The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-04-16
IT WAS Blue BLAZES
Serious Charges Against General
Franklin and Governor Smith.
A SOLDIERS HOME MANAGER
The Kansas Congressman says the
Old War; ors IN the Leaven-
worth institute Are Prac-
tically Incarcerated.

Washington, April 15.-The report of
the election committee in the case of
Gordon Latimer OF the Third district
of South Carolina. in favor of sitting
the member. was adopted without di-
vision.
Hull, republican. Iowa, chairman of
the committee on military affairs,
called up the resolution for the ap-
pointment Of William b. Franklin,
Thomas ]. Henderson of Illinois.
George L. Beale CT Maine. and George
w. Steele of Indiana as members OF the
board of managers of national soldiers
homes.
Blue. republican, Kansas, who has
on several recent occasions severely
criticised General Franklin, asked for
two hours to discuss the resolution. He
said he held In his hand charges
against General Franklin and Cover
nor Smith. the manager OF the Leav-
enworth home. for whom the former
was responsible for cruel and brutal
treatment of the inmates OF the home
at Leavenworth, Kan. where he said
1000 soldiers were to-day practically
incarcerated. He proposed to offer an
amendment to substitute the name of
that gallant soldier. Gen. o. o. How
ard, for that of General Franklin.
Hull declined to make any concessions
as TO the time. and Blue opened his
attack. His purpose, he said. was to
free the Leavenworth home from the
drunken and brutal man now at it's
head.
do you know he has been drunk?"
asked Steele. a member of the board
Il do-vomiting, puking drunk, and
I will produce the proof"
rs he not at the head OF a Kelley
organization?" inquired Steele.
The gentleman" replied Blue. con-
temptuously, lis gorged with misin-
formation regarding these homes"
Continuing, Blue had read several
letters criticising General Franklin and
Governor Smith. one of them alleging
that Governor Smith was not only
drunkard. but a corrupt man.
Blue said he had letters from in
mates of the Leavenworth home. who,
IL their names were known. would be
driven to the road by Governor Smith.
He read a telegram from T.. ]. Anderson
and others urging him to fight Gen
eral Franklin's appointment and tell
ing him that $4,000 soldiers In Kansas
were behind him. Another letter. read
by him, said that the writer had
enough evidence to hang Smith. Blue
concluded his array of testimony by
reading an affidavit from an inmate of
the Leavenworth home, charging Gov
ernor Smith with drunkenness and
great favoritism. He claimed that
Governor Smith maintained the biggest
saloon in Kansas under the shadow of
the flag the soldiers fought TO save
Have you any charges to make
against the personal character OF Gen.
eral Franklin" asked Hill, repubii-
can. Connecticut.
Il charge" replied Blue. that the
inspectors reports show that General
Franklin Is either grossly negligent
and incompetent or that he Is not hon.
est. He knows of these beer saloons.
he knows of Smiths conduct and II the
reports are true he holds in his hands,
in violation of the law, trust funds
that should have been turned into the
general fund" Blue said the inspec-
tors reports would prove that the
board OF managers was a private in
corporation holding government prop
erty In its own name and buying AID
selling at its own sweet will In conclu-
sion Blue charged that under Frank
Inns management last year s250, 900 OF
government property had been cen
demned or destroyed and that the
board had last year made a trip TO the,
South Minica. Cal, home at cost Of
$6.0 900. He concluded with the state
ment that as long as he had a place
on the floor he would defend his c1m-
rades against the brutality Of tha con-
temptible man at the head of the Leav-
home.
Curtis, republican, New York, re-
piled TO Blue in a calm and temperate
speech. He asked the house to con-,
slider the charges preferred against
General Franklin. the president of the
board OF managers. and Governor
Smith. The charges. he said, were old.
They had been investigated and the
official report did not substanTiate
them.
The afidavits produced oy Blue were
entirely ex parte. The trouble at
arose out Of the COM
plants and charges made 10y the post
DIR. Weaver. lie reviewed the
testimony in the official report CT the
to show that the charges
had been in no way substantiltel
Steele. republican. Indiana. a men,
Der Of the board of managers. n ace
an impressive defense OF the hoafd.
Every member Of the board Is delueed
with all kinds OF literature AMI / can
assure the house that all these charges
are carefully investigated from time 10
time by subcommittee Of the board"
he eulogized the work Of the homes.
which, since their establishment had
cared for $4,000 soldiers AMI had ex-
pended 0.00O. 900 without the loss OF a
tarthing. Ihe keeley league. he said,
was formed In 1892. More thar 1900
soldiers had taken the cure ard there
had been only 13 lapsas. lie Genied
that anyone was forced 10 sake the
cure. He had read a Telegram from
Governor Morrill, OF Kansas endorsing
the management OF the I.4avenwo-th
home and saying that he WAS rssron-
sible for the organization os the hesley
eagu at that home.
Damper ON Frauds