The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1908-10-31
u eter
Ion
Republican Parry Wholly
Responsible For Caring
Fol Old Soldiers
Democrats opposed ADJ Friendly
Aid "A banning Record.
Taft treat Friend Of
6. A r

The Republican party has just cause
to be proud of its pension record
with the ala of patriotic men from
other parties 1t waged to a successfal
conclusion the greatest war OF modern
times.
1t has never ceased to honor the
ohdcers and men who composed the
victorious army. Every Republican
president elected since the close OF t1at
war had been az conspicuous officer OF
the Federal army with the exception
OF President Roosevelt, whose hrtt-
liant record in the Spanish war u
matter Of Just pride to the American
people.
Ropubliean Pension Legislation.
Republican legislation for the old
soldier his widow and his minor Chill
dren has been generous and bounthul-
The Invalid pension law of July ~,
1862. and the dependent law of June
27. 1890. are monuments of Republican
achievement and bear witness to the
country's tender care of its soldiers
and It's sailors and their families
The act OF June p, 1890, Is htt1nG
illustration of the generosity OF the
Republican party toward the veterans
by a Republican congress, was signed
by Republican president, and through
its administration there was expended
during the next fiscal year total
amount Of S6s, 1913, s6o.71. The number
of soldiers receiving the beneht OF
this act was 443.T21, while theS num-
Der Of the dependents relieved by
this act was 171,259. The gains in the
number of pensioners under this act
over the previous year was S,645. ana
the gain from June 80, 1880. to Jan. Q.
1904, was 1898.
The Republican party passed the act
of April 10, 1908, increasing pensions
of all widows from 50 to $12 per month
and granting pensions without Fefef-
ence to the value Of property or IN
come. The Republican party also
passed the act OF Feb. g, 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 appro-
priations for pensions It's record for
the past forty years is one of opposi-
ton to those men who bore the hard
ships of. war and 3eopardized their
lives that the Union might be pre-
served. Here is a brief list OF their
ohlcial adverse acts in congress To-
ward the veterans OF the civil war:
In 1873 a bill passed the house re-
mailing all limitations OF time in which
aDnIicat1ons for arrears OF pensions
should be made. This was opposed
by a majority OF the Democrats. The
bill increasing the pensions for w1doWs
from IS to So per month was opposed
by the Democrats. The amputa1on
bill passed Aug. 4, 1896, was Opposed
by the Democrats and voted Tor soma
IL by the Republicans in the mousse
The Widows arrears bill and the dis
ability pension bill were both tougnt
bitterly by the Democrats.
In the Forty third congress de-
pendent pension bill was voted on In
the senate, the Republicans supporting
it solidly and the Democrats opposing
It by q two-thIrd vote. In the house
| this bill was voted for solidly by Re
pubIicans and opposed by a majority
| Of the Democrats. After It had passed
the house and senate 1t was vetoed by
President Cleveland, Democrat An
effort was made in the house to pass
| the bill over Cleveland's veto, the Re
publicans voting 1873 for it and the
Democrats voting 125 against 1t.
This vote showed that tVventy-nlne
Democrats VINO DUO OCAS4AsN4l4S
for the bill FASTENED to avail them
selves of the opportunity afforded by
the. presidents veto to vote against It,
thus testifying their real sentiments
| while twenty other Democrats who mad
| lodged the first vote came up prompt
" and supported the veto. The de-
| pendent pension bin was bitterly OPP
posed by the Democrats. the Repub-
lIcans putting it through despite the
opposition. This bill, as the old sol
diers we'll know. was promptly signed
by President Harrison.
Democrats Dislike Veterans.
To sum up, the following gives the
total OF fourteen votes Of congress
upon the most important of the var1-
\ Gus pension measures presented since
the war-vIz: =.
II Democrats for the bills. .........-...' ~
II Democrats against the hlll8.....-...' - -
Il TRenublicans for the bills. ...-.."..''' AsO0o
II Republicans against the htlls'"...''.' SOUS
The official records OF national legis-
| Iation show that OF all the Republican
presidents since the war only one has
withheld his signature from any pen
sion bill. and that was General Grant
who was forced to decline to approve
6ye Of these bills. The Democrats
baye been in power for only few
brief years since the war. and then
"A M