The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-11-01
help FRIENDS IS
SOLDIERS APPEAL
Democrats Most Liberal 10 Vet.
srans, Says Sherwood
COX FOR LIBERAL PENSIONS

0uO0tWutOvJav N0muUo0 - U0pUOvts
eaNs, AWtasonlstle to Measurs-ohio
consrssslonal Delegation Kept
pllshtsd Faith.
Congressman Isaac r. Sherwood, .
Civil war veteran, who 10 the author
- the Dollara-Day pension bill, has
addressed . letter 70 Civil war veter.
ans IN Ohio repudfating the claim of
Preeldent Taft and Republicsa lead.
ers that they are responsible for lib
eral pensions permitted under this
measure. Congressman Sherwood a..
eerts that, on the contrary, dominant
leaders of the Republican party were
antagonistic to the bill and that TO the
Democrats belongs the credit for this
treasure. Every one Of Ohio's Demo
cratic congressman voted for this
measure. says Congressman Sher-
wood, and he calls attention to the
TACT that Congressman James M. Cox
OF Dayton. who has done 80 much for
The soldiers in his congressional dis.
trict. made the most eloquent and ef.
fective speech delivered on the floor
Of the house when the Dollar-a-Day bill
~as In debate. General Sherwood's
letter reads:
my Dear Comrade-While my Dol
lar-a-Day pension bill did not become
law, AZ It passed the house Of repre-
sentatives. 1t 10 still very satisfac-
tory measure. Since its passage
have received thousands Of letters
from comrades Of the Civil war. ask
ing me TO state the attitude Of certain
named members of congress during
my four years. struggle to pass the
original bill.
Rspublleans Opposed Bill.
During the entire time, since De.
cember. 1907. when I first introduced
che Dollara.Day bill I have in every
one of the six formal speeches made
en- the floor Of the house advocated
the passage Of the bill a. . measure
of patriotic justice. have always
urged It's passage on strictly non.po-
ntical lines. Notwithstanding this,
the dominant leaders Of the Republi.
can party, when the bill was in debate
In the house of representatives, en-.
deavored to kill the bill by offering
extravagant and unreasonable amend
ments.
1.-THE debate on the bill continued
four days, and something over eighty
amendments were offered. Two years
ago q number Of leading Democrats
inserted plank In the Democratic
state platform Of Ohio in favor Of my
\Dollara-Day pension bill. This plank
vas unanimously adopted by the Dem
ccratic state convention. The Repub-
hcan state platform Of Ohio. the same
year adopted q plank declaring my
Dollar-a-Day pension bill was dema-
gogery. In view Of this attitude Of
the two parties, wrote letters TO my
comrades Of several congregational dis
tricts OF Ohio. advising them to vote
for the Democratic nominees for con-
4. sress. The result was that sixteen
(16) Democrats were elected from
Ohio. and every one made good In
congress by voting for my Dollar-a'
1Dy bill.
Democrats KEPT Faith.
Hence with this patriotic record.
sm impelled by the highest motives
Of patriotism to ask you to stand by
the men who have kept their plighted
fsith. and have stood faithfully by
ycu.
Let me call your attention to the
fact (and you are referred to the rec
crds of congress to verify the fact) .
that the most liberal pension laws
now on the statute books, were pass.
Cd when the Democratic party was in
control Of the house Of representa-.
t;vss. Ny Dollar-a-Day pension bill,
which passed the house Of represents
tives on the 18th day Of December.
1911, is the raost liberal pension bill
That ever passed congress since the
great Civil war, estimated TO cost
$4,000. 900. And do not forget that
this bill was defeated by Republican
senate.
"Finaliy, after four months strug'
y Gle between the conferees OF the
Rouse and senate, bill was passed
costing about $22,0O0.O00 per year, the
very best the Republican senators
would allow. and 1t is a very general
belief that had It not been that the
election Of president was involved
this year. the senate would not have
agreed to any bill whatever. You
know all the leading newspapers oi
the Republican faith In New York
Philadelphia, Washington, Cleveland
and Chicago we're openly and continu
susly opposing the Dollar-a-Day bill
Liberal Pensions Given.
Let me further call your attention
n the fact that the most liberal pen
sion bill that ever before passed con
grcss was fathered and championet
10y that gallant Ohio soldier. Congress-
nan General A. v. Rice. l refer K
the Arrears of Pension bill, passet
ty a Democratic house Of Representa-
t.yes In 1879. which put over $4,000,
600 into the needy pockets OF the vet