Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1897-12-03
THE SOLDIERS HOME AGAIN.

THE SOLDIERS HOME AGAIN.
ing the management of the Soldiers
Home We discussed the situation from
Il non-partisan, unbiased standpoint.
We mentioned it only because the
newspapers here we're looked to to give
the facts-though we believe the proper
place for the consideration of these
Home troubles is before the board of
managers and the q. \. II. committee.
But since last issue we are in RECEIPT of
a marked copy of the Sioux Falls Press
of November 16, in which appears ii
special to the Sioux Falls Press
written from Hot Springs, which is so
unjust to "the past" that we feel justi-
fled in again saying something upon
the subject-at least disappearing of
it. From The communication, which
vas Il very bitter one, we clip the fol
lowing:
1.-The %rotteEness and the whisky of
the past has gone and with them many
evils and disgusting exhibitions too
filthy to repeat
"lhe commandant nor any officer
under him do not get drunk, as was
formerly the case. Men do not fight
all over the wards and carry whisky
around the rooms after taps now, as
WAS formerly the case"
Last week we mildly disapproved of
comparisons that we had heard made
oflhe past and present administrations
bus such statements as the above are
to tank tn submit to. 1t looks to us
a, though somebody proposed to make
t rs matter Il political fight. They are
making it such. Though opposed to
bringing the Home into politics,
the republican party is i'll IA
position, i'll this case, we apprehend. to
show IL good record. Our article last
week denounced the agitation of ILL
feeling against the commandant. We
are opposed to that class Of agitators.
We are DESTROYS of helping make the
present administration of the Home IL
success. So are the people of Hot
Springs. But that can not be done by
seeking to besmirch the past admins
t%rations, as the correspondent of the
populist Sioux Falls Press does.
When the public farewell reception
was given Capt. Lucas, i'll a few re-
marks Col. Linn stated that he received
the Home. as General .Averill said, "the
best conducted Home, with some of
the best behaved men. of any Soldiers
Home in the nation" That is pretty
high authority. and Gen. Averill prob
ably knew more about how the Home
had been conducted than the Press
correspondent of November 10th.
We regret exceedingly that the Press
correspondent has been so rash and
injudicious in his statements, for it is
certain to arouse a partisan feeling
where lone had previously existed
The past administration has been base
ly insulted. Notwithstanding the praise
given it by Gen. .Averill and Col.
Clough, president of the board. The
luSlll is So great. anu ulS charges so
s~erious-against the past administra
ton, and the republican party which
was responsible for it-that the follow
ing, from the same communication in
the Press, should be acted upon:
"Commandant Linn would be pleased
to have Department Commander Clark,
his adjutant general, or other respon.
sible gentlemen, visit the Home. in
spect it, study it, and tell what he finds
to be its condition. This invitation is
a standing one. * He also said in
, answer to the newspaper liars that he
/ would like to have the management of
the Home investigated from the time
it was opened until the present time
This is a request from the present
management that cannot we'll be ig.
!, nored. for of itself it gives q suspicion
that all has not been as it should be.
AS a friend of the past administra.
ton. aud as IL republican newspaper,
the STAR hopes. therefore. that an in
vestigation may be made and the truth
shown and let it be. as invited. up ia
. the present time. This is the only
proper way to get the facts, and satisfy
those who have "a longing suspicion
toward either management.