The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1900-12-27
HOME IN THE SOUTH.
-t.--.--i.
Commander Kilmers Appeal to Establish a
Branch at Corpus Christi.
Headquarters F.. ]. Davis Post, 81.
department of Texas, G. a. II,

Department of Texas, G. A. L.,
Corpus Christi. Tex.
To all Posts ana Members of the Grand
Army of the Republic: In tile issue OF Oct. -
of THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE an article relative
TO the establishment of a Soldiers Home at
this place was published, That article has
brought me several letters from different
parts of the country. wishing me success In
the matter and proFers of assistance. Be
leving that Il full Understanding of the mat
ter would secure for MS the aid of all &. A. IL.
comrades and, eventually, success, ! again de-
sire, through the columns of THE NATIONAL
TRIBUNE, to call your attention 10 the fact
that the far South has no home facilities
Probably, $4,000 ex-Union soldiers are now
living In the Gulf States. These comrades
and their families are residents, many of them
for years, of the Gulf States. scattered all
over these extreme Southern States are vet
Grams in poor health and DESTROYS OF entering
the homes established by the Government for
their benefit. In many instances they are
unable to do so by reason of the crowded con
ditiOn of the Branch Homes, and others do
not apply for admission because Of the change
OF climate which they would have to endure
in order to enter any Of the present Branches.
The Northern and Central States have
large number of Branch Homes distributed
from the Atlantic Coast westward, while the
whole Southern part of the Union has none.
OF course, We are aware that those parts of
the country where the present Branches are
located have far more persons eligible TO ad
mission to n Home than the section in which
we are situated. This fact clearly establishes
their claim TO great deal larger share of
Home privileges, but we do not think that
their prepOnderance should be allowed to en-
tirely eXtinguish our rights. We think that,
according to numbers, we ought to have equal
facilities. The National Encampment refused
TO recommend that our request he granted; in
fact, reported against the location Of 4 Home
on the Texas coast. /, for one, would like to
know the reasons, or Mt least some of the
reasons, that prompted this action on the part
of the National Encampment. In these States
of the extreme South are 4 great many conf
rades of the G. A. X. There are numerous
Posts and several Departments all Of which
contribute the same amount, according to
their numbers, to the maintenance OF the or
der, rs do those of other parts of the country
in which the present Homes are located.
Again, many of the soldiers of the war with
Spain are living in these Southern States, and
also of the war of the suppression of the in
surrection In the Philippines. All of these
Will be eligible TO admission TO Homes and
Will desire the location of. Home in the eli
mate TO which they are accustomed
At Corpus Christi we have, first. 100-room
building, suitable for the use to which we de-
sire to put it; second, a tract OF ground on
which more can be built, as needed, and, first
last and all the time climate just suited to
the wants of our brOken-dOwn comrades, who,
by reason Of their infirmities are untitled for
a further struggle with the world or adverse
climatic conditions. The property Is offered
for less than 20 per cent. of the cost of the
building alone, and the owners have offered to
equip it for the use Of 100 persons il the Gov
eminent will buy and use it for the purpose
mentioned.
In order that we may accomplish what We
have undertaken in this matter, l call on
every Post in the entire country, and all G. A.
X. men and Union soldiers, to assist me in
any way they can TO secure what We are justly
entitled to, and to that end i suggest that
every Post pass a resolution asking Congress
to pass a bill to locate Home at Corpus
Christi Tex. Send a copy of the action of
your Post TO your member lin Congress or TO
Hon. Rudolph Kleberg, House of Representa-
tives, Washington, ID. &. Have all papers
signed by your Post Commander and Adju- |
tant. Remember, comrades. we are not seek |
ing to take from you anything belonging to |
you, but only asking that we shall be given |
like facilties.-E. J. KILMER, Commander, |
Post 81 Corpus Christi Tex