Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1921-02-18
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY Is. 1921
VIRGlNIA'S PENSIONERS.

There has come from the office
of the Auditor of Public Ac-l
counts little pamphlet bearing
the title, 1920 Roster of Confed-
crate Pensioners in Virginia."
Its contents are OF a routine ma
ture, being a list of pensioners of
the War between the States,
recapitulation and brief explana-
ton of how pensions are classi-
fed and to whom they are paid. |
In its modest cover of Confed-
crate gray it makes an unpreten-l
tious little volume, but there isl
that in it which, if read under
standingly and sympattetically, |
should stir Virginia to its inner
most soul. What is Virginia do
ing for the men who fought its
battles in the sixties ? How is it
caring for their widows -? Is it'll
doing its full measure of duty
toward the men and women who
sacrificed home, fortune, health,
everything, to follow Lee ? Such
are the questions raised by the
roster" and to all, we fear with
shame, the answer must bel
No"
Last year Virginia paid out toI
its Confederate veterans and theirI
widows $3.50, $3.50 for funeral
expenses of those who died it'll
paid S19,O25, a total Of $3.50, 277.-I
so. That may seem a fairly
generous SUN, but let us see how
it was apportioned. A veteran
totally blind received $500 one
who lost one or both limbs, $780,;
one totally disabled from disease
or old age, 500 ; one partially
disabled, SIS widows Of vet
Grams, 500, and matrons who
served in hospitals, 500.
These figures are not new to
the public. They are printed
here in the hope that Virginians
who read them again will pause
a moment and beautifully con-
slider just what they mean
Thiuk of it The highest pen
sion paid is 5000 year, less than
SIT month, and that for total
blindness. All others receive
from S. to S6.25 month. That
is what Virginla-proud Vir-
ginia-is doing for its soldiers
and their widows. It is giving
them pittance each year that is
not sufficient to supply the aver
age citizens automobile with
gasoline. That is the reward
they are receiving. more than
half century later, for their
service to their State and the
South. Think it over, Vir-
ginians!
Virginia is no longer a poor
State. 1t has ample resources
for all legitimate needs. We are
Sending millions of dollars on
our roads this year we propose
to spend $40, OOO, 900 in the next
SIX years. The Times-Dispatch
IS an earnest advocate Of that
and all other progressive move
ments, but if we can spend tens
of millions in our march toward
progress, for our farmers and curl
Automobiles. surely we can af-
ford to do a more decent part
than a pitiful S. a month for our
soldiers who are rapidly passing
away. And we can afford more
than SIS for the funeral of each |
veteran when he shall have an
swered the last trumpet call.
The Times-Dispatch has urged
the Federal government to do
the just thing and divide its pen
sion fund with the South, which
contributes so largely to it. Butt
the North withholds its hand i
doubtless it will continue to with
hold it. But, without FEDERAL
aid, Virginia in its prosperity
can afford to contribute enough
to maintain the remnants of Lees
army in comfort and to provided
for them creature comforts dur
ing the years that remain toI
them. We shall urge upon thel
General Assembly more genera
Gus policy toward the men in
gray, and the whole State, we
believe, will join in the appeal
Times-Dispatch. |,