The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-05-28
Liberal. Viewpoint
by DIR. HARRY ELMER BARNES

TINE imitation danger which existed in the
L bonus Dill has been clearly portrayed. An
other and perhaps the major danger, was potn
political and economic.
If the bonus had been obtained, this may en-
courage the veterans to organize and go OUT
after bigger and jucer plumS in the future. II
NAV have stimulated the veterans to go into
notifies which they did with such disastrous re-
suits after the Civil War. The American Legion
may duplicate the featS of the Grand Army OF
the Republic during the half-century after the
close of the Civil War.
This latter story is we'll told by Knowlton
Durham in his book Billions for Veterans"
About AGA 600 Union soldiers were killed in ac-
ton in the Civil War and about 277,0OO wounded
Not half of those killed left dependents and not
more than half of those wounded had disabilities
which reduced their earning power. Mr.. Durham
estimates that the number of Union soldiers le-
ultimately eligible for pension was somewhere
between 100000 and 100000. Indeed, ne considers
the latter figure fairly liberal.
How thoroughly the pension opportunities
were exploited is evident by the fact that in 1893
there were no less tina 745 900 veterans on the
pension list. To these were added a growing
number of pension widows. Whereas the peak
of pensioned veterans was reached in 1893, that
of penSioned widows not attained until 1872
when it reached 100000.
THE annual expenditures for Civil War pen
i sions showed an increase which is revealed
by the following table:
1866 NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 100000
1872 Observation-Disclosures. oOOOO'OOO
1880 NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. ooUOO,UOO
1914 174O00000
The total cost of Civil War pensions through
the year 1890 was $7,37OOO0,0OO
"As the ranks Of the veterans thinned the
pension statesmen in Congress were panied at
the prospect of a dwindling field for their en-
u-aro tho mansion doctors and law
yers and the newspaper The National Tribune
in Washington, D. c.. which made practice OF
stirring old soldiers to demand more and bigger
emolumentS"
The part played in these gigantic pension
grabs by the Grand Army vi the Republic after
it became a political organization, is we'll
described by Mr.. Durham:
The G. A. r. was primarily responsible. The
men who Led this organization OF Union veterans
either were conscientious at first or else did not
sense the possibilities. At any rate, no great
demand for financial booty arose in the first 10
years.
In time, however, the G.. A. R.. which had
profesSed to be non-poltical, gradually entered
more and more into politics and began to realize
its strength 1t identified itself with the Repuo-
lcan party and exerted increasing pressure from
within and without rpon the legislators.
"Shrewd congressman started calculating how
many votes in their districts came from veterans
their relatives and synpathizers, and found the
total to be very large. Then when the u. a n.
gave evidence Of regimenting and controlling
those blocks Of votes, the Congressman listened
attentively to the G. A. r. demands and obeyed,
lest they be defeated at the next election.
"THE C. A. R, in turn, took upon itself the
i legislative function Of Congress in respect
to pensions. The Grand Armys pension COM
mittee of seven decided what laws they wanted
enacted and saw to it that they were put through
without delay. Go to Congress-, advised Com
mander Russell A. Alger and present your de-
mands: and not with bowed heads
The G.. A. R. did, and Congress abdicated.
Does the bill in this form satisfy you?' Speaker
Cannon once asked the Grand Arny's pension
committee when measure came up for vote.
Yes was the answer. Bang! went the Speakers
gavel and the bill was law
While the c. A. r. was closely affiliated with
the Republican party. the Democrats saw the
political advantages of pension hberality and
quickly fell into line:
For years the Republican party had the adj
vantage. because OF its close utilization with the
G.. a R. When the Democratic party was in
power. it tried 10 Guido the hberality OF its OPP
ponents and so pose as the champion OF the
soldier boys
One such Democratic statesman was Isaac
r. cDollar-a-Day) Sherwood. whose sole preoc-
cupation was pensions and whose aim was 10
lead the Democratic party TO new heights Of
achievement on that issue He introduced,
among others, a bill TO pay every old soldier
dollar day. 1t was good stroke for the Demo-
Gratis. One legislator who ran on that platform
said il increased his ma iority by 600 votes"