The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1914-05-29
GEN. B. v. PARTRIDGE
FORMER COMMANDER
CONFEDERATE VETS.
Commends Mr.. Russell for
his Jackson Junius Pen
sion Vote.

1t will be remembered that at the
Silver Lake political meeting last
week, John P. Wall made an attack on
his opponent, Mr. Russell, for his vote
in the Rouse to give pension to one
Jackson Junius, and that he stated
that "a man who would do that is MT
II 10 lepresent you in the Senate"
1t will also be remembered that at
the San Mateo picnic and political
meeting the following day that it was
shown from the record that Messrs.
Russell and Middleton were not alone
in voting for this bill, but THAT MR..
WALL ALSO VOTED FOR 1T. The
record was produced to prove it.
The laugh was on Mr.. Wall; he was
evidently not familiar with what he
did do in the legislature; he was los
ing his memory.
In his address at San Mateo, Mr..
Russell turning to Mr.. Wall, told him
that "he need not be ashamed of his
vote to give a pension to a negro who
J for four long years of bloody conflict
had fought in defense of your home
and the homes of the people of Flor
ida and the Southland" Mr.. Russell
also explained to the assembled peo-
pie the reason this pension was asked
and the character of the proposed
beneficiary. And he also cited Gen.
B. w. Partridge, the then commander
in-chief of the United Confederate
Veterans of Florida, as the man who
made the appeal for this pension.
In this connection the Palatka
News desires to submit the following
letter from Gen. Partridge received
yesterday, on the subject:
/ Hon. W. A. Russell,
Palatka, Florida.
My Dear Mr.. RUSSELL enclose
you herein a copy of a letter that
speaks for itself 1t is communica-
ton of most worthy citizen of my
(Jefferson) county. 1t does not sug-
gest special pension act upon the
part of the State to Jackson Junius
but | am on record as favorlng 1t
when | review the character of this
most worthy citizen. A general pen
sion act for men who as slaves were
loyal and as freedmen have been true
and as Christian citizens have livec
lives above reproach-"sober anc
righteous would not find a half.
score of benefciaries living in oul
State.
Now let these "Watch Dogs Of the
Treasury" who, unlike Jackson Ju
MUS, have turned deaf ears to every
appeal for aid to erect a memorial tt
the Women of the Southern Confed
eracy, consider the truth of this las
statement and cease to howl. These
fellows who rush into the limeligh'
and cry wolf to cover up their owl
shortcomings.
A petition was circulated and sign
ed by most of the best people of oul
town in 1911 asking for State pen
sion for Jackson Junius and it was
acted upon favorably in the House
but turned down in the Senate.
Let me again commend you for YOU
record upon this particular matter
and congratulate you upon your grea
and good company who acted with yol
in the House. 1t was only in keeping
with YOUR record as | have known i
personally for nearly 30 years. /
was you-W. A. Russell-who struct
the badge of pauperism from the per
son of the Confederate veteran in thu
Legislature of 1907 and made the pen
sion roll roll of honor.
1t was you who said to the write1
in 1913 in reply to my query: VIVA
are you going to do under your anti
lobby rule with my committee who are
here to lobby for an appropriation
for a monument to the Women of tn
Southern Confederacy?" Your repl!
was: "There is no law against Con
federate Veterans in this end of tht
Capitol; just go ahead, you have tn
right of way"
The last act of the Florida Division
United Confederate Veterans in thel
convention at Pensacola October, 1913
when I retired from the position O
Commander, was to pass a resolution
making me honorary Division Com
mander for life. AS representative
of the Division l take this occasion o
thanking you for repeated courtesle
extended us through your paper AM
in YOUR position as Legislators; 10
YOUR invariable loyalty to those thing
that concerned us most.
ours COIul1lly, -,
BENZ. w. PARTRIDGE.
Monticello, Fla, May 27, 1914.
. Enclosed in this letter was the ap
, neal to the legislature in behalf c
"this old time slave of the old tim
T. South" and written from the head
quarters Of Florida Division, U. {. '
= and signed by the Major Genera
Commanding. There is also a pc.
. ti2r signed by the late Senator. la
f, Broome and seventy-eight Of m
most influential citizens of Monticello
many of whom are veterans. Senate
Rroome was a citizen of Gadsde
, county but knew the circumstance
we'll