The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1912-11-01

| raj pensions pefmllleu uhuSA 'hiN
measure. Congressman Sherwood as
orts that, on the contrary, dominant
eaders of the Republican party were
'ntagonistic to the bill and that 10
Democrats belong the credit for THIS
measure. Everyone of Ohios Demo
ratio congressman voted for TINS
Measure, says Congressman Sher'
,.ood. and he calls attention to the
'act that Congressman James M. cox
Of Dayton, who has done so much TOT
he soldiers in his congressional dis
trict. made the most eloquent and et'
'ective speech delivered on the moor
# the house, when the dollar-a-day
III was in debate, General Sher-
vood's letter reads:
My Dear Comrade;
"While my dollar-a-day pension Dill
aid not become a law, as it passed
the house of representatives, it is still
. very satisfactory measure. Since
rs massage | have received thousands
cf letters from comrades of the civil
war. asking me to state the attitude
If certain named members of con-
cress during my four years struggle
to pass the original bill.
Republicans Opposed Bill.
During the entire time, since De-
cember, 1907 when I first introduced
the dollar-a-day bill, I have in every
one of the six formal speeches made
on the floor of the house advocated
the massage of the bill as a measure
of patriotic Justice. I have always
urged its passage on strictly non-po-
liti-al lines. Notwithstanding this,
the dominant leaders of the Republi-
can party, when the bill was in de-
hate in the house of representatives,
endeavored to kill the bill by offering
eytravagant and unreasonable amend
ments.
"The debate on the bill continued
four days, and something over so
amendments were offered. Two years
ago a number of leading Democrats
inserted a plank in the Democratic
state platfGSm of Ohio in favor of my
dollar-a-day pension bill. This plank
was unanimously adopted by the
Democratic state convention. The
Republican state platform of Ohio,
the same year, adopted plank de-
claring my dollara-day pension bill
was demagogery. In view of this at
titude of the two parties, I wrote let
ters to my comrades of several con-
gressional districts of Ohio, advising
them to vote for the Democratic
nominees for congress. The result
was that sixteen (16) Democrats
were elected from Ohio, and every
one made good in congress by voting
for my dollar-a-day bill,
\ Democrats Kept Faithful.
Hence, with this patriotic record,
I am impelled by the highest motives
of patriotism to ask you to stand by
the men who kept their plighted
faith, and have stood faithfully by
you.
LET me call your attention to the
fact land you are referred to the rec
ords Of congress to verify the fact)
that the most liberal pension laws on
the statute books, were passed when
the Democratic party was in control
of the house Of representatives. My
dollar-a-day pension bill, which |
passed the house of representatives
on the 18th day Of December, 1911, is
the most liberal pension bill that ever |
passed congress since the great civil /
war, estimated to cost $45,000000. |
And do not forget that this bill was
defeated by Republican senate.
FINALLY, after four months strug-
house and senate, a bill was finally /
passed costing about $22,000,000 per
year, the very best the Republican
would allow, and it is very
general belief that had it not been
hat the election of president was in
yolved this year the senate would not
nave agreed to any bill Whatever.
You know all the leading newspapers
If the Republican faith in New York,
Washington, Cleveland
Ind Chicago were openly and continu-
,usly opposing the dollar-a-day bill.
Liberal Pensions Given.
"Let me further call your attention
o the fact that the most liberal pen
lion bill that ever before passed con-
;ress was fathered and championed
~ that gallant Ohio soldier, Con-
,ressman General A. " Rice. refer
o the Arrears of Pension BILL
,assed by a Democratic house of rep
in 1879, which put over
40, 100000 into the needy pockets of
he veterans of our war.
again, in 1876, a Democratic house
'assed that just and generous meas {
ire known as the Equalization of
soldiers Bounties' bill This bill was {
killed by a Republican I
enare. Again, in the first session Of I
he present congress, the Democratic
ouse passed. in addition to the dol
lr-a-day bill, more private pension I
ills for worthy, disabled and needy I
eterans than in any one session of {
ny preceding congress since this
epublic was formed And do not for '
ct that the most eloquent and effec- y
We speech made on the floor of the .
ouse when my dollar-a-day bill was [
! debate, was made by the Hon.
ames M. Cox, now the Democratic u
lndidate for governor of Ohio. And a
0 not forget that we shall need all ?
le friends we now have, and more, =
| the next congress. !.
"Very sincerely yours,
"Isaac r. Sherwood