The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1911-12-28
MR.. GUDGER's PENSION VOTE,

In last weeks issue of this paper
the Sherwood service pension bill,
which had previously been put through
the lower house of Congress by the
aid of democratic votes, was character
ICED as .the pension outrage" and
hope was expressed that few, IL any,
representatives from the South had
supported a measure so utterly de-
void of merit. That article was writ
ten on the day following the passage
of the bill and before the position of
any member, except few leaders
whose names appeared in the press re-
ports of the incident, had become
known. Two days later we were sur
prTsed and grieved to find, in the Con-
gressional Record, Congressman Gud-
ger recorded as voting aye. But we
had written what we had written, from
conscientious convictions, and could
not withdraw a line. No other mem
Der of the State delegation voted for
this unwfse measure and Mr.. Gudger
is the only democratic representative
from the States of Virginia, North
Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia
who went on record in favor of its
passage Mr.. Slemp, the lone repub-
Virginia, voted in the affirmative, with
152 other members of his party in the
House.
We regret, more than language can
express, that our own Congressman
has made the grievous blunder of vot-
ing for this ubiquitous pension bill,
and cannot conceive of any reason
that would justify such a course. We
cheerfully give space for his state
ment about the matter, which appears
elsewhere in the Hustler today, but it
is one Of those explanations that fails
to explain. One reason Mr. Gudger
assigns for his action, is the party
platform declaration "for a liberal
pension policy" He should have con-
sidered that this did not contemplate
the outrageously extravagant policy
represented in the Sherwood bill.
which has been pending in Congress
for years. The last democratic plat
form upon which Mr.. Gudger rests his
case denounced the previous republi-
can congress for making approprias
tons amounting to $1,O0s,O0O. 900, as
"a needless waste of the peoples
money that resulted IN an appalling in
crease Of expenditures and a shameful
violation of all prudent conditions of
government declaring it was no less
than crime against the millions Of
working men and women, from whose
earnings the great proportion of the
colossal sums were extorted," The
pension policy now maintained by the
republican party is exceedingly liberal
and there is need for retrenchment
rather than increased appropriations,
for this purpose.
We shall not question Mr.. Gudger's
motive, but his best friends must adj
NIT that he has made a great mistake
And the fact that he has plenty of
company does not justify his action by
any manner of means. He should adj
nit his error and promise to be more
careful in the future The democracy
Of this district may forgive him, but
condone his action, never. Think Of
1t, brethren. The tenth North Caro-
lima district furnished the only DEM
ocratic vote for that astounding meas
ure from Maryland to Florida. 1t is
preposterous. Mr.. Gudger has doubt
lessly realized by this time, the pre-
dicament into which he has brought
the democratic party of the district
and should hasten to make amends, in
stead Of adding insult to injury by
giving out interviews in vain attempt
to justify his cause. This is said in
all kindness and not in any belligerent
spirit, for we certainly wish him well.
<&Ab-S----2 ,
Ring out the old and ring in the new.
-=1- &@~N-~----