The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-03-13
MIR. STEWARDS EXPLANATION.
TOPEKA, March 9, lSS


MIR. STEWARDS EXPLANATION.
| TOPEKA, March 2, 1885.
Editor Register Your criticisms
in reference to my vote on the appro-
priation of $50, 900 in aid of a Soldiers
Home at Leavenworth are certainly
fair and kindly, and as you more than
intimate that an Explanation will be
in order" through the columns of The
REGISTER, and believing those whom 1
have the honor to represent have a
perfect right to ask for explanations
on this or any other question on which
1 may vote, will try to explain.
First then, desire to say 1 came
here fully determined to vote against
this appropriation, having made up
my mind from what then believed to
be the facts in reference to the case
after coming here 1 found 1 was
very far from knowing the facts. My
impression before coming here had
been that commission appointed
by the government had come to Kan
sas to select in Kansas location for a
branch of the Soldiers Home; that
various localities desiring such loca-
ton made certain bids or offers of as
sistance in building or furnishing such
Home, and that Leavenworth having
bid higher than any other point re-
ceived the prize, and having volunta-
rily made such bid should stand by her
bargain.
Now as to the facts; a commission
was appointed with authority to visit
Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas,
Colorado and Arkansas and make To-
cation in some one of those states, and
unfortunately for us, were authorized
to receive proposals and donations of
lands or money or both. The legisla-
ture of Iowa being in session, a bill
was passed appropriating $4,000 for
this location, if made in that state,
while the city of Burlington offered
| 900 acres of land. Nebraska offered
section of land, and the governor and
prominent men at the capital offered
to pledge like sum of money, believ-
ing the state would assume it. Com
ing to Kansas, the commission evil
IDENTIFY preferred this state, or perhaps
more properly preferred a site near
Fort Leavenworth, and it was
formally agreed that it should come to
Leavenworth, if the city would give
800 acres of land. This the city assent
ed to, and the commission started east.
While en- route to st. Louis, the ques-
ton of location was more fully and of
ficially considered, and the commits
sion decided that if the location be
made in Kansas, they must have an
amount of land equal to that offered
by other states, and like donation of
money; hence they notified the mayor
of Leavenworth, directing him to an
swer at once, at st. Louis, if the city |
would comply with these terms. Thus
you see this called for double the
amount of land at firstanticipated and
the money besides. Now I am thor
oughly convinced that had the legisla-
ture been in session at the time, they
would not have hesitated a moment
to make the appropriation, and l may
say here too, that am convinced that
no other town in Kansas could have
secured the location even by giving a
like amount or more. may say too,
that as citizen of Kansas, feel that
the location of that home in Kansas
is an achievements of which we may all
feel proud, and the citizens of Leaven-
worth, having come forward at crit
ical time and guaranteed donation
that l, as one citizen, believe the state
should be proud to pay. was glad to
have an opportunity to come to their
relief and have no reason to change
my opinion since doing so. The citi-
zens of Leayenworth had no time to
hesitate and they responded generous
ly. Learning these facts, it was not
for me, as AN old soldier and an old
citizen of the state, to refuse 10 stand
by this generous action, simply because
as am after of technicality, the state was
not responsible, and therefore would
not pay. AS to the facts, have not
thought it necessary to include the ev-
idence i'm this article, as il would make