davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1911-03-09
CANADA'S ROYAL GOVERNOR.
GENERAL.

The appointment of Prince Arthur of
Connaught, the last surviving son of
Queen Victoria as Governor-General of
Canada is regarded as an act of much
portent. 1t is the first time that one
of the royal family has been appointed
Governor of one of England's foreign
possessions. 1t may lead to Canada as
an independent kingdom under the
scion of the British monarchy. 1t is
only question of time. it is said, when
Canada will outstrip the mother coun-
try in population and power, and this
growth under an English Prince may
have most important political results.
Their papers think that the appoint
ment of the Duke of Connaught will
do very much toward strengthening the
relations between Canada and the EN-
pire. and that his presence will be nee
essary to arrest the Americanization of
the country.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1911-03-09

The Senate failed to confirm the
nomination of Conlrade A. w. Smith as
Pension Agent at Topeka, but undoubt-
edly the President will reappoint him,
and he will be confirmed at the extra
session. Comrade Smith is fine rep
resentative of the enlisted men of the
army. He belonged to the Regular
Brigade of the Army of the Cumber-
land, and was present for duty
equipped in every fight of his brigade
until he was captured with SO many
others at Chickamauga. Since rhe war
he has resided in Kansas, where he has
been prominent figure in politics and
the Grand Army. He was the Repub-
lican candidate for Governor at the
time of the Populist avalanche, and
was Commander of the Department OF
Kansas, G. A. r., in 1903. He has been
much spoken of for Commander in
Chief
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1911-03-09
TO BE KEPT IN MIND.

1t must be carefully kept in mind
that much as was said by the oppo-
nents of the Sulloway bill as to the
enormous drain upon the Treasury of
that measure. of their extreme desire
to meet the wants of all deserving SOL
diers and how the Grand Army bill was
the last expression of the National En-
campment, nobody made the least seri-
Gus effort to secure any increase of
pensions or to pass the Grand Army
bill as a substitute for the Su1loway
bill. Everywhere about the Capitol one
was met by the objection that the
Grand Army of the Republic did not
want anything more than what was
asked for by the National Encampment
at Atlantic City but not one of these
men who we're SO insistent upon this
being the utmost that the Grand Army
of the Republic asked for took any
steps whatever to push that bill and
give the increase requested 1t was
only made useful in securing opposition
to the Sulloway bill This is an inpor-
tant fact. 1t shows the hollowness of
the pretenses of those who only want
ed a pretense for opposing the Sulloway
bill
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1911-03-09
DEFEAT OF THE suLLowAY BILL.

legislation much
Sulo
before had
and such
unanimously
bill almost
Pensions in the Senate had reported
a in the
valiant Senators
AIhgn-exhaued
consideration
of
seeking clutch the public
with lobbyists they
which well by covert
the bill
prosperity and
dying
that within would have been added to the
River Tho
Paine would
death.
discouraged Chairman sulo
forth
possible will leave
its
drsgarded Congress and the White
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1911-03-09

In the House, Feb. 81, Representa-
tive ]. A. Goulden moved an amend
ment to the Statutes which would give
the Superintendent of the cemetery at
Arlington 500 month instead of SIS,
which he is now receiving. Comrade
Goulden explained that since the COM
pensation of the Superintendent had
been fixed at SIS a month there had
been added to the cemetery, so that
there are now 456 acres under his di-
rect supervision. He is respons ole for
the payment of about 100000 annually
in wages, and has more than 100 men
under him who receivesfrom $50 to SIS
a month. He has about 600 interments
yearly to look after. The present Su-
perintendent, Comrade Charles Ma
COON, is a first-class man in every re-
spect, aad deserves the compensation.
The amendment was agreed to and the
bill passed.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1911-03-09

The Department of Kentucky, G. A
r., will hold its Annual Encampment
at greensboro May 1913. Commander
in-Chief Gilman will be present and
speak at the Encampment and the
Campfires. There will be other orators
present and fine exercises in other re-
spects. The vacancy in the office of
Chaplain caused by the death of Com
rade E. p. Mars has been filed by the
of Rev. r.. Williams, of
The death of Past De-
partment Commander Joseph H.
Browning, of Louisville, is announced
1t occurred Dec. %. Comrade Brown
ing was 4 Lieutenant in the LIST Ky.
Art, and had been faithful and zeal
Gus member of the Order for many
years. He was elected Department
Commander in 1899. and for three
years held the office of Assistant Adju-
tant-General. At the time of his death
he was Magistrate in Louisville
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1911-03-09
DECIDED IMPROVEMENT.

