der of the dependents relieved by
this act was 171,25a. The gains in the
number of pensioners under this act
over the previous year was S,G43. end
the gain from June 80, 1900 to Jan. g..
1904, was 4.993.
'rhe Republican party passed the act
Of April 10, 1908, increasing pensions
of allwldows from So to SIP per month
and granting pensions without refer
ence TO the value of property or in
conc. The Republican party also
passed the act of,Feb. 6, 1897, granting
pensions to soldiers by reason Of age
alone, without regard to disability.
Democratic Opposition Record.
The Democratic party, as such. has
opposed every measure voting nppro.
nriatlons for pensions. Its record for
the past forty years is one of 0pposl.
ton to those men who bore the hard.
ships of war and jeopardized their
lives that the Union might be pre-
served. Here is a brief list Of their
Official adverse acts in congress to-
ward the veterans Of the civil war:
IN 1878 bill passed the house re-
pealmg all limitations OF time IN, which
applications for arrears Of pensions
should be made. This was opposed
by majority OF the Democrats. Tie
bill Increasing the pensions for widows
from IS to $40 per month was opposed
by the Democrats. Tie amputatI3n
bill pissed Aug. 4. 1896, was opposed
by the Democrats and voted for solid
" by the Republicans in the house.
The widows arrears bill and the dis.
ability pension bill were both fought
bitterly by the Democrats.
In the Forty.thIrd congress de-
pendent pension bill was voted on in
the senate, the Republicans supporting
It s0lidly and the Democrats opposing
It by two-thlrd vote. In the house
this bill was voted for solldly by Re
puDlicans and opposed by majority
Of tile Democrats. After It had passed
the house aud senate It was vetoed by
President Cleveland. a Democrat. An
effort was made in the house to pass
the bill over Cleveland's veto, the Re
publIcans voting 1873 for 1t and the
Democrats voting 125 against 1t.
This vote showed that twenty-nine
Democrats who had originally voted
for the bill hastened to avail them.
selves, of the opportunity afforded by
the presidents veto TO vote against it,
thus testitying their real sentiments,
While twenty other Democrats who had
lodged the first vote came up prompt
~ and supported the veto. The de.
pendent pension bill was bitterly OPP
posed by khe Democrats, the Repub-
licans putting 1t through despite the
opposition. This bill. MS the old sol.
Oilers well know. was promptly signed
by President Harrison.
pemee Gratis Dislike Veterans.
To sum Hp. the following gives the
total Of fourteen votes Of congress
upon the lnost Important of the vari-
Gus pension measures presented slnce
the war-vfz:
Democrats for the bills. y. ........... an
Democrats against the bills. ......... 6ls
Republicans for the bills. loss
Republicans against the bills. None
The Official records OF national legis-
latlon show that of all the Republican
presidents since the war only one has
withheld bis signature from any pen.
sion bill. and that was General Grant