Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1898-01-21
The SOLDIERS HOME.

Commandant Linn Gives Facts and
Figures Of Great Ia.
terest.
Knowing the general interest in mat
ters pertaining to the Soldiers Home,
The Press interviewed Commandant
Linn, who in response to q query said:
"How is the Soldiers Home?
'The answer might be complete in
the recent report Of Department Com
mander Clark published in The Press,
were it not that suppose you want
some details.
The South Dakota Soldiers Home
is today the model home Of the nation,
and I know wher. Of I speak. 1t is a
home in the truest sense It is prac-
tically free from the liquor curse, an
evil that il the bane Of every soldiers
home in the nation. 1t took four
months Of very earnest, close work and
effort to convince the boys that liquor
was the worst enemy they had to con-
tend with. No man is denied the
privilege of taking drink or drinks SO
long as he does not interfere with the
comfort and peace Of the Home.
81 have reason to be proud of the
Home and its members and the general
conditions Few private families in
the state are more orderly or preserve
better regulations than you will find
us.
There were 1856 vetrans present at
Home when left, and there is likely
to be 200 there when 1 get back next
Saturday There were 100 present on
July /, when I assumed command.
There has not been row or brawl in
the Home since July l, or q noisy,
boisterous member In fact the mem.
bers are men far above the average, SO
far as intelligence and gentlemanly
qualities go.
''There have been So new members
added to the Home since July /, and %
old members who had left the Home
have returned because of the temper
ance conditi n of the Home. This fact
alone is very gratifying to myself and
the board of management.
''All the members who have been
discharged for intemperance have been
taken back and two of them let out
again.
"a soldiers home is. not nor was il
ever intended for saloon annex, re.
formatory or inebriate asylum. A
soldiers home is intended for a home
for disabled and sick veterans, who
want peace, comfort and care.
I'm the language of General Clark,
department commander of the G "A R (,
who recently made us q visit, the Home
is credit to the state
President Clough of the Home board
has given me loyal, earnest support,
and so has Judge Palmer, Col Dewey,
Hon. A L. VanOsdel and Hon. Harvey
Gunderson, the other members of the
board
''The soldiers of South Dakota have
no better friend living than Col Clough,
nor is there man in the state who will
go farther or do more or give more
freely to assist needy veteran than
Col. Clough.
There are about 60 more men in the
Home now than was ever in it before,
while the appropriation for the main
tenance of the Home this year and next
is 81, 800 less than it was last year. Still,
! am eoing to pull through on the
appropriation. Prices are higher now
than last year, and the men are now
furnished with the best creamery but.
ter instead of butterine as formerly,
and fresh salmon and halibut is the
feature of our Friday dinners. Every
thing is cooked in first class order, and
everything in abundance, and I am
free to say that only the strictest eco
nomy could have kept us within the
limit of the approp, iation
''The money the government pays
into the state treasury represents s25
every three months for the total aver,
age present during the quarter The
state does not get penny for any man
absent on furlough The total approx
ration for all purposes for the Home is
$26, 500 a year, and for the membership
in the Home during the year by quar-
ters. will return to the state treasury
nearly if not quite $4,000. Reports of
the membership is made every day and
consolidated into tri-monthly, monthly
and quarterly reports, and these are
sent to Gen Franklin, president of the
National Home board The morning
report shows every man present or
absent, on detail or sick, and Gen
Franklin knows our condition at the
end of every ten days just AZ well as /
do.
"By this time next year the legisla-
ture will be asked 70 build q new wing