Commissioner of Pensions Davenport
is contemplating putting into execution
system which he has been maturing
for some time past and which will
prove of the greatest convenience to
pensioners and a saving to the Govern
ment. 1t is to do away with the present
voucher system entirely. Instead a
pension check will be mailed to every
pensioner in an envelope, which will
have on the outside directions for the
Postmaster to deliver only to the pen
sioner or to some immediate member
Of his family. If dead, the envelope is
to be returned to the agency. The
check inside will have a slip attached,
which must be signed by two reputable
witnesses, who will certify that the re-
ceiver is well known to them to he the
person for whom the check is intended.
This certificate will be returned To the
Office, and be a voucher that the check
was properly delivered to the person
indicated. This will do away with the
annoyance and expense to the veterans
of having their vouchers attested by a
notary on given day, and il will save
the Government great deal in posta re
and in clerical labor. Commissioner
Davenport hopes to have the system
perfected so as to put it incorporation
July 1, 1911.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1911-03-09
RESIGNATION OF SECRETARY
BAIIINGER.

The announcement of the resigna-
ton Of Secretary Ballinger came as a
STARTER March Z. The Secretary gives
his health as the reason, and also the
pecuniary loss ne sustained by reason
of his ofiicia. connections In accepting
his resignation President Taft paid him
high tribute as an official and as a citi-
zen. Walter J.. Fisher, of Chicago, a
lawyer, a reformer and a conservation
ist of the Pinchot school. was named as
his successor. and this was taken by the
Pinchot school as a tender OF the olive
branch to them.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1911-03-09
PENSIONS AND ECONOMY.

The Boston Globe is one Of the lead
ing Democratic papers in the country
and easily the leading one in New Eng
land In well-considered editorial in
the issue of Feb. Is it says of the Sullo-
way bill:
This bill entails increased Govern
ment expenditures, but it is not the
kind of measure to which the econo-
mist should object. 1t Is not an act of
waste: it is an act of justice Let the
economist turn his attention to divers
forms of extravaganza that are put thru
Congress SO readily. but let the old sol
der spend his declining years in some
thing better than refined poverty
., The Government has been committed
to the policy of pensions since the Rev
olution, and the various steps by which
the Nation has recognized services in
the field of war are logical and as
whole approved by the people. The
Senate will make no mistake in passing
the bill. and President Taft should give
the veteran the benefit of any doubts
that may exist in his mind.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1911-03-09
How 1t Went i'm the New York
Assembly.
Eah o. 1Q1

Feb. Fl, 1911.
Editor National Tribune: The reso-
luton indorsing the Sulloway bill, re-
ferred to in your letter. was introduced
by me on the 14th Cast Tuesday,. 1t
was requested by several comrades Of
the G.. A. r. residing in and near AL
bany.
AS our rules provide. resolutions are
not in order except on Mondays ard
unanimous consent had to be obtained
for it's Introduction. The Assembly cor
daily granted my request and the reso-
luton was adopted at once, Assembly
man Merritt, leader of the minority. re-
marking that he had a similar resolution
in his desk. but preferred that it should
be offered by me. Senator Thomas +.
Grady, of the Fourteenth district. ham
died it very eloquently and cleverly in
the Senate, which body considered it as
soon as it reached the Chamber and
adopted it without dissent.
l have always found the Legislature
of the State of New York, no matter
what its political complexion, loyal to
the interests of the veteran.
Sincerely yours. r. P BUSH
Assembly Chamber, Albany, N. Y.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1911-03-09

