The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-08-10
Home From the Philippines OF
the Muster Out.
is A STRONG PROTEST
Against Being Turned Loose on
Kansas Soil.
Wants Discharge at Frisco and
Travel Pay.
They Want to Come Home In a
Body From the Coast.

Kansas City, Kan, Aug. 10.-AttOr-
ney S. H. Whisner yesterday received
a letter from his brother, Second Lieu
tenant J. r. Whisner of company B,
Twentieth Kansas, in which the writer
takes a few shots at the people Of
Kansas who are insisting on the regi-
ment being brought to the Sunfiower
state to be mustered out. The letter
was written on July 2, and according to
it there was a rumor in circulation
among the boys to the effect that they
We're to be mustered out in Kansas.
The fighting Twentieth is DESTROYS of
being mustered out in San Francisco,
and the boys want to be brought home
in a special train from the coast. Lieu
tenant Whisner says he is willing to
contribute $50 of his own money and
pay his fare home besides, in order to
have the entire regiment come home
together, with every man armed with
his discharge. He states that the TWen-
tieth is resting in the city of Manila,
and he is of the opinion that the fight
ing days of the regiment are over
Lieutenant Whisner's letter, in part, is
This is Sunday afternoon and it is
raining as usual. Most of the officers
are sleeping and all is quiet as a grave
yard.
Our duty here in the city is not very
hard and it is much better than the fir
ing line. think our fighting days are
over. We are CHARTERED in the walled
CITY ana our quarters are considered IlE
finest in the city. Lieutenant ShowaIter
and have large room, and we have
furnished it in grand style. 1 wish you
could step in and see US. 1t is nice to
live in style Cor, 1 might say, a house
even) again; it seems almost like home
after our five months in the field.
"All of our battalion officers mess to-
gether. We have a large dining room
and a fine ia BILE with plates for fifteen,
and a cook that can't be beaten, so you
see we are living fine. L can't see
what the people of Kansas are thinking
about. It is shame for them to de-
priVe the members of the regiment of
travel pay from Frisco simply to draw
a crowd to some town, that they may
make some money by the operation, or
else to boom some sideshoW that is go
ing on in some town.
Let me ask, what did Kansas do for
the regiment? When we left the state
probably 200 people turned out to see
us off, but now that we have made a
fairly good record, and the eyes of the
whole world are upon US, every person
in Kansas is willing to entertain US,
The papers come out and say: What is
$50 to the men of the Twentieth Kan
sas, when it is a question of where they
are to be mustered out?' Permit me to
say what II means: Here are 1000 men
who have fought through many a bat
tie, slept for five months with their
clothes on, in all kinds of weather, using
q rice dixie for a pillow, banana leaves
for blankets; eating hard tack and
canned beef, to say nothing of the men
who have died and those who have
been wounded in action, drawing SIS
per month, while the people of Kansas
are doing all they can to deprive each
man of about $50, which the war de-
partment sees fit to give US.
These men will be landed in the
states in the middle of winter without
money and without the necessary
clothes to keep them warm. Stiu the
people say Come home; we will give
you a grand reception and one square
meal only to let you starVe and freeze
after the excitement is over (Which
probably will be the next day) If the
legislature had passed that bill giving
each man S. per month, 1 would have
been willing to have gone back and do
anything the people wanted. But no
that was too much; the state could not
afford it. Yet they want US to give
up the money the government allows
US and come back without money or
clothes. I for one say, No. If the
people of Kansas want to do the right
thing let them send a train to Frisco
for the boys, and let them take them
homo without it costing them a cent
then give them a banquet if they want
to. 1 for one will give $50 toward get
ting the train and will pay my fare
home rather than deprive the men of
what little they may be able to get as
travel pay. Your brother,