Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-05-14
RIGHT TO THE POINT
General Rutherford Defends the
Veterans
IN THE SOLDIERS HOME
Ne Relieve. They Are kntssled so the
fpsashi-e and Cisrs la. Opsn.
I'm Wiah Sosce.

In yesterdays Democrat Gen l. q
Rutherford Published a card on the ques
tsoa 20 the right % vote a the veterans
living IN The SOLDIERS home. The full
tsxt a his card. which Ia addressed 70
the editor n the Democrat. 10 a. fol.
love
Your 'siegraphic dispatch from Laa
sing II the !egi-lative proceesiings SEEN
"a cal For some attention from some
hs.iy. The subject under consideration
sss whether an amendment Ia the con
stitutIon - ALLOW the inmates - tas
soldiers home the right a. vote in tae
precinct where the home Is located
should te submitted From the report
"a The proceedings IA The Democrat.
another amendment should also be sub
Hitted which. il sdopted would pre-
ciudr az east some IneGbers 81 the leg
islstgrc from voting.
lie report SAYS. The debate upon
the resolution became heated" Way
there should be any occasion for any de-
bate = pa-t ny comprehension. IN =
true that the right u the veteran. ~
Tie Sul.iieTs' home % vote under oar
constitution - open "a question. 1 say
open - question bscag-s, | am not ~,
- sriri that they haye the right now.
But 1T. W. adelit the Tact that they are
pruniAitcd Doses u necessarily follow
that the prohibition should be coni!n
ueA' Ahsn tho constitution vas
adopted. u saa never contemplated ty
~ trainers that aa Institution II this
sort would ever b. erected
The inmates - the home s-- neither
criminals lGnatics nor Imtecile-. anc-
only such ser- supported IN whole N
ln part ~ the state then Two years
Il sesv Close relation with the Soldiers
horne has given me. | think. very go-~i
understanding ~ the men VINO rtf.l 4.
there. snI l challenge any person Ia "a
into any community IA the state 81
Michigan and taAr an equal number 90
citizens who-e average department and
Intelligence - superior - tao inmates
True. there are Few who depor, them
sclves IN such manner - Ia bring odium
upon all bat this Is unjust
The report SAYS Mr.. White was Kissed
No spulogy can be made for IN. man
who will. by hiseiug. try Ia -trangle free
speech in or out 81 the legislature. But
what ar. 80 % think 20 the man vho
viii attempt 10 iisfranchise 40 citizen s
90 the United Statesg What excuses
can bs offered Per member 81 the leg
ls;urr sho sIll oppose resolution Ia
submit Co the people the privilege ~
amending the constitution 10 prevent
the dissFanchis.m-nt - those citizens.
Mr. White SAYS that the inmates II the
home are hut tools in the hands u the
republicans" III thus statement was
tine. Mr. White can. ~ course. tell the
World Who are the individuals who have
handled thc tools amt when they were
handled
II = true that a.ority - the men
have generally voted the republican,
t.ket bat that - no reason they should
h. dissranchiSsd. I well remember uheu
o. =. democrat IN northern Michigan
Vas. IA the eyes % the republican poll
t,ciau-. a crimn. That very fact made
me- democrat fighter twenty tive
years sgo. but Mr. White does not state
the facts. aud he ought a. know ". Dur
iu. tie iAst tSo years the homo has
been in charge 20 Maj j y Mckee. an
unCum promising Democrat. That he
bal the confidence % all the men 4
EVIDENCED ~ nc TACT that before his r.
tlfpm~rt they unanimously pstitiOned
'lf nis retention and On BIZ taking leave
q them presented him with an elegant
present With all has power over them;
With al their love for him. Hhe was an
atie "a cuntrul their votes fnr hia party
TINS proves that they exercised tieIr
on hest Judgment. that the ballot cast
~ them vas not the tool = any one.
~ j. clsmsd that the members IL the
home ara menace "a the Taxpayers u
Grand Rapids township. The home mas
t~eu occupied nearly seven wears. Great
public improvements have tseen ~ sde
during that time. hut no complaint 80
Ia has been made that the interests 4
ths people have hocn affected ty ths
veteran votes
Tic amendment wlll he sul mittct II
~. b. adopted he people - NIr-iil
Kan are .hvrl.d among al political per
ties. tut the patriotism thai almost
unauimoasy erected he home and su-
tanned 81 49, cordially vill not disfran
cli-e tbn men Who. IS rea4nn u wound,
received and 4 -sea-c cuntracf-.i IR IA.
.l..fause - constitutional government
~ reuaon - which they arr incapa-i
titsd FROM lsior. nor deprive them II
'hr sscred right D. vote. ehicb, bat ~
their ~ srts. those Who oppose n NIGH
uet ENJOY teslay-
L. O. krrHEErcRp