The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-04-16
TAFT AND OLD soLplERs.
Presidents Attitude Set Forth in An
Open Letter to Veterans Of Civil
War From Committee Of
Veterans.

We understand that systematic and
willfuI peryersions of President Taft's
true attitude toward us are being
made by those who seek maliciously
and falsely TO misrepresent him.
These attacks are grossly unjust
President Taft is. and always has
been. real friend Of the soldier. II
any soldier doubts this, the following
sentiment expressed in Presidents
Taft's annual message TO Congress
December s, 1910. should at once dis
pei all doubt:
The uniform policy of the govern
ment in the matter OF granting
pensions to those gallant and devoted
men who fought 10 save the life of
the Nation in the perilous days Of
the great Civil war has always been
OF the most liberal character. These
men are now rapidly passing away
The best obtainable official statistics
show that they are dying at the rate
OF something over 1000 month. and.
in view of their advancing years, this
rate must inevitably. in proportion,
rapidly increase To the man who
risked everything on the field of
battle to save the nation in the hour
OF its direst need. Ne o.e a debt
which has not been and should not
be computed in a begrudging or
parsimonious spirit. But while We
should be actuated by this spiri; 10
the soldier himself. tare should be
exercised not TO go to absurd lengths.
or distribute the bounty of the govern
ment 10 classes OF persons who may.
at this late day. from a mere mercen-
airy motive. seek 10 obtain some legal
relation with an old veteran now tot
tering on the brink of the grave. The
true spirit of the pension law is to
be found in the noble sentiments
expressed by Mr. Lincoln in his last
inaugural address, wherein. in speak
Z ing OF the nations duty TO its
soldiers when the struggle should be
over. he said we should care for him
who shall have borne the battle, and
for his widow and orphans. Con
sressionaI Record. Srd session, e1st
Il congress, p. IS.
Could friendship be better express
ed than in the words of President
Taft TO the man who risked every
thing On the field of battle to save
the nation in the hour OF its direst
need, We owe q debt which has not
been and should not be computed in
a begrudging or parsimpnious spirit
and should not this sentiment touch
a responsive chord in the breast Of
every one OF our comrades?
President Taft now, with all this
4 yigor and force OF his great lega
mind. is contending for that noble
form OF government established b,
our forefathers, against those Whose
pernicious. doctrines would tend t,
destroy it. no less courageously thar
we fought on many battlefield II
preserve the union and constitutions
government We believed that tn,
government of the people as establish
; ed by Washington. Franklin. Hamil
ton and other wise statesmen shoul'
not perish from the earth. that tn
trainers OF our Constitution were no
mistaken, and that our repre- SENTATIVE
system OF government was devised a
, wisely as human beings could devils
it, and should be maintained. Il
: no less degree. but by the force Q
logic rather than the appeal TO arms
/ is President Taft seeking TO maintai
/ the principle for which ne Tough
: and personal interest temporarily i
D the background. We should rally t
D the call of President Taft and comba
with him those who seek to overthrol
/ our established form of sovernmer
just as We rallied to the call G
K Lincoln in the sixties.
e Yours faithfully.
r ROBERT L. BEATH,
e JOHN C. MELROY.
i SAMUEL S. BURDETTE.
). RICHARD n. BoWERMAN,
LOUIS WAGNER.
O