The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1889-02-08
HOT SPRINGS STAR.
AChampion for the Vets

AChampion for the Vets
In the House on Feb. 1st the soldiers
home bill was the bone Of contention
for nearly half the day, when the ar
gument was ably debated by many of
the members, at which time Mr.. Aiken
Of Lincoln, arose and paid handsome
tribute in behalf of Hot Springs.
"He said, it was laudable thing on
the part of the friends of Pierre to use
all honorable means to promote the in
terests of that enterprising city which
has no doubt, glorious future before
it, but memorials from almost every
G. A. R. Post in the territory have been
received asking for the location of the
soldiers home at the Hot Springs, and
and it is our duty to respect those mem
morials. They asked this not only at
Rcdfeld in their grand encampment
but bv memorials, expressing their
preference and some of them protest.
ing against any location if the one Of
their choice is not made. Pierre does
not offer the same inducements as the
Hot Springs. Even if it does offer the
princely hotel known as Wells folly,
the Hot Springs offers beautiful To-
cation. natural park, medicinal waters.
The soldiers have asked but one thing.
They ask for the Hot Springs location.
They want that or nothing. The bill
passed the legislature .wo years ago.
The governor then vetoed the bill be-
cause the old soldiers had not then de-
clared where they wanted the home
and because the appropriation was not
sufficient. They have now declared
where they want it. OF III G. A. H.
posts 10s were represented at the red
field convention, and they by unani-
nous vote declared in favor of the Hot
Springs. So that objection is removed.
The appropriation was then $4,000.
1t is now proposed to appropriate S45.-
600. 1t is claimed on this floor that
there are no needy soldiers who ask
this. Even if there were not one he
should favor providing for the
old soldiers. 1t has been the custom of
all ages to build monuments to the
brave. The American idea is to do
| something appropriate and useful. 1t
is fit aud proper that Dakota should
build a home for the nations defenders
residing within its borders. Not a
poor house, not a pest house. He would
not turn Wells folly, deserted hotel.
into monument for them, but would
build home from the ground up sur
rounded by every comfort, with parks
and landscapes to gladden. the eye, and
sparkling medicinal waters, unsurpass-
ed by any in the world. And such a
place is the Hot Springs. 1t is the du-
ty Of Dakota to yield to this unani-
nous request from the old soldier. The
offer of Pierre is scheme to boom the
town. They represent that the soldiers
have lobby here who have opened
rooms and are opening wine to inau-
ence the legislature. The statement is
not true. There has been no loby here
excepting the duly accredited delegates
chosen by the grand army encampment,
to whom the privileges of the house have
been extended. He hoped that Dakota
would not he admitted to statehood un-
til the debt of gratitude due the old sol.
diers was paid. He believed that but
for them the homestead, preemption
and tree culture laws would not have
been passed and that Dakota would
not now be the grand country it is. The
seed of rebellion were sown in opposi
! ii n he to .edom of the territories. HI
would rather this appropriation would
pass than any other. He was not ca
tering for old soldiers but he did hop,
they would not consign them to de
serted hotel, and that bribe would
not be accepted for the contract of oul
votes.
Crawford Letter
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