The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-08-12
DISCUSSED BY THE NORTHWEST
ERN STAT1Gs SOLDIERS HOME
ASSOCIATION.
FOURTH ANNUAL CONVENTION.
REPRESENTATIVE OF FIVE INSTI.
TUTIONS TELL. OF THE WAY
THEY'REa CONDUCTED.
HOW PENSIONS ARE HANDLED.
Home at Minnehaha Will he Visited
TOday-Electisn of officers and
Other Business.

The care of the old soldiers in the
state homes how to make their decl1n-
ing days happy and thus repay small
fraction of the debt of gratitude the
nation owes them, was the prime OBJ
ject of the forth annual convention of
the Northwestern State Soldiers Home
association, which opened yesterday
in parlor of the Ryan hotel Dele
gates We're present from six states as
follows:
Wisconsin-Capt A. J. Smith and Capt. o.
+. Chase, trustees
:. lnd1ana-Col. ]. P. Megrew, commandant OF
the home.
Nebraska-Col. wv. Wilson, commandant;
also. Mrs l., A. Bates, ex president OF the
board of trustees, as visitor.
So4{S W H. Byars Meaaine com
mandant and Col. John D. Black and Capt.
M. F. Brown, trustees.
Baxter of Fergus Falls; Capt. Lavake, of
Duluth, and Capt D. W. Huntington, OF RED
Wood Fails, members Of the board or trus-
tees, and Capt. Thomas. Mcmillan, command
ant; l. H. Beebee, secretary; L. A. Hancock,
| quartermaster; D. R. Greenlee, surgeon; Z.
b. Hlgbee, consulting surgeon, and Rev. l.. A.
| Smith, chaplain.
| The convention was called to order
| by the president, Capt. Castle. DR.. D.
R. Greenlee is the secretary. Repre-
submitted short reports of their in
! situations.
| Col Wilson gave a short sketch of
the Nebraska home. 1t has no control
over the pensions of the inmates, but
| every effort is made to induce them
| to save their money for their families.
! The trustees are DESTROYS that the gov
eminent pass law to regulate the
| pensions in all state homes. There is
| practically no drunkenness, owing to
the rule of discharging inmates upon
proof of same The institution is on
farm and keeps forty cows, but the
| inmates are not required to do any
work on the farm. Their present pop
ulation is 260! old soldiers.
Capt. Byarscreported that the Ogden
home has now been organized four
| years and has eighty inmates. 1t is
located on a farm of forty acres The
pensions, in excess of 81 per month, are
retained for the home.
Col. Megrew announced that the In
diana home has 27S men, also num-
! Der of wives and widows of soldiers.
The women must be forty-five years of
age to entitle them to admission The
home has a farm of ITO acres of land
and is beautifully situated.
Col. McIlvaine said that the North
Dakota home is probably the smallest
| in the United States, having only fifty
six inmates. They work in the gar
den (of six. and one-half acres), raise
chickens and keep five COWS. All old
soldiers from any state are admitted
but they must have clear apers! They
are not troubled by drunkenness-ne
/ er had but one drunken man in the
| home.
Capt. Mcmillan, of the Minnesota
home, reported that it had 264 inmates
! at present, although the number has
run as high as 425. No women are
| admitted to the home. The institu-
ton retains all of the pensions of in
mates in excess of 81 per month, but
those having dependent families have
this excess sent to the latter; other
wise it goes into the general fund
In referring to the discharge of in
corrigible inmates, Capt. Mcmillan said
! 1t was dangerous point. What will
become of the unfortunate, if the only
| home he knows shuts it's doors against
him? A quiet, friendly talk to those
who were inclined to make trouble
usually had the desired effect without
resorting to harsher methods.
The convention then adjourned for
dinner, the midday meal being partak-
| en- of at the hotel
1
were taken up for discussion, as fol-
| lows:
| Uniformity of all missions other than re-
| qured or provided by law
| Detail work to be done about the home by
| the inmates; how and when shall the details
| be made.
Discharges; when they should be granted
/ and the reasons therefor.
| Pensions; the rule to govern the payment
| to the inmates.
Hospitals and their arrangement and man
| agement in soldiers homes.
| Care and cure of the incorrigibles.
| These subjects were discussed in an
! informal way and at considerable
| length, the entire afternoon being de-
| voted to this purpose. This morning
the association will go to the Mime
sofa home to complete the business of
| the session, and to pay sightseeing
| visit to that institution. The officers
will be elected and the next place of
meeting will be determined upon. Two
| places have extended an invitation for
the next convention, Lafayette, Ind,
| and Waupaca, Wis.
With reference to the topics under
| discussion yesterday, a committee was
appointed, consisting of the command
ants of the different homes to draft
resolutions and recommendations to be
presented to the association today
This committee met last evening, but
| decided to refer the matter back to
| the association.