New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-03-29
TAFT SOLDIERS FRIEND
G. A. r. Leaders Call on Com.
rades to Support Him.

Washington, March ga committee Of
( Civil War veterans composed Of four past
commanders Of the Grand Army Of the Re-
public and one Of the most prominent mem
bcTs of that order who has not held that
office, Colonel John c. McElroy, Of Wash
ingtOn, has Investigated and is satisfied
with President Tafts record toward OLD
soldiers. In a call 10 arms, in which 1t is
POINTED out. that President Taft. is as
! "courageOusly" fighting battles Of peace
for the preservation of the country as the
boys in blue" fought their battles for the
same cause in time Of war these men call
on all veterans of the Ciyil War 10 unite In
their support Of President Taft. The fol
lowing is the text Of their call:
Dear Comrade: We understand that
systematic and wilful perversions OF PTcsl-
dent Tafts true attitude toward us are
being made by those who seek maliciOusly
and falsely 10 misrcpresent him. These
attacks are grossly unjust. President Idit
is and always has been real friend OF
the soldier. II any soldier doubts thls the
following sentiment oppressed in PRESIDENT
Tafts annual message to Congress Decem-
Der g. 1910, should al once dlspel all doubt:
The uniform policy or the government
in the matter of granting pensions to those
gallant and devoted men who fought 10
save the life Of the nation IN the perHous
DAYS of the great civil War has always
been Of the most liberal character those
men are now rapidly passing away. The
best Obtainabe official statistics show tnat
they are dying at the rate Or something
over three thousand q month ana IN we"
Of their advancing years TINS rate must IN
eyitably IN proportion rapidly increase. To
the man who riSked everything on IN" heId
or battle to save the nation in the houI OF
it's direst need we owe GeOt Wnltu mas
not been and should not be computed in a
beerudginE or parsimonl"ls spirit bul
while We should he aCtuat"d bE uiIS SIIlil
10 the soldier himself. care SHOLIu ne cN-
arriscd not to 20 to absurd lengths or as
tributp the bounty Of the government 10
classes OF persons who may Al MS iate
dav from mere merCcnary motive. seen 10
obtain some legal relation with an "lG vel
,rau now lettering on the Drink OF IN"
grave. The true spirit Of the pension laws
is 20 he found in th" nobl" srnuinc.'S 'N-
pressed by Mr. Lincoln in his last lnau-
gliral address wherein. I'm speaking OF III"
nations duty 10 irs soldiers when INC sluS-
gle should D." Owe, j." SAID we A.2u'| ,.Ie
Tor him who shall have |ornc IN" battle,
and for ms widow ana orphans.
Could friendship be better expressed than
I'm INC words of lrcsid mt Taft to the man
y"bo risLcd everything on the field Of BATH"
:, save the nation i'm tho hour of lts dlr"St
need. we owe q debt which mas not uyI "h
and should not be computed IN q p'ElHuE
ing or paTsimouiOus spirit, aud sh"uIu ho'
mic sentiment tOuCh q responsive 'hoTd IN
Inc breast of every one OF olh comrades
President TAFT. now with all tn" Vlg"r ana
force of his great legal mind is contend
iug for that noble form OF RoN"Iumrht IS
taI,Iisbod by our fOTcfath"rS, against mos"
whose pcrniCious doctrines ""uld t'hd 10
T,st,nv II no less CouraEcOuSly than we
r'TS,,hi nm many "A battlefield TO preserve
la i-uiou and constitutional government
We believe that Tn" government OF IN"
people as established by Washington
frranLlin Hamilton aud other wiz" states
100 ebould not perish from the earth,
,hst the trainers Of our Constitution were
not mistaken and that our rcpresentai,iy"
',,et.m Of government was devised as WISE
- 10 hI,nau beings could devise n. and
~ a. Ic maintained In no less degree,
If,,, hy the force Of logic rather than The
'ul u "a arms is President TAFT seeking
Hlpral ~ me principle for which we
Eli =" and. personal interest temporarily
10 i"' ne background. We should rally to IN"
can Of President TAT ana combat O,,r WIN
!li,iIigbod form Of government just as NE
ia dIII,ld 70 The call " Lincoln IN the COS
laIi'u W. Yours faithfully.
U0BERT /. BEfIH,
IDHN & MELRON
RICHARD y POWIHNhH, I
SAM FL BDHDLTTE,
LOUIS WAGNER