Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1902-11-21
. HOT SPRINGS, SOUTH DAKOTA FRIDAY 2l 1902
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING.

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING.
One of the Ridiculous "Charges" Against
the Home Management.
In various newspaper articles recent
ly published concerning the South
Dakota Soldiers Home there has been
includeda a letter addressed to Hon. A.
l.. VanOsdel, and signed by w. 8. Ad-
dington, member of the Home. In
that letter is this statement: SIT is
very sad to see the condition of the
Home this pension month: so much
drunkenness. Never since have been
in the Home has it been like this, and
it is the general opinion of all the sober
comrades. They pass the bottle of
whiskey around at the table" This
statement, il true, would show de-
plorable condition as to the morale of
the Home. If it is not true it ought
not to have been written and published.
The Board of Commissioners of the
Home have thoroughly Investigated
these charges. In the dining room
there is room for twelve members at
each table, and at present fourteen
tables are used. The Board directed
the adjutant to bring before the Board
two men from each table. Each one
was asked whether he had ever seen
any comrade at his table pass bottl Q
of whiskey or beer to any other comrade,
also whether he had any knowledge that
such thing had ever been done at any
table, and the answer in every case
from all of those twenty eight witnesses
was in the negative. Each one was
asked whether he had ever seen bot
tie of whiskey or beer brought into
the building and in every case mega
tive answer was given. They were
then asked if there is any more drink
ing or drunkenness now than one, two
and three years ago. One of these
members answered that possibly there
is An increase, about twenty testified
that there is no increase, and the bal
ance stated that there is now less than
formerly. Similar statements were
made by a number of other members
of the Home.
The fact concerning "the bottle of
whiskey passed around at the table" is
that one member jokingly passed a
bottle of vinegar to another, asking
him if he would have a drink with him.
This bottle had formerly been used by
a member as a whiskey bottle. Mr..
Addington stated to the Board that at
the time he supposed it was bottle
containing whiskey. No one doubts
his sincerity, but it has been establish
ed beyond shadow of doubt that he
was mistaken.
DR.. j. A. Sommerville became the
surgeon of the Home October 10th, 1902.
Pension day followed in few days. At
the time the members of the Home re-
ceive their quarterly pensions there is
always more drinking than at other
times. DR. Sommerville informed the
Board that for few days after receiv-
ing their pensions the percentage of
drunkenness was larger than before.
His testimony had reference only to
those who applied for temporary treat
ment following intoXication.
The adjutant, L. d. Smith, has been
a member of the Home for five years
and is qualified to judge concerning
the condition of things during that
period. He states that in a total
membership of 1S1 these are not to ex-
! ceed dozen habitual drunkards. The
Board regrets that there is any tenden-
cy to drinking by any of the members
of the Home, but it is fact that many
of them drink at mere or less frequent
intervals.
The Home was not established as a
prision or a reformatory, but to fur
nish a home for needy and disabled,
honorably discharged Soldiers. In it
there are reasonable regulations, which
so far as possible, are enforced. Law
full restraints are put upon wrong do
ing and the morale of the South Dako-
ia Soldiers Home ranks among the
highest and best in the United States.
T. NJ. SHANAFELT, President.
N. G. NASH, Secretary.
Mrs. w. E. Zollinger is again report