Jasper County Democrat, Volume 13, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 September 1910 — SOLDIERS CROWDED OUT. [ARTICLE]

SOLDIERS CROWDED OUT.

Committee Snubbed by Senator Beveridge to Favor Politicians. Senator Beveridge’s speech to veterans of the Civil war at the Marion Club last week, was not attended by the Indianapolis veterans who know about the snub administered by tbe Senator last winter to Major W. W. Robbins and a companion, who appeared before him representing more than 4,000 Indiana veterans.’ “Major Robbins does not feel that it was a personal affront, since be visited the Senator in behalf of others. It is the 4,000 veterans of Indiana who were affronted, he believes, and for this reason he has prepared a statement, telling just what occurred, so that the veterans of Indiana may judge for themselves.

“I can not conceive for what purpose Senator Beveridge would desire to address the old soldiers,” said Major Robbins, “unless to make promises, for truly he could not commend Wmself for anything he has done in the past for the veterans.

“1 was one of two members of a committee which waited on him when he was here last winter. Our mission was to present to him a petition bearing the names of more than 4,000 exsoldiers, asking for the enactment of a dollar-a-day pension law. “We, the committee, waited for an hour and a half before we were admitted to his presence. We presented to him the petition of our comrades, and, after glancing it over, he said it would be necessary for us to secure the influence of the President, the Vice-Pres-ident, the committee on pensions, and the Speaker of the House if we expected to succeed. “We told him that it was for this very purpose that we had called upon him—to ask him, as our representative, to Becure such influence and help us in our efforts.

“Just then his telephone bell rang, and he asked us, the committee, to step Into the hall just a moment, while he answered the call.

"We did so, and remained there for an hour, waiting to be recalled to his presence. But we were never recalled, and finally we went away without further recognition from him. But while we waited, he and his page ushered politicians into his room from the reception hall. “But now that he seeks his personal advancement by re-election, he desires to address my comrades. There is a great difference between then and now. Last winter he could afford to puss, aside the representatives of more than 4,000 ex-soldiers, and let them wait in his hall like schoolboys for a summons that was entirely forgotten in the more pressing business of greeting politicians. Would Senator Beveridge care to explain this action to the veterans he now professes to desire to serve?

“Comrades, yon now have the fruits of Senator Beveridge’s service for years. You have received no favors. And you now have the pledge of Mr. Kern, nominated on a platform embodying a plank declaring for dollar-a-day pensions. Which will yon choose when you go to the polls in November?” ■

Major Robbins is president of the Persimmon Brigade Association, which holds its annual reunion in Indianapolis. He served in Company D. 118th Indiana, and also in Company G. 21st Indiana. He is a member of Major Robert Anderson Poet, G. A. R.,