The National tribune., 1884-08-21

the prey of the politicians. The place of vot-
ing was at Liberty, some five mile distant, and
the reign of King Alcohol at once set in. Bar
rels of whisky with tin cups attached were
placed at the headquarters of rival aspirants
for political honors, and the poor fellows, un-
able to resist the temptation to drink, were
piled with poison until, with reason dethroned
and limbs disabled, those who could get there
were sent reeling back to their barracks. This
has been slightly remedied by the establish
ment Of polling places nearer the Home, but
being outside of its limits the Governor has no
power to prevent the untrammeled use of
whisky on election day. sit takes about five
or six weeks says Chaplain Earnshaw in his
testimony" to recover from the effects of an
election.
SNEAK DRINKING.
The whisky is no longer paraded in public
view in barrels, but is distributed in TASKS or
hidden where it can be found by the inmates
in the woods or cornfelds contiguous to the
Home.
THE EVIL AND THE REMEDY.
Many plans have been suggested to remedy
all the evils complained of by the various
classes of inmates As has been stated there
are fully one-half who have no complaint to
make beyond the interruption to their peace,
caused by the presence in the barracks of tur-
bulent men. A remedy for this state of things
is proposed to be accomplished by means of the
classification of inmates, placing the peacable
old men, who care only for quiet in barracks
by themselves; those who care for innocent
jollity, together, and those who drink only oc-
casionally, but to intoxication, under an in
creased number of Sergeants, who shall be held
responsible for their good behavior in separate
barracks.
The epileptics should be placed in comforta-
BILE barracks with every appliance for their
comfort, and the incorrigibles in an inebriate
4o ba h,.ilt {ba aYd
sided over by competent physician skilled
in that branch of medical science. As a remedy
for the evils arising from enforced idleness a
system of industry is proposed by the estab-
lishment of manufactures of various kinds,
furnishing light, easy employment to those
who care for it, paying them by the piece or by
the hour for all the work they care to do, the
profits to go to the post fund. This fund, which
is now accumulated by the profits upon goods
sold at the store and at the hotel, is used ex-
clusively TO pay theatrical companies and TO
keep up other places of amusement
THE RULES AND ARTICLES OF WAR.
| Chaplain Earnshaw, in his testimony, charac-
terzed the enforcement of the rules and articles
| of war at the Home as one Of the three curses
| with which it had been afflicted. He attach
! ed no blame to Gen. Patrick, whom he believed
| to be kind hearted man, having the good of
| the Home at heart, for the severity of the dis
| cipline of which many of the inmates COM
| planned. This he thought had created feeling
| of unrest in the minds of the inmates who lad
| come to regard the Home as more like mill
| tary garrison than an asylum. Men were re-
! quired to salute the Governor, and were placed
in the guard house by the policemen for trivial
| ofenses
! When called before the Governor for trial
there is complaint that he listens to the police
rather than to the accused, and imposes heavy
penalties for light ofenses It is believed, as
| one witness testified, that the establishment OF
manufactures of various kinds would afford an
outlet for much of the surplus energy now ex-
pended in evil doing. 1t is proposed that
/ polling places shall be opened in the various
wards within the precincts of the Home where
the Governor can have supervision and use his
authority to suppress the use of alcoholic slim
ulants.
For the regulation of the Home, it is recon-
mended that a code of laws be prepared, espe-
cially adapted for the Soldiers Homes, in which
provision shall be nladefor the trial of offend
ers by jury selected from the inmates under
the laws Of the State Of Ohio. Seven days were
occupied in examination of witnesses who had
complaints to make against the management
and government of the Home, at the end OF
| which time, Saturday, Aug o. at p. m, there
being no further evidence offered, the Commit
| tee decided to take up the rebuttal evidence to
be offered by Gen. Patrick.
A resolution by the Committee, inviting the
fullest