The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-09-07

me. These letters all claim an amount yet due, and yet in the face of these facts MT. Bush contends that "every pen sioner has been paid every cent due him."
 could be presented to any court in the state than the letters of these grand old men and women, who are too near the mystic river. the flashing of whose wa ters can be dimly heard, to violate the commandment, Thou shalt not lie," still if there be any "Doubting Thomases" they may consult the state treasurers latest report for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1908. and, on Pages l35 and 13s, they will find that the classes l. g. and 4 were paid respectively N0 s. $640 and $5, as claimed by the pensioners in their letters, instead of $25, $2O, s16 and s125o.
 To all comrades and the widows of comrades who have replied to my in quiries I would say that when MT. Bush makes the assertion that every pensioner has been paid in full he does this de- liberately, and with all the facts, as he claims. before him.
 Mfr. Bush Is not satisfied with trying to brand all those pensioners who claim that there is balance due as liars. but he leaves the impression upon the public mind that many have committed an of- fense that might entitled them to wear stripes when he says. 'In many cases the amounts have been considerably more than was really due"
 There is but one way that they could receive "nore than was really due." and that would be to alter the warrant that was issued by the auditor. I challenge MT. Bush to name pensioner who has been paid more than was really due" He should do this for the benefit of all Confederates. If he cannot do this, let him. like man. retract this statement. The treasurer's' report will show the falsity of such a statement.
 Mir Editor, know that you will pardon me for the length of this article, be- cause you will see that may have the fight of my life on my hands-I do not mean physical fight. put battle to es- tablish the truth, and to confound the wicked. I notice that others are enlist ing against these old Confederates and myself, in our claim against the state. Let them come. I shall try and prove equal to the emergency, and as Macbeth said to Macduff, so say I to these cham pions of the Conner administration, Lay on, Macduff and damn'd be him that first cries. Hold. enoughl'
 I notify them all that this fight shall not end until the public is informed as to the disposition of the balance as stat ed by the auditor in his report, dated Sep tember 30, 1908, on page 16. He shows a 'balance of s430, 0,3S9.37." I challenge MT. Bush, MT. Hamilton and all others who enter upon this discussion. to tell what became of this balance? To whom was it paid? and, for what? Answer these ques- tion and you can settle this much moot ed subject. Until you do, I shall con- people. I may not always weave roses into garlands of rhetorical beauty that would please your fancy. for shall here after deal mostly in figures, and figures being hard, solid fellows, and very pro- saic one cannot, when using them, draw fancy pictures, full of beauty and grace, as might be done when describing one of Alabama's bright-eyed beauties. whose loveliness can so charm the heart even of an anchorite as to tempt him to leave his monastic life and worship at the shrine of beauty and love.
 It Is said that figures will not lie, but that liars may figure. Let this be as 1t may, I shall ask your indulgence while I give some figures from the auditor and treasurer's last report.
 In the report of the auditor dated Sep tember 30, 1908, on page 16 may be found the following: Statement of the condi- ton of the pension fund at the close of the year. September 30, 1908