The National tribune., 1911-04-13
SORE NEED OF THE VETERANS
Legislation Like the SullOway Bill Re-
Quired at Once.

Editor National Tribune: After read
ing your able editorials and unseI1lsn
devotion for years and years In Tne
National Tribune, it seems, and likely is'
a fact that the National Administration
would not approve of any more liberal
pension laws at present. The Chief
Executive never even expressed any
views how or in what form additional
increased rates should be allowed,
especially TO our old, infirm comrades
from 65 years and over. We who are
active Grand Army comrades know
that one-third of our veterans have
become more and more incapacitated
from earning a dollar with their former
occupation. For years as Chairman of
our st. Louis General Relief Com
mittee there has come before us,
especially in the last five years, appli
cantS who have been compelled to
finally surrender to the fact that their
usefulness to earn their living as bread
earners had ended. Many of those ex-
hausted physically had splendid army
services. They were not Incorporate
men, but to a judge of human. nature
gentlemen of education and refinement.
Nearly all who applied in the last few
years have earnestly struggled in the
cold, selfish world: they have tried
| hard to subsist when out of work on
their small pensions. They have econi-
mized too closely for their own healthful
existence; in fact, many appeared physi-
cally exhausted starved out in their
struggle to remain in their old homes,
so as to keep out of the Soldiers Homes.
The selfishness of humanity appears
cruel, cold and heartless. The old
| father whose days as bread Garner
are ended is not wanted any more, sons
and daughters think that they are in
their way; the children of at one time
well-to-do fathers want them to go to
a Soldiers Home, where all their old
| family ties disappear, military order
and regularly must be observed. Most
of these comrades would never, no,
| never leave their homesteads If they
could have one dollar a day. When
they are invalids they require some
kindly hand to assist them, a loving
voice to read and commune with them.
The question is, has our President
| the generous conception, leaving out the
question of political policy, to extend
his heart mind and hand to our poor
comrades from 65 to IS, to recommend
to the special session of Congress that
our brave, gallant boys who have fought
life's battles, but did not succeed finan-
cially, be given a dollar a day as long
as they are with US, which will only
be few years. Not a comrade who
does not require one dollar day. They
would be only too glad to see those
who are in want receive it. Those who
have tc have continual assistance are
inyalids. AS matter of course, II the
Nations Chief Executive is in fear of
the criticism of the yellow sensational
press and magazines, especially the
latter, who fight with might and main
to deprive the postal department from
self support. who are the main cause
of the postal deficit; who in milder
form thrive and prosper at the expense
of the Nations revenues; who have their
monthly issues carried at four per cent
a pound less than it cost the Govern
ment to transport it?
Then the half million of veterans
who are supported by suffrage of two
million more votes of their sons and
relations they may just as well cast
their ballots in 1912 for an outright
political enemy. The living veterans
politically are not hidebound; they pre-
fer an open. brave, manly enemy
thousand times more than a leader who
fears to do his duty to the comrades
from the States that give majority
vote in the electoral college. Ohio,
Indiana, New York and even Nassa
chussetts will not remain doubtful
States, for the comrades are thinkers,
active politically. When they make up
their minds that positive change in
National affairs surely cannot be worse,
they will swing the pendulum the other
way. 1t is the unexpected that oc-
CURED last November; it may continue.
Who can forecast the results Henry
Fairback, Past Department Commander,
st. Louis, Mo.