Representative sideways announce
nlent of his determination to reintro-
duce his bill at the extra session and
work hard for its passage brings as
much Joy as we can get out of the
present situation. There Is no doubt
t:aat he will be in the end successful.
The astonishing expression of favor
which the bill has received from all
over the country cannot but be convinc-
ing TO Congress and the White House
OF the general demand of the people
for the passage OF the bill. On no
other question now before the public
are the people so united and insistent
US upon this. Nothing in the whole
history of the country approaches the
Endorsement which the Sulioway bill
has received from 90 Legislatures OF
the geratest States in the Union. This
fact cannot be ignored. and will not be
It is only question of time when the
Sulloway bill will be passed, and If the
Democrats are wise in their day and
generation they with lose no time In
enacting 1t. The sooner they do this
the greater win be their hopes of sue
cess in 1912.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1911-03-09
DEFEAT OF THE OFFICERS, BILL

After the defeat of Senator SCOTS
last effort to take up and pass the Sui
loway bill Senator Penrose arose and
said:
I ask unanimous consent for the
present consideration of the bill Is.
1850 to create in the War Department
and the Navy Department. respectively
a roll designated as "the civil war vol
unteer officers retired list" TO author
ize placing thereon with retired pay
certain surviving officers who served in
the Army. Navy or Marine Corps OF the
United States in the civil war. and for
other purposes.
1t is bill in which there is very
widespread interest all over the coun-
try.
The Secretary read the bill, when
Senator Overman. OF North Carolina,
objected. the Vice President announced
the objection and the bill was dead
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1911-03-09

There is "a lively contest going on for
the Craftsmanship of the Committee on
Invalid Pensions. The ranking Demo-
cratic member is Charles H. Lindsay, Of
New York, but it is said that the condi-
ton of his health will deter him from
taking position involving SO much
work and responsibility. Next is Chas.
H. .Weisse, of Wisconsin, who goes upon
the Ways and Means Committee, and
therefore Is ineligible on any other
The third is Lincoln Dixon,
of Indiana, who prefers another COM
mittee place. The fourth member is
Timothy r. Ansbury. of Ohio; the fifth,
Eugene F. Kinkead, and the sixth, Chas.
c. Anderson. Kinkead expects another
Craftsmanship, leaving Messrs. Ansbury
and Anderson, of Ohio, as candidates
for the Craftsmanship. Gen. 1. r. Sher-
wod also is e. candidate for the Chair
manship. altho he has never served ON
the committee He claims that his ap-
pointment will unity the veterans in
suppart of the Democracy. Carl C.
Anderson is making an active canvass
for the place and meeting with much
favor. He has been an active. outspok-
en- friend of the veterans from the first,
and never neglects an opportunity to
advance their interests or testify in
their behalf. He has a large veteran
constituency, as the Ohio State Home
is located in his District.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1911-03-09
III, VOLUNTEER OFFICERS RE-
TIREMENT HILL.

The struggle in the Sixty-first Con-
srcss for the passage of the SulIoway
aili is now over. and the bill has failed
a pass the Senate. 1t is in the interests
u truth and justice to say that, con-
rary to all reports, Gems. Nettleton.
Saiomon and others in charge of the
Ulcers retirement bill gave all possible
lelp to secure the success of the Sullo-
ray bill. An attempt has been made to
breed dissension between the advocates
of the Sulloway bill and of the officers
retirement bill. There is absolutely no
basis for this, as the advocates of the
officers retirement bill have worked
Loyalty and faithfully, shoulder to Shout
der with those who are pushing the
Sulloway bill, to secure the success of
that measure. They desired to have the
Sulloway bill passed whether the Off
GERS retirement bill was or not, and
they gave all the assistance possible to
way bill. AS has been repeatedly ex-
planned in The National Tribune, there
is absolutely no collision between the
two measures. One is a pension meas
ure and the other is a military meas
ure. One relates to pensions and the
other to the proper pay. allowance and
recognition to the officers of the Army.
At all times he/advocates of the Off
GERS retirement bill were willing to
forego any legislative advantage that
might inure to the success of the Sui
loway bill. This must be kept in mind
all the time, and it is matter of simple
justice to the comrades whom we have
named who have been doing such good
work for the officers retirement bill.
1t seems clear to any reasonable man
that the officers and men should work
together in these matters precisely as
they did in the army. In union there is
strength, and the Sulloway bill received
effective support from the officers just
as the men in the army did when they
needed their officers advice, assistance
and leadership.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1911-03-09
INCORPORATING THE GRAND
siARMYfOF THE REPUBLIC.

