Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1916-07-27
The Widows' Pension Bill
Continued from first page

NSOublluCO NUN HAoh RS6S/
or excessIve2 | think not.
The bill further restores to pen
sionable status those widows whose
names were dropped from the pen
sion rolls on account of re-marriagt
and whose subsequent husbands have
since died. 1t also restores those
who were compelled to seek divorce
where fault did not attach to them
selves. Can reasonable objection
be raised to these provisions9 l am
sure | voice the sentiment of this
House when l say they are proper
and worthy,
And then the bill makes eligible
to pension any widow who married
her soldier husband prior to June
81, 1905, instead of June 81, 1890.
In other words, the widows who
have cared for the soldiers in their
old age, whether first, second, or
third wives, who have done the ten
der duty of nursing at the time the
old soldiers needed II most, are to
be given recognition by the Gov
eminent and reward for their faith
full service. Surely no man familiar
with the circumstances and condi-
tons which have surrounded Civil
War veterans of recent years can OBJ.
ject to this feature of the bill. The
only fault with it is that i! does not
60 far enough. II | could have my
way L would give to every old sold.
Ter in the land minimum of $50
per month and to every widow of
an old soldier. without reference to
the date of her marriage, a pension
of Sac per month.
Mr.. Speaker, there used to be
notion broadcast in the country that
the Democratic Party was antago-
nistic to pensions l regret to say
even during the past year l have
known of literature sent out at the
instance of men prominent In the
Republican party in which appear
ed the false charge that the present
Democratic administration is un-
willing to do anything for the old
soldier, that it is impossible for him
to get justice at Washington under
present conditions, that he can hope
to come into his own only if the Re.
publican party is returned to power.
What false and absurd statement!
How unworthy of men who aspire
to leadership in any organization!
Is it possible that the old soldiers
will fall for such Misrepresentation
Why, Mr.. Speaker, it was Demo
critic House that ennorsed and pass
ed in the Sixty second Congress the
famous Sherwood bill, granting for
the first time pension to every old
soldier who served for 90 days, and
for the first time giving the sum of
$50 per month to every old soldier
who served as much as two years
upon the attainment of IS years of
age Our Republican friends had
promised SUI legislation for years,
but they failed to pass it and it re-
NAMED for a Democratic Congress
to do justice to the old soldier.
Now let Us supplement that
achievement by doing justice to the
soldiers widows. Let Congress
overwhelmingly Democratic in both
branches pass the pending bill by
unanimous vote and a Democratic
President have the hor.or of signing
it; for. my friends, this bill is but
mere justice.
I1gepresenk a state which was set
It'd }ahRStyby old soldiers. The
homestead lands of Kansas were
open for entry at the close of tn,
Civil War aud many of the men who
wore the blue went there to max,
their homes. They gave to Kansal
its bone and sinew, its courage anC
progressiveness, its honesty and it
fighting spirit. The women whC
shared with their husbands the pri
vations and the perils of frontie
life did their part as nobly as tn
men. Surely they, too, deserv
the gratitude and help of their Gov
eminent.
1T .