The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1916-06-27

Ohio district will honor itself more
than it will my colleague by sending
him back to Congress as long as he
lives, and may that be full century.
Gen. Sherwood is the only Democratic
Union soldier in Congress, and it is
not likely there will ever be another.
Gen. Hollingsworth, also of my State,
is the only civil war soldier from the
North on the Republican side, and
likely is the last civil war veteran
from that side who will ever have
seat here. Three splendid gentlemen,
the courtly Maj. Stedman, of North
Carolina Col. Fred Talbot, of Mary
land, who has never voted against a
pension bill during his over 20 years
of service here, and the gentleman
from Louisiana, Mr.. Estopinal, are the
only Confederate soldiers in the
House. Very soon, indeed, will the
last participant in that great conflict
| disappear. 1t has been one of the
most pleasant experiences of my SER
vice here to note the good fellowship
which exists between those who wore
the Blue and those who wore the Gray,
There is now no bitterness or section
al feeling here. Time and men like
Gen. Sherwood have obliterated forev-
er that old time hatred, and we are
truly one indissoluable union, with
eyes and thoughts to the future, for
getful of the past, and striving only
for the general good of our great ma
tion and the welfare of the 100000, 900
of people.
The old soldiers will lose their best
friend when Gen. Sherwood retires
from Congress, and he should consent
to continue to serve the country he
has honored so highly on the field of
battle and in public and private life as
long as his strength and vigor will per-
nit. The Sherwood Bill has endeared
his name to his old comrades and they
will speak his name gently, reverently
and gratefully with their last breadth.
Gen. Sherwood has passed the four
! score, and yet he stands today as
erect as he did when he rode at the
head of his command more than so
years ago, his eye has the twinkle of
youth and his heart still bubbles with
good cheer and love for his felIowman.
There is not stain on his long and
honorable career and he has worthily
won the plaudits of his countrymen.
He has made his impress upon our
hearts and his good deeds and mem
ory will long endure.
But now, as to the Widows Pen
sion Bill. The first section refers to
those we commonly call War Widows.
: BY that mean the widows who were
married to the soldier before or dur.
! ing his service in the civil war. To all
such 1t increases their pension from
$l2 to $50 per month, regardless OF
age. Who will dispute the business
of their claim to this increase? Special
Acts are granted now without ques
tion to these war widows as rapidly
as they can be reached and this simply
places all on an equal footing, as they
should be.
Section l also gives all widows oil
civil war soldiers. who are now, OF
who may hereafter be placed on the
pension roll, $50 per month when they
reach the age of 20 years. Not more
than one woman in hundred, after
she reaches three score and TO- the
allotted age of mankind, is able to
earn her own support. 800 per month
is less. by far, than $12 per month
when she was in the prime OF life and
able to make livelihood. am not
prepared to state just what per cent
live to the age of 40, but it is very
small per cent. Mortality tables,
believe, also show that men live to a
greater age than women, Very few
soldiers leave any estate to their wi
dows. l am confident not more than
| ~ per tthl VI tue SOlultIb own luell
own homes, and less than 10 per cent
of their widows have sufficient income
to enable them to live comfortably. II
a soldiers widow is entitled to S12
per month when she is 40 and so and
60 years old, she is as rightfully en-.
titled to 500 per month should she
reach the age of TO- The same reason
exists for this increase as warrants
the giving of any pension to a sol
dier's widow and to an increase to sol
diers by reason of age. This is simply
an opportunity for Congress to show
its gratitude to the faithful and il
the main, feeble old women who nurs
ed and cared for the old veterans
with a woman's tenderness and devo
tion during his declining days. If tn,
soldier who offered his life as a sacri
flee for his country was your father
and the widow who cared for and com
forted him until the brittle thread o
fire was snapped asunder was you