The biILsfp incorporate the G. y. f..
was PROPERLY killed in the House 81
Representatives, when the obnoxious
feature WAS discovered in it that it pro
vided for little clique of self-perpetu-
atins get absolute control II
the oOrdeT. 1t is astonishing that such
tRirg SHOULD have been attempted
and that nit was not discovered when
theIfbill passed the Senate. on the
floor of the House it was said that this
bill had been adopted by the National
Encampment, and therefore it should
pass as the wish of that body. The bill
was never before the National Encamp-
ment framed as it was presented to
Congress. The Journal of the 44th Ma
tional Encampment, on page 29S, says
| that Comrade Rassieur, for the Com
mittee on Incorporation, which had
/ been authorized by the Toledo Encamp-
| ment. presented report and read from
the Journal of the AID National En-
| campment. This report merely recon-
mended the incorporation to take care
of the Permanent Fund, and stated that
| the incorporation was desirable in order
that the Order might receive requests
and contributions and properly protect
| them. The report concluded:
Hence we recommend the incorpora-
ton of our organization; that the appli-
cation be made for the incorporation of
this body by the Congress of the United
States at the earliest practicable OPP
portunity; that such corporation be
named The Grand Army of the Rep,ib-
lic;' that the officers of this body be
empowered to execute all applications
and papers necessary therefor; that a
committee of three be appointed by the
Chief elected at the next
Icncampment to take such steps as may
be necessary to bring about such incor-
poration'
This was signed by Leo Rassieur,
Samuel w. Pennypacker and Alfred 3.
Beers.
No one could have contemplated that
the bill SO authorized would have con-
tanned such Objectionable features as
naming specifically several comrades
and authorizing those named, together
with such persons as they may asso-
ciate with themselves and SUCCESSORS -
to be a law unto themselves, beyond
the control of even the Encampment.
This would put the whole matter ex-
clusively in the hands of those men and
others that they might ask to join with
them. Nor was 1t expected that the
bill would have such an Objectionable
provision as Is contained in section 4,
where this small group was given the
most ample power to prescribe how
they should act and vote BY proxy and
'as to the mode of acquiring and losing
membership in said corporation and as
to the mode of conducting and promot-
ing the affairs and purposes Of the said
corporationr.f This would take this
selfleonstitnted body absolutely out of
the control of the National Encamp-
ment bothfasjto it's membership and to
its methods Of doing business. thing
not TO be tolerated.
We want the Grand Army of the Re-
public incorporated. but we do not want
any such star chamber business as this.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1911-03-09
THE CHATTANOOGA MILITARY
PARK

Gen. Charles H. Grosvenor and Maj.
w. ]. Colburn, members of the Chick
amauga and Chattanooga National Mill
tary Park Commission, were in the city
last week presenting the interests of the
Park to Congress. In the desire for
economy. there has been too rigid prun-
ing of the appropriations for this great
monumental work, and the gentlemen
named have been trying effectively to
have Congress deal more literally with
it. The Park now embraces 5000 acres,
and the cost of it's maintenance is very
considerable. Every patriotic Ameri-
can wishes that it should be preserved
in its present condition and constantly
improved, so as to make it a still more
desirable place to visit and greater
object lesson to American patriotism.
One of the things much desired is the
completion of the road over which
Steadman's Division marched at that
opportune moment on Sunday, Sept. 20,
and decided the issue at the battle by
throwing a heavy reinforcement in to
the aid of the sorely- beset Gen. Thomas
Gen. Grosvenor and Maj. Colburn laid
strong arguments before the committees
and feel that they have succeeded in
obtaining more liberal treatment of the
Park than at first was threatened.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1911-03-09
RECIPROCITY IN CANADA.

