Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 118, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 October 1904 — CAN’T STAND THEIR PENSION RECORD. [ARTICLE]

CAN’T STAND THEIR PENSION RECORD.

Whatever may be Said about Nelson J. Bizarth of Valparaiso, in reference to his penohant for running for office, it oan not be denied that he is a man of high prino'ple, nor that he has a very hohorable soldier record. In fact, he is said to ba perhaps the youngest man for the length of Service he saw, Of any surviving civil War' soldier in Indiana. Mr. Bozarth has been prominent in Democratic oounci’s for maty years past, but he can’t stand their present attitude towards the Uni >u soldiers. Frpm a letter in the Valparaiso Vidette announcing this conclusion on his part we make the following extract: As a past oommander of the Gland Army Post at Valparaiso, Ind., and as a private soldier during the civil war, I believe I am in some sense a representative of the private soldier element Since the war I have asscciated much with the private soldiers acd have often on their invitation spoke to them as a oomrade at their oamp fires and reunions, and believe that I know them as well as any one. The first great mistake made by the Democrats was in condemning President Roosevelt in their national platform for the issuance of what is known in the pension d - partment as Order No. 78, giving to a soldier when 62, a pension of $6 a month; at 65, $8; at 68, $10; at 70, sl2. This was only following out the precedent set by Presidents Cleveland and McKinley, who issued similar orders differing only in the age limit, and is dearly legal and within tlie power of the president and the Pension Department. But so bitterly hostile to the private soldier is the wing of the Democrat party now in complete oontrol, thdt at St. Louis, in the national platform they say, “The Demooraoy would secure to the surviving soldiers and their dependents generous pensions, not by aDy arbi'rary executive order, but by legislation, eto ” This is clearly a slap at Order 78, and at thousands of needy piivate soldiers who were delighted with and benefited by the order. The Democrat State Committee of Indians dominated and controlled by the same wing of the party that eontrolled at St. Louis, through its agents at the State Democrat convention of Indians, properly endorsed the slap at Order 78 and the soldiers in the following words: “The Democracy of Indiana, in convention assemblied, teartily approve and endorse the wise and conservative declaration of principles by the Democrat National Convention at jSt Louie, eto.” Not satisfied with {endorsing the insult to the soldiers in the St Louis platform, the State Democrat Committee of Indiana has sent its members and agents to conventions over the state with instructions to prevent the nomination of private soldiers, however competent, to positions of honor, ! and it was oareful to prevent the nomination of any private soldier, however competent, to any position on the State tioket. The State committee and the wing of the, Damooraoy new ia

control is eo utterly lacking in taot and po’itioa! skill as to imagine that if they Dominate tome “kid gLve officer’’ to a position occasionally, it will gain the eold'er vote. They do not know that there is eoant sympathy between the "kid gloved officers’’ and the private soldiers who as a rule were abused by the officeis.

Another great mistake was made by Judge Parker in bis Utter of acceptance when he said that if elected he would revoke Order 78 Take this statement in connection with the fact that ail the grebt papers in New York City that support Parker are bitterly opposing and fighting the whole pension system, and all s ldiers have goed reason to fear that if Judge Parker is elected, they will fare much worse than they did under President Cleveland and Hoke Smith when so many soldiers lost their pensious. The private soldier?, their sons and nephews and all tbsii relatives who vote will resent these needless Uncalled for insults to tbe soldiers. The Indiana Democrat Btate Committee and the wiDg of the Democracy now in control, have made other bad mistskes in this oampeign of wniob I may speak in future letters. Nelson J. Bozartb, Late Private Co. C., 9th 111. Oav.