The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1914-01-27
GOVERNORS POSITION
ON PENSION MATTERS
DISCUSSES CONFEDERATE HOME
IN COLUMBIA.
Urges Sufficient Pensions But Wants
Aid Given to Those Entitled
to it.
Special to The Herald and News.


Columbia, Jan. 26.-In special
message to the general assembly,
Governor Blease sets forth his position
on the question CT pensions, and dis
cusses at some length the Confed-
crate home ,in Columbia. The mes
sage followed q conference between
Governor Blease and a committee of
Veterans appointed at the reunion in
Aiken to confer with the governor.
The message follows:
Message No. y.
Gentlemen of tae General Assembly:
| tried to make three messages
cover everything | had to say to you
during this session. Other matters
have come before me, however, which
have had TO transmit to you, which
probably could not be considered mes
sages, but only letters of transmittal.
Matters have taken place which were
not expected, and / have had to bur
den you with more messages than l
had intended. Now comes this one,
at the request and as the result of a
conference with a committee appointed
by the Confederate Veterans of this
State.
l want to put myself On record, so
there can be no mistake. First, and
above all, let me say 1 think that the
State of South Carolina should see
that no Confederate Veteran suffers
for the necessities of life. They most
assuredly should not be treated as
paupers. If you want to treat them
as paupers, let them go to the homes
for the poor, and let them be treated.
as paupers, which would be a dis
grace upon every citizen of South Car
olina. But l want to call your atten-
ton to the fact that there are on your
pension rolls the names of men, who
are getting money who are not en-
titled to it, and there are names
which are not on these rolls which
should be there Now, understand me
distinctly; l am in favor of giving
every man who fought in the Con-
federate Army a sufficient amount of
money to buy the necessities of life
that is, plenty of good food, plenty
of good clothes to keep his body warm
and comfortable, and to buy medicines,
etc., when necessary. The State of
South Carolina should do this, if it
takes an extra tax to do it, rather
than to see one of these old men suffer
for the necessities of life.
I think this makes my record clear,
so that it cannot be misconstrued.
l am fully satisfied that the es-
tablishment of the home for the old
soldiers. was a matter of sentiment
more than of good business judgment,
and that the general assembly at that
time probably took this action more
as a compliment to one of its mem
bers and as a matter of sentiment,
than for the real good they thought
it would do the Confederate Veterans.
think the Confederate home has been
managed, as we'll as it could be
managed. and, in view of the dirty
fight that has been made against its
by some people merely
for political prejudice and spite, ]
think that the institution has been ably
managed, and the inmates we'll cared
for and particularly we'll protected.
There is in charge of it Major H. W.
Richardson, who>has held positions of
honor and trust in his State, VINO was
himself gallant Confederate soldier,
and who, as everybody who knows
him we'll knows, is honest in his pri-
vate dealings, as he is in his public
dealings. On the board with him is
Col. D. A. Dickert, an honest man
and one of the most gallant and dar-
ing Confederate soldiers that the South
produced Then there is Hon. James
T. Crews, a worthy son of "the noblest
Roman CT them ALL Thomas Bissell
Crews, one of Gods noblemen; Hon.
I. Med. Hood, for many years Auditor
OF Chester county; the Hon. H. c.
Paulling, who has represented his
county of Calhoun for severa' terms
il the general assembly; aud its chair
the Hon. James G. Long, who served
the, county of Union for many terms
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