The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-05-02
OH, WHAT A TIME!
How Brave Veterans Made
Fur Fly.
DIRECTORS DID CATCH 1T.
Irate Comrades of the Veterans Home
Association Drew Keen Tongues
Last Night.
DIRECTORS DID CATCH

The Veterans Home Association met last
night. and thry had as visitors committee
from the Grand Army of the Republic.
headed by Department Commander Z. c.
Seymour.
The meeting resolved itself into a series
of personal fights that In political organi-
cation would have been termed row. 1t
was all about the Royce embeZZiement and
the carelessness of the directors. A license
Is granted members OF both organizations,
the Veterans Home and Grand Army, to
express their views fully and freely.
When the association first met the resigna-
ton OF C.. E. K. Royce. the defaulter for
$4,000, as treasurer Of the association was
presented. The members refused to receive
il, and if there is anything in the story that
a PERSONS ears burn when being talked
about Royce must have had furnace each
side of his head for an hour or more last
night.
Then the committee appointed by the
Grand Army of the Republic, headed by
Commander Seymour, came to the front and
introduced w. ii. L. Barnes as the spOkes-
man.
Barnes castigated the board of directors
of the Veterans Home Association unmer-
cilully. lie lot only charged them with
having been dereict In their duties in the
past, bat ed that the Grand Army and
the public had lost conf dence in the direct
ors and believed that something should be
done at once.
1--WE know what you ought to do," said
Barnes. land the Grand ArDIy OF California
has determined to do what you should do if
you do not do your duty at once. You
should not let blade of grass grow under
your feet in the prosecution of the thief or
the thieves who have been guilty of robbing
the home. There is widespread dissatisfac-
ton and displeasure over the way in which
the affairs of the Veterans Home have been
managed, and the question is, How far are
you. the directors of the home, RESPONSE
bleP"
The nonsensical resolution of the direc-
tors TO refer the Royce defalcatiOn TO tie
Chief Of Police made Barnes and his asso-
ciates Tired" so he said. What the
G. a. r. wanted was for the directors to at
once notify the Grand Jury of Royce's de-
falcstions. All sorts Of charges were float
ing about, and unless the directors took
some action. and that quickly. the Grand
Jury would.
Mr.. Barnes was frequently interrupted
in his speech, and at its close there was a
veritable storm OF protest from the dlrec-
tors of the association,
President Burnett called all the wOuid-be
speakers down to their seats, and called on
Past Commander KLINE. of the G. A. r.
committee, for an expression of opinion.
Kline said that the prevailing opinion
was, with the public, that the directors CT
the home tended to let Royce go free of
punishment.
There was perfect whiriwind Of discus
sion, everybody talking at once and saying
things about his neigllhOr that made The
CALL reporter. who had left his coat in the
anteroem. wish he had brought it with him.
But 1t took Comrade Smith of Oakland. an
eX-dlrector, defeated at the last election, TO
add the last straw.
He introduced a resolution calling on all
the director, in office nFnSpnt TpSIpD-
The resolution said that as the defaleation
of Royce was due to the carelessness of the
directors, and that as grave SUSPICION rested
upon the management: of the home, it was
resolved by the G. A. r. of Alameda and
Oakland TO request their resignation.
The storm oceasioned by Barnes speech
vas a geutle summer zephyr in contrast to
that which followed the introduction of
Smiths resolution. Tc say there was a
"howl, q coyote howl" went up Is to put it
mildly. Director Deal arose and accused
Smith of malfeasance in Office aud srndry
other crimes, all Of which we're on a par
with that of Royce.
Smith replied and plainly said that not
only was Deal vertabie Ananias, but
that his memory was falling him. One
word brought on another, until an uDroar
ensued and the president. unable 10 secure
ORDER waited r9iDute or Two and then put
the motion for the present directors IF the
Veterans Home II resign. 1t was defeated
by vote of II to 3.
That resolution being defeated. Deasy
offered another motion that all the III EN-
hers of the Veterans Home Association not
directors resign, and this caused a cyclone.
The members not only ranted, but ALSO
lutely raved, and personalities flew about
thicker than mosquitoes in New Jersey
swamp.
Finally the committee that had been called
to advise" with the directors decided to
retire, and then an effort was made TO
make that committee a part of the investi-
eating committee already appointed by the
directors to 90 through all Tho papers,
books, etc, of the Veterans II me since Its
esta blishmsnt The Grad Army men
wanted none of it, and quietly stole away.
1t was then decided TO empower the in
vestgating committee OF five appointed By
the directors 10 employ such experts rs
they deemed fl, not only 10 expert the
books but 10 look into all work done at the
home, etc., ali supplies bought and all
contracts made, and the committee WAS in
strEcted to confer with the Grand Army
committee in everything.
Right when the "cruel war" seemed over
and the members of the association and d.
rectOrs were about 10 go home. j. r. Glass
ford of San Francisco, a member of the ex-
ecutive committee. jumped up and denounced
the board of directors as q ring, said other
harsh things about the members and ended
by Withdrawing from tile association. Out
in the hall he came near getting in fiSticutf
with comrade who differed with him, but
friends interfered.
This morning the Veterans Home Asso-
citation, through their attorney, will file
civil suit against C. E. X. Royce for his de-
falcatinns. This is done in order that il
anything Is discovered worth attaching it
can be speedily secured. Royce is much
l.