The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-02-26
Reply to J. ". Beach, Adiutant Of Lyons Post
Eureka SPRINGS, Ark,

To THE EDITOR: l am sorry that 8 man
claiming to be Grand Army cOmrade should
try to exaggerate things. Comrade Beach came
into the Home with the express purpose las
far as know OF staying as long as he could.
And when comrade Or any other than CON-
rade OF the Grand Army comes here, he cannot
stay unless he makes an application for admis-
sion through the proper channels. COmrade
Beach could have done the same without any
Inconvenience to himself or to the Home but
he did not wish to become an inmate. AS to
applying to the SergcantMajOr for permission
to stay in the Home, it is something that he
(the Sergeant Major could not grant as it is
against the rules and regulations OF the Homes
for any one to be allowed 10 stay unless he is
regularly admitted, or by the permission of the
local manager, Gen. Mcclellan, or the President,
Gen. Franklin. CoGlrade Beach's statement
about Gov. NOodtin keeping him waiting two
hours to see him is preposterou3 as the Gov
ernor's Office is open to visitors from 10 q. N.
to ii a. m, time sufficient for the ordinary
transaction of business and anybody can see
him that wishes to. Sometimes there is quite
a number wishing TO see him different
points of business and as the number is usually
large, the men form in line and take their turn
as it comes.
The Home has been crowded beyond its
actual capacity, there being at the time of
Comrade Beach's visit over l, 400 men. A great
many of these men were lying on the floors of
the barracks, in the asleS OF the different build
ings, and any and every place they could be
slowed. The Governor of this Home is Grand
Army man in every sense of the word, and
would never any old soldier Tor Grand
Army comrade) want But he is as strictly
confined TO the rules and regulations governing
the Homes as is any OF the members comprising
the same. If the comrade was in need, he
should have made his case known, and then
the necessary relief would have been forthcom-
ing. The comrade also states that | was called
TO the office Che might as well have said repri-
manded) for taking him in to dinner He is
msin formed, as | was called to the office for
the purpose OF giving information. Said in
formation wanted was whether Comrade Beach
wished to apply for admission to the Home,
and when i reported to the Sergeant-Alaior
that he did not, he (the Sergeant Major then
referred me to the rules of the Home on adms-
sion, and l told the comrade the result. l
knew at the time l invited the comrade to din
ner that | had no right, but l did not think
the cOmrade would have emblazoned the fact
to the world. The comrade still further states
that he received information from member of
the Home that the authorities of the Home
received and entertained the Hampton Base
Ball Club. The eonrade was simply misn-
formed. The Home did not entertain the
Hampton Club, because there was no such
organization in existence. The Home has
ball club of its own, composed of the best men
of the Home and several outsiders paid by
order of Board of Managers from amusement
fund and by money taken at the gates on play
ing days. Right is right, and it viii wrong no
man. Truth is jewel, and should always be
used The men of this Home who informed
the comrade of the different points, as stated,
shot wide of the mark; and if tie comradc has
any more complaints TO make about the Home
or its Governor, | would respectfully refer him
to either the Board OF Managers or the Con-
gressional Committee on Investigation Of Vol
unteers' Homcs.-FRANK KULP, S. V. Dept
Commander, Department of Virginia, GAR.