The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-11-11
.HISTARDYREWAR
Kansas Refused Pension.
Now Since His Death Widow
Gets the Money.
ROOSEVELT DID 1T.
Took Matter Up Personally on
Request of Col. Little.
MnnAu Gro %nfnIIx, -
Money Gratefully Received by
Young Widow and Children.

Kansas City, Nov. 11-Mrs Agnes
White, the widow of Edward White, one
Of the two privates who swan the Rio
Grande under fire in the Philippines,
has been granted a back pension
through the intervention of Theodore
Roosevelt. The amount is $527
The pension had been disallowed when
Col Edward c. Little wrote a personal
letter to President Roosevelt.
White died in Kansas City, Kan, on
December 5, 1908, leaving a widow and
two small children. The men who were
former comrades determined to aid the
widow. Mr.. White had been in poor
health since mis- return from the Phil
II pine Islands and had applied for a
pension. Congress had awarded him a
medal for his action in swimming the
river under fire of the enemy, but the
pension department could not see its
why clear to grant a pension. 1t was
lot satisfied. There We're some techni-
caHties to overcome and finally the PEN
sion was refused. After the death of
Mr.. White, Colonel Little determined to
make personal appeal to President
Roosevelt. He wrote to him saying that
as commanding officer of the troops in
which White served he knew that White
! lost his health in the army. Mr.. Little
| appealed to the president as a soldier
VI Lie SAME WdT 10 take d personal IN
terest in the matter. and said the fact
| that he had been awarded a medal was
small assistance to the widow in edu-
| eating he two children.
| Colonel Little did not receive a per-
| sonal reply from the president but the
! fact that he at once took up the mat
ter and probably requested the allowing
| of the pension is shown by a letter re-
Ceived q few days later from Mr.. Loeb
containing a letter from v. Warner,
pension commissioner.
| It's only another illustration of how
President Roosevelt did things Col
onel Little said yesterday. He was
not bothered by the fact that through
some former technicality a pension had
| been refused. He saw it was right that
| the woman should have the pension and
| she has it."
| Mrs. White lives at 72S Sandusky
avenue, Kansas City, Kan. She is en-
| ployed in the mail order department of
the George Peck Dry Goods company in
| this city.
Might Have Saved His Life
MY daughter will use the money for
the benefit of the children" Mrs.
| Bridget Golding, mother of Mrs. White,
| said last night Had he received the
saved his life; as he could have gone to
Colorado as he desired"
The children are two sons, Eddie,
years old, Earl, years old.
III going TO De a SOlOler ike papa
when grow up" said Eddie, who stood
beside his grandmother, "and I am go
ing to be brave, too"
White, who was born in Kansas City,
Kan. Joined company B of the Fight
ing Twentieth before it left that city.
He was a private. At the action near
Calumpit he and William B. Trembley,
now an attorney in Kansas City, Kan,
swan the river with a rope under fire
of the enemy.
the river which was about ninety yards
wide" Mr.. Trembley said in describing
the incident. white and I decided to
swim across with ropes so the RATS
with our men on them could follow
Our sharpshooters covered US while We
swan. When the ropes were made fast
the troops soon came over"
The former members of the Twen-
tieth in Kansas City, Kan, intend next
winter to make an effort to secure the
passage of a special act of congress
granting widows pension to Mrs.
White.