Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-02-23
Kenyon O., Pensions
From Congressional Record of Feb. u, 1921

I none is needed Many more millions -
for the maintenance Of navy yards 80
absolutely chaste that their waters have
never yet embraced the form OF sea.
going battleship: dry docks that are .
constant challenge to the word of God
because they are so dry that the only
possible chance for them to ever be
used for docking ships is confined to
the remote prospect that we will see q
repetition Of the flood described in the
Scripture. So glazing is the abuse In
this direction that the secretary Of the
navy, in his last annual report. is con-
strained to remind us that navy yards
exist for the fleet and that the fleet -
not for the support Of the yards" Then
there are the free barber shop and tho
free bath. They might. possibly, be
abolished, altho l realize that am
treading on sacred and dangerous
ground in making this Revolutionary
recommendation.
A republican senator. q few months
ago. said one thing that is absolutely
true when he said that this govern
ment can be conducted for 100000, 000
less per year than ii is now. When he
said this he spoke an absolute truism.
Every man here knows it to be COR
rect. One-seventh Of this sum would
carry the pensions provided by tho
Sherwood bill
have no patience with the assertion
that pension legislation is charity Leg
islation. There was an implied cons
tract with this government when these
men marched away, and that contract
was that when they needed help from
the government they should have It.
They did not go to war for the $13 per
month in deprecated currency-worth.
in gold, but 80. They did not place
blood against gold. They would have
gone had there been no compensation.
Life was precious to these men. They
could look ahead thru the open door OF
opportunity and see future where
possibly they as we'll as those who
stayed at home might surround them
selves and their families with the lux
uries and splendors Of life But they
closed the door of opportunity just at
a time when the tenderest and most
sacred associations Of life were FORM
ing They gave up ambition gladly to
serve their country. They were not
victims OF greed for territory. and In
those red wears of our national calen-
dar thew never thought Of reward. They
never thought Of themselves; they
thought only of their country. Ana
now their country ought to be thinking
of them. Pension legislation, 1t seems
to me. should be based somewhat upon
the advantages which accrued to tho
nation and the ability of the nation 10
compensate therefor.
We are living today in busy. rusn'
ing. commercial age. in which we seem
~ have hut little time for the sentt-
ments If life, but in all Of our prosper
~ ord nrogress let us not forget the
,,,ar,, ~ these men. Let us not forget
their need in these later years. The
greatest crime Of a republic Is to for-
get its defenders in their hour Of need.
T, has been said-and l think possibly
nm thi. fioor--tl1at patriotism Is Its own
reward. and some people. who are sur
rounded by all the luxuries of life, seem
RI think that is the only reward neces-
sarv Patriotism does not buy preao
and clothes or pay the rent. Hs IN
eniration is, OF course. in itself 2 ereas
.arard and around the fresides ofstne
future the story of that struggle Will
,rci,e 10 deeds Of valor our children ana
our children's children.
Canary Birds in Mine Rescue WORK.
That canary birds are destined TO
NAV an important part in mine-rescue
work was proven for the first time TO
the United states government in its
rascne work recently at the Cross
Mountain mine explosion at Briceviile.
Tenn. in which eighty-nine miners
were killed.
Government rescue men equipped
with the new oxygen making machines
strapped to their backs. and protected
with hoses leading into their mouths.
entered the mine depths with several
dozen canary birds in cages. and a
squad of unnasked volunteer rescuers.
The birds were watched closely as the
party moved further into the tunnels
of the mine.
AS long as the birds remained cheer
full and hoped about in their cases 1t
was known that all was we'll with the
surrounding atmosphere, but suddenly
when the birds began to droop and
gasp for breath it was realized that the
traces of the deadly "afterdamp" were
present and the unmasked volunteer
rescuers with no oxygen equipment
had reached the place for them to stop.
for no one out tne men Will Tie UAy
gen machines could penetrate into the
death-dealing atmosphere beyond
Popular Mechanics.
Horse Heaven.
The late Admiral Evans was noted
for his quick bluff wit. An official OF
the navy department said the other day
in Washington:
THE admiral was once taken thru
the Vanderbilt stables in New York.
The stable manager showed him wallis
and floors OF pale. translucent thing.
marble drinking troughs. managers Of
Circassion walnut, solid silver fittings,
and so forth
".Do you find anything lacking adj
miral?'' said the manager proudly at
the end.
Nothing the admiral replied.
nothing except a leather-u Upholstered
sofa for each horse.