The National tribune., 1910-11-17
THE NATIONAL ENCAMPMENT.
The Ruling Elders Do Not Represent
the Rank ard File.

Editor National Tribune: I do not
often disagree with the editorials and
conclusions of your paper, but now
do emphaticaIly. The Delegates to the
National Encampments have twice be-
trayed the interests of the rank and
file The ex-officio Delegates to the
Encampnents are probably comfort
ably fixed financially. In fact, attend
ance there by any veteran is proof that
he does not need TO count the pennies.
but the great majority are poor They
long ago invested their capital of youth,
strength and prospects in the Govern
ment. When their services were need
ed to crush rebellion they were prom
ised comfort in old age, tho few had
any thought of wages or future sup
port. Up to s. years ago S12 month
had as great purchasing value as
$50 now, and no matter what the con-
dition of the Treasury might be it was
never intended that the Government
should dickcr like a secondhand deal
er over few dollars month Of pen
sion money.
Every veteran should receive $40
month. Upon that amount he could
live and have few. comforts. Less
than that is poverty. Should the Unit
ed States refuse pensions entirely we
must stand it, but once admitted that
the principle is sound and pensions
Government obligation, then the
emount should be enough for the PEN
sioner to live, nor should such pensions
be delayed awaiting more deaths.
The House of Lords of the National
Encampment5 does not express the pre-
vailing sentiment of the Grand Army
In opposing a pension of $50 per month
for feel sure that the general opinion
is in favor of that amount as final. We're
IL possible to submit the question to
llr nt,,fr
vote of every Post would be practically
unanimous in favor of a final pension
of a dollar day." to be paid to every
man who is pensionable under the re-
Quirements OF the Pension Office as
civil war veteran.
The constitution and bylaws of the
Grand Army are unwise in that they
may be changed only by vote OF the
National Encampment, and those men
who oppose pensions will never vote
themselves out Of Office. The men who
really need the pensions are not there
nor are they represented.
The National Tribune has always
been the champion of the rank and
file, and they have been its faithful
supporters. We still hope for its old
time friendship, in spite of the action
of the powerful clique who oppose The
National Tribune and its friends. the
privates in the Grand Army, for whom
Your pension bill is a good one, but
most Of Us will be dead before il helps
us much. Better make il $50 per
month lin full of all demands" begin
ming now and stand pat upon it. The
men who voted against increase must
know that all signs point TO Democratic
control of the House of Representa-
tiveS. In that event these men also
know that no new pension legislation
VIII be enacted while that control eX-
lists. Remember the Cleveland Admin
istration.
1t is a pity that the hereditary mem
bers of the National Encampments can
not be turned out to grass until the
next session with a pension of sI2 or
$15 a month to exist upon up TO that
time. There would be a Surprising
change Of front by them. VIII The
National Tribune publish the names
and occupation Of those who in the
last Encamprnent opposed The National
Tribune and 'dollar-a day" bills? We
would Ike 10 know how many of them
are living on So or SIS per month
Franklin Paine, Duluth, Minn.