The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1893-07-22
ACHAMPION LIAR
Billy Bates Favors Sage Brush and
Sand for the SOLDIER Home.
DOES BILLY RUN THE 9. A. RI
Old Soldiers Up This Way Consider Him
Yraud,

Old Soldiers Up This Way Consider Him
Fraud.
"BOise ia the only city in the state of
Idaho for the soldiers home, and it will
where"
The foregoing were the exact words
used yesterday by Ralph q. bates,
better known IS BILLY" the widely
known q. A. II. lecturer, while con-
versing with reporter concerning the
location OF the home soon to be estab-
lished for the benefit of the veterans in
this state.
Billy Bates has visited every town in
Idaho of over 500 population, and rs he
was one of the committee that located
the famous Santa Monica home. he no
doubt speaks nnderstandingiy concern
ing site for the soldiers home of this
state.
He says the top of the widest crag in
the sawtooth range would be as appro-
pirate place for the home as Cpur
d Alene City. The only available site
there is on the lake shore, where the
wintry blasts would freeze grindstone.
sCeur d'Alene City is a pretty little
place in summer" said Mr. Bates. hut
in the winter the old soldier could not
stove all the time. Besides, the social
surroundings would not be very emily
ening for the old vet The people
there as rule have no use for G. A. r.
man. The expense Of maintaining the
home at that place would be almost
double what it would be in Boise For
myself, if had to go to place of that
kiiid in order TO enter a soldiers home,
would rather go to the penitentiary
Concerning Moscow, Mr.. Bates said it
was little better than Ceur d'Alene
City as far as location for a soldiers
home is concerned. There are no
shade trees there" he said, "and it is
either clouds of dust or mud knee deep.
The water is also very poor, and alto
gether Moscow would be bad location
fcr the home"
"Boise is the place." be added with
much emphasis. Here the environ
ments are such as would make the poor
old soldier happy. lie will be sur
rounded by trees and gardens in a eli
mate that will just suit him. Then the
water-why, it cannot he excelled.
Pure, cold spring water for drinking
and culinary purposes and hot water
for ether USES
Boise is prominently the place for
the home, aud i: should by all means be
located here he said in conclusion.
The site that will be offered by Boise
for the home is 4o-acre tract at the
south end of the Pinkham place and
adjoining the city 1t is a pretty loca-
ton. IT will cost $500. of which 5000
has already been subscribed.-Boise
Statesman.
The above half column of misstate-
ments appeared in the Statesman of the
18th. Hilly's statements were shown to
several old soldiers of this city, who de-
nounce them as base lies and ISLANDERS
against C9ur d'Alene and her citizens.
There is no town in the state where the
old soldier is shown more respect, and
the efforts of Billy to prejudice the
trustees of the soldiers home are not
likely TO cut much of a figure. You are
certainly an accomplished liar, Billy, or
you would not utter such naked false
hoods. In reality there is no compari-
son between C9ur d'Alene, with its
eGuable climate, grand scenery, health
III. location and cheap living. and Boise
City, with its sage brush and sand,
where the sun comes down with such
force that business operations must be
suspended in the middle of the day, and
where sand storms make life a burden.
Billy shows by his talk that lie knows
nothing about this place, or that lie has
been purchased 10 blow his horn for
Boise City. The present commander
and former commanders of \. I. Me
Reynolds post, of this city, say they
never heard of Billy Bates, and that il
he ever visited Cour d'Alene lie failed
10 make himself known TO members of
the post. They also say that the
q. \. Il. employs no lecturers, and if he
claims 10 represent that organization as
lecturer he is a fraud.
Cppr d'Alene will offer one OF the
mosI beautiful sites for the home that
is 10 be had in the state, and we feel
confident that if the trustees will COM
pare il with the Others the home will be
located here, even if it does no: suit the
notions of Billy Bates. Enough money
has already been subscribed 10 purchase
a site or the Turner farm jus; west of
the town.
Billy winds up his slanderous state
meats 10y saying he would rather go To
the pe.ii,entiary than into a home
located here. That all depends on how
man is raised. There is IN old saying
that "birls of feather flock together"
and we presume i, is not an exception
in Mily's case.