The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1892-11-24
IKE DAYTON HOME.
An Old Soldisr Who Has Poor Opinion
OF the Institution.
CANTON, o., Nov %, 1892.

CANTON, o., Nov %, 1892.
EDITOR News. DEMOCRAT. Sr:-My
purpose in writuC this artIcie Is to give to
the public, and especially the old ldisrs
who fought to sustain the Institutions of
this Il public, an idea of how the Ma
tional Military Home at Dayton 10 man
aged.
To begin with, having been an inmate
of that home l think | know whereof l
speak. The Military home at D. yton was
cripit soldiers aud sailors who faced the
music during The dark days of '6l- 3.
L. is a beautif Il place, is the Dayton
Home, the grounds being one mile sq1aTe
and the home proper stands IN the center.
Il contains thirty five resident barracks,B
store, theatre, dining hall, qutrtermssterS
department, animal park, botanic garden,
hospital, and about Two hundred ncrcs oi
a garden, artificial lakes, drives, promon
AIDES, etc. There IL at present about dv'
thousand inmate as Gov. Thomas stated
to the legislative body al Colum Dus dur,,p
the one m1e limit controversy bstweer
tho home and the saloons, confined with.
in the grounds.
II NAV seem strange to many readers
of the NEWS DEMOCRAT, that those tht
fought for the principle of popular libert
should be denied the same boon at tht
Dayton Military home, but such is III,
case. In speaking thus l don't wish TO
be run without rules and regulations, bu,
there is n vast differences between cor
poral discipline and military despotism.
For the deiectatiou OF the old boys who
may read this article, will state some OF
the rules in force at the present tme.
No member is allowed TO leave the
grounds without "A written pass; when ou'
on pass or furIouGh he must be IN on time
to the minute or subject himself TO pun~
ishment on the "Dumpn for from thirty to
niney days. A member must not join
with or converse with visitors kept they
b" his own relations. He must obey ali
orders from those in authority without
complaint. This, Gen. Sherwood, would
be ali rightif matters we're conducted i'm
partially, but such is not the case. To be
plain, there is u gang running the Dayton
Home, the most of whom have been there
since 1t was a home and they have come tc
think they own the pace, and those who
| have remained out these many years ADC
who now from disease and reverses in life
are compelled to go to the Home, have nc
rights that they are bound to respect.
The most of these fellows, their army
record wouldn't stand cross-fire for one
minute. There are plenty of men who
were good soldiers and are at the Daytor
| Home. To those l have nothing but the
best regards. But l have no affinity fol
the satraps "cotfee coolers" above men
| toned. If Gov. Thomas, is not a tyrant
why does he listen to his subordiuates auC
ignore the word of the othe
members entirely. Gan. Sherwood,
wish 10 ask your opinion of man wht
sits as a magistrate and hears one side o
a case and refuses to hear another, bu
sentences the accused, without giving hin
chance to say one word in his Owl
behalf, as was the case with me. viii
| he brief. / can thank the surgeons at tn
Dayton Home for the condition of my lei
at the present time, having been unde
their care when it was broken. Thei
neglect has left me partially a cripple 70
life, and for demonstrating with tn
Governor for such neglect, was ordere
to the dungeon for insubordiOation
There are many things could say of tn
Dayton Home management that wouldn'
wash, but this much is generally known
that some of those high in authority. wen
| there very poor and are now very rict
Surely their annual salary could not pro
duce such great wealth.
In conclusion l will say, Gov. Thoma
has many ch IRA cters to deal with at tn
Home, but he should always remembe
that there are two sides to all controvel
sizes, and man who will pre- judice justic
in favor OF click, even IL they are hi
suhordinates, in the estimation of a
liberty lovers, is unfit to exercise the reir
of authority.
To the old comrades l say this mucl
All those who can do so, remain ava
from the Dayton Home, or when enteriu
there prepare to leave manhood an
liberty behind.
! Very respectfully.
DAVID BoNwoRTH,
Ex'private, Co, ID, 24th N, Y V.
/ Ex>private Co., x, Attn N, Y. II. Art.