Evening star., 1936-09-24

Burke H. Sinclair. member of the
Board of Appeals of the Veterans Ad-
ministration, who was wounded In
action in the World War.
They, Col. Sinclair told them, had
won a victory during the reconstruc-
tion days following the Civil War
which was equal to their battle VIC
tories and for which the Nation owes
them everlasting gratitude.
You had" he said, Ito justify
sour triumphs on the battleflelds. You
found that there you had just lighted
the signal fires of a new conflict no
less difficult, if less sanguine. Again
the Grand Army responded and went
to work on the reconstruction of a
nation which had all but been torn
asunder. Again you succeeded and
we are today a consolidated common
wealth. The Nation has been healed
as well as preserved.
The high lights of the evening, how
ever, were the "reminiscences" of Obey
Nelson and his judge advocate, who
was responsible for Nelson's selection
year ago to head the G. A. r.
Nelson's story. told with a simplicity
and effectiveness which had many of
his hearers in tears, was that Of his
life and that of his father. who died
for the Union in the Civil War,
though an immigrant from Norway
only few years before.
Judge WilIett Talks.
Y,,Sra VIyi,l.t+ ~ AZ o,vt,r,1or.,ao,,r
talk, took his text from his COM
mander.
1T matters not" he said, whether
q man is native born or an alien who
has truly and patriotically assumed
the duties of citizenship. But it does
matter very much to this country
when they are aliens who do not
adopt the ways Of this country, but
come here to fatten on this land
without giving it any allegiance.
There are 100000 residents Of the
United States who are aliens in fact
and in spirit. They have never
adopted this country as their own.
There are two or three millions OF
them who are in mercantile businesses
and who are exempted from serving
this country in war. Yet they send
our money out to their own coun-
tries. This thing ought not to be
tolerated and I hope it will not b
any longer"
Willett's ancestors fought in the
Revolutionary War His grandfather
was a Kentucky STAKEHOLDER and had
he
came, the sons and grandsons were
divided about equally between the
North and the South and at the bat
tie Of Resaca, Willetts lost a cousin
on each side.
Commander Bids Farewell.
Comdr. Nelson made his farewell to
Washington last night.
1T has been a Joy to be here" he
said, "and we are grateful to WASH
ington for the way it has received us.
! am going home and it probably will
be the last time I will be here. I
carry memories Of washington I will
cherish until the end"
Nelson, who had said that as a
boy the thing he had wanted most
was a United States flag as re-
1nembrance of his father. received
a United States nag last night as
personal gift from Mrs. Wynnye Will
hanson, national president OF the
Ladies of the G. A. r.
If the G. A. R. is to obtain passage
by Congress of any legislation deal
ing with increased pensions for
widows of Civil War veterans, it must
be prepared to designate some mar
fiage date limitation, Comdr. Nelson
told the members in his final report
yesterday afternoon at the first busi-
ness session of the seventieth en-
campment in the Maynower Hotel.
He said that it had been tmpos-
sible to obtain any legislation during
the past session Of Congress, although
q fight had been made for bill
which provided for a pension Of $50
o month, increased to $40 at the
age Of 70 years, for any widow Of q
veteran who served 80 days, provided
the widow married the veteran prior
to January /, 1890, and had lived
with him and cared for him to the
best Of her ability.
Nelson reported that there had been
considerable objection to fixing so re-
cent q date as 1880 on the part OF
members Of Congress In replies to
his request for consideration Of pen
sion legislation.
From the tenor Of the replies.
he said, ut is evident that We can
never secure the passage OF a bill
eliminating a marriage date and will
have to decide on some definite date
such as 1915 or 1920"
Railroad Rates Worry,
He said that the matter of railroad
rates to the national encampment
here has been q source Of great
worry to this administration" The
Eastern railroads, he said, had re-
fused to grant reduced fares to vet.
erans because Of Interstate Com
merce Commission orders reducing
all rates. He said the refusal to
grant reduced rates "has been a great
disappointment to me and hopt