While most of the newspapers and
pect of free access to our great markets
for their wheat, cattle, lumber and
other products. yet there is strong dis
sent from influential quarters. The pro-
British Party is afraid that this will OPP
tons with the mother country, make
Canada independent of Great Britain,
and destroy the National spirit of Can
ada. The Toronto Globe. for example,
is more anxious for Canada to build
herself up into a great nation by poll
icy of protection than she is for any
temporary advantage in the way of
markets. The Globe says:
"In time We will get all these things,
and they may be to the advantage of
the country. but the first thing to do is
to lay good and deep and solid the
foundations of our claim to half of the
North American continent and of our
right to be British and to maintain Brit
ish institutions and to look forward to
some kind of an even closer bond be-
tween the various members of the Brit
iSh Empire
The English papers are still more
alarmed lest the reciprocity will lead to
a disintegration of the Empire by draw
ing Canada into close relations with the
United States. Many of the leading
English papers are outspoken in their
denunciation of the arrangement
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1911-03-09

The likelihood increases that the
pension agencies will be reduced by
executive order to six or seven. While
we think this is bad policy and will ccst
much inconvenience to the veterans,
the Administration seems determined
upon 1T. The agencies at San Francis
co, Topeka, Knoxville and Washington
will probably be retained, and the ques-
ton now is what will be done with the
three agencies in New England the
two in New York, two in Pennsylvania
and those in Ohio. Indiana, Michigan
and Iowa. There may be consoIida-
ton of those in the Western States. ex-
cepting Topeka with Chicago, and in
the Atlantic States with New York and
Washington.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1911-03-09
THE ENDORSEMENT OF MONTANA.

Helena, Mont. March 2, 1911
Senate joint memorial No. u, intro
duced by Kesseler:
To the Honorable Senate and House of
i7-' Representatives in the Congress of
the United States Assembled:
Whereas a bill Oh. r. 29346), known
as the Sulloway bill the purpose of
which is the granting OF pensions to
certain men, soldiers and officers, who
served in the war with Mexico and dur
ing the civil war, has passed the House
of Representatives and is now pending
in the Senate: Therefore, be it
Resolved (the House sconcurring),
That we do approve of the provisions
of said bill, and hereby respectfully re-
quest our Senators in Congress to vote
for and use every honorable means to
secure its passage by the Senate of
the United States. And be it further
Resolved, That copies of this resolu-
ton. properly signed, be sent to each
of the Senators from Montana in the
Congress of the United States
The above passed the Senate, and the
House will concur.-John j. Rohr-
baugh, Senior Vice Commander, De-
partment of Montana, G. A. r.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1911-03-09

1t is. one Of the melancholy things of
life that swarm of jobbers and lobby
lists. hungryoo for the peoples money,
shouif defeat the just claims of the vet
eraps and .their widows which are met
by the Snlloway bill 1t is not that
thesesicormofalnts are so ungrateful to
the veterans or SO unappreciative of
their services, but that they are SO
famished for the money which will go
to them. All their talk about needs of
the country is mainly a screen under
which to stalk for the public money
for themselves.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1911-03-09

Too much praise cannot be given
Senators Scott, of West Virginia; Cur
It's, of Kansas; Smith. of Michigan;
Burnham. of New Hampshire, and
Dick, of Ohio, for their firm support OF
the SulIoway bill and their persistent
efforts TO have it taken UP and passed
They were Jealous, insistent and con-
.vincing. They were on duty all the
time. doing good missionary work
among their brother Senators for the
bill, watching every opportunity to
bring it to vote and laboring with
those who were lukewarm and doubt
full. All that Senators could do they
did, and they did it with a sincerity
and whole-heartedness that deserves
the lasting latitude of the veterans.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1911-03-09

The Spanish War Veterans have their
recreants as well as the Grand Army.
A report in the Boston Herald says:
y. Pennington Gardner, who served
in Col. Rooseyelt's regiment In the
Spanish war. testifying before the
Committee on Public Service at the
State House yesterday. quoted his old
commander as saying that the men who
remain at home are deserving of more
credit than those who go to war. be-
cause few go who have anything else
TO do.
The bill under consideration pro-
vides that in civil service examinations
for labor service veterans of the Span
ish war shall have a preference over
all others except women and veterans
of the civil war. AdJt-Gen. Pearson
favored the bill.
"Others who favored the bill were
Judge Edward l.. Logan, of SoieD Bos-
ton; Whitefield Tuck, Henry j. Mccain
non Senator James f. Powers and
Representative William L. v. Newton"
It is a mighty mean man, and I'M
worthy to wear the uniform of sol
der, who would speak as Mr.. Gardner
fid of his comrades.