Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-09-07
Pleads for Pensions ,
for Old Soldiers

Editor The Journal: al have watched with
eager interest ever since the last legislature ad-
journed, to see who among the old veterans
would enter a protest against that body OF
solons for their apparent neglect in carrying
out the enactment OF a former legislature In re-
3 gard to the civil service pensions TO old SOL
Giers not worth over $500, and widows OF Con-
federate soldiers and have seen one protest from
COmrade Kaigler, Of Dawson. l, therefore, ask
small space in your paper 20 offer a few
thoughts which will fully cOrrobOrate all and
more than our eomrade has said
1.-The old veterans yet remaining are the true
representatives of the manhood OF the old south
modest to lift their voices against the adverse
legislati That the whole OF the last session
was frittered away In worse Than useless legis-
lation, is said by our old comrade, so far as
tue people at large are eoncened-the whole
time was spent in the McLendon case, and that
glorious old political prohibition law-and we
may add, the creating of new offices, and The
making Of fat offices after. No time for the
income tax, If legislation on that line was not
blocked; time for making an etfectual game
law to project our BIRDS and fish. 49,
"But started out to speak OF the service
pension BILL At tile time OF the ratification
Of the amendment we naturally felt proud that
recognize the services Of her gallant sons who
spent the best part OF the morning OF life in
the war between the states; now that we have
plodded along for almost a half century and
some Of us nearing the SEVENTEEN milestone. a
little appropriation would add little comfort
to many a poor and afflicted old veteran; boz
II
badge of honor than for its pecuniary value.
We know there was a time when the soldiery
was rich plum for political scramble. Then
we were in evidence and received recognition
even in q division of OF the offices.
"Now have become few In number and our
political strength not worth much to any party
therefore, we have become a back number, a
negative quantity, knot on log; we have
been shelved and relegated to the rear: We
hold no more offices and our patronage is no
longer sought .'..
at is contended that to give pensions to the
veterans would require too much money; IL
would require more at first than at any SUISSE
rapidly decreasing ratio. There Is always ade-
quate nppropria lions to give the Georgia militia
two three months outing among the mountains
every year--Chickamauga Is famous place Of
resort. historic because Of the greAtest battle
and victory tO1ght and won on Georgia
soil; yet not one In twenty OF the noble old
soldiers who engaged in that bloody drama, are
financially able today to go and view the
ground where they measured honor with the ad-
versary.
"StIiI we must bend our old backs in heat
and cold, wet and dry, to raise tax money to
appropriate for those who never saw service but
once. and that was when they were called out
and made to stand on the mATshy lands OF south
east Georgia and fight mosquitoes nearly a
whole night, TO prevent a friendly conflict be-
tween two pugilists.
Put there is nothing TO say against the main.
tanning of an organized militia for purposes Of
emergency. but IL seems that the few remain
ing old soldiers should receive equally fair treat
large per cent OF them will have passed over
the river.
1.-TWO great problems confront the people OF
the southland, The negro problem and the old
soldier problem-the former OF which Will re-
Quire much tlGe and The best thought TO solve,
but the latter viii easily solve itself in a few
more years.
a. we want but little here below
Nor want that little long
aee sat ses %bo are IL s
patty with the needy and afflicted old soldiers.
should obtain the names Of the members of the
last legislature and govern themselves accord
tribute of our little hard earnings to the sup
mort OF agricultural schools and the running OF
educationals trains. all OF which OF but little
use 10 the masses-the farmer already knows
how to make more than be can obtain a remu-
nerative price for in the markets.
d. c. ANDREWS.
Arlington Ga.