Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-01-17
THE SOLDIERS JUST CLAIM.

There is but little legislation de-
manGing the attention OF the United
States senate that isF causing more
discussion in the newspaper world or
is of more vital interest to so large a
number Of worthy people as the Sher-
wood pension bill. Editorials in some
Of Iowa's influential papers have at
tracted our attention. One OF them
says: pass the pension bill. The
great country can AFFORD to pay FOR
supporting the men who saved the ma
ton. The three-year men,.who re-en-,
listed in 's3 and "a ought to have $50
per month" These words have an In
spring ring to the men who marched
and fought, and sacrificed health and
opportunity and limb for the nations
salvation. They feel as tho patriotic
fires still burn and patriotic hearts still
throh.
Another paper starts out by saying
that the bill is severely attacked. and
the president will vetoSit if it should
pass. 1t provides for very great ex-
penditures. nearly s50,000,000 a year;
then follow such expressions as these:
1T runs into a lot of money. The
need of the veteran is one major point
of first consideration. 1t is plain duty
to keep these old men from pripation
in their old age. It is not a. question
Of desert but OF need. The first consid-
ton is need" The closing lines OF
that article are: Pension legislation
| is always the object Of severe criticism.
1t is paying for Il dead horse"
This writer never saw stick with
out two ends nor question; without
two sides. Permit US to. lcok for mo-
! ment at the other side of this great
| question. BY passing the Sherwood bill
the nation will in some measure ex-
press it's sense OF Justice TO the men
who saved it from disintesration and
death. Justice to the men who buried
the rebellion on the fields Of Peters
burg and Mobile. has been long time
on the road and has moved with the
pace of snail. Justice. even handed
justice. is what the veteran wants and
not charity. His demand is founded
upon his rights and not his needs. This
nation ought, in all Justice. to pay it,
honest debts. whether the creditor 81
a millionaire or pauper, whether the
horse be dead or alive. ar
In 1851 the life Of this nation was
jeopardized to an extent which nearl!
eclipsed all hope Of deliyerance. There
was but one element known to God o.
!. man which would appease the greco
Of the destroyer, that was neither 81
yer nor gold, house nor lands, bu
blood, rich, red, human blood, tn
hearts best blood. For without tn
: shedding Of blood there is no remis
i sion.''
s, To furnish the required offering mel
! were needed who would volunteer Z
, place themselves on the sacrihcial al
, tar ready to do, dare or die for thei
country. There was no other agenc
t by which the nation could be saved
> In this extreme emergency the govern
, ment solicited enlistments. It was
, ground hog case. They must hav
, men or the nation must be destroyed
r This proposition was made to. secur
!, enlistments for, three years, or dufin
e the war: 313 per month wages, q sol
{ dier's ratiops. 3A2 per annum for cloth
t ing and 800 bounty for three year
r enlistment. Under this propositio
g 5000 men enlisted in 1861. TT
C parties to this contract were the gov
II eminent and the enlisted man. We
o the contract kept? History testlfies
II the faithfulness with which the er
e listed men kept their part Of It. Is
doubted? Go ask the 76,240 who e.
ipired on field Of carnage and went thu
battle smoke to God. Did you do yo'
duty?' Go ask the 1s7,470 victims
a disease and wounds who died in q
l. hospitals thru the land. did you
l. your duty? Go ask the more than 81
st 600 who died from starvation end a.
i. ease in rebel prisons, did You keep yo
as part or the conit g :s:s 80 3.
y 1ment? :, Ask the more than e0e.O
is others whose sufferfngs were multiply
lst and their lives shortened, did yuu 'ke'