The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-11
CAPT, FALKNERIS
 UNJUSTLY BLAMED Gives Out Statement Regarding Confederate Veterans Home CRITICS ARE NUMEROUS Those Who Do the Talking Are Not Conspicuous for Their Generos-
 lty In Contributing to Sup
 port of the Cause.
CRITICS ARE NUMEROUS

Montgomery December 1O-(Speeial)- Capt. J. M Fallxner gave out a statement today relative to the soldiers home at Mountain Creek which concludes with the cheering statement that the present board of control will soon be ready to turn the home over to the state. This would probably have been done sooner but for the illness of Captain Falkner.
 Captain Falkner indicates in his state- ment that some persons have been criti- cising the management of the home, but this could hardly have been the case for to him more than to the efforts of all other persons in the state. the credit for the building of the home is due Not only did he originate the idea, but he has given largely of his time and means to see 1t completed. That 1t Is first in his heart no one doubts. Speaking of the matter today he said
 Captain Falkner's Statement.
 "So far as Captain Thompson Is con- cerned, his name is before the commit- tee of the camp, but there are more ap- plications on file ahead of this than we have room for at the home.
 Tn order to build this home, the camp of which am an humble member, had to resort to many schemes to get money and in doing so we made many pledges which we feel in honor bound to carry out Some of these pledges the camp has been trying to carry out since the act was passed appropriating money for the home.
 Several weeks ago, I myself by letter, notified twenty-five old soldiers, in ad- dition to those who are already at the home, whose application had been on file for some time that by appearing at the home they would be received. Besides these we have another large list who will be notified to come just as soon as there is room for them.
 For the last three or four weeks per sonally on account of i'll health, I have been unable to give my personal atten- tion to the home, but down to this mo- ment nothing has been neglected and every effort has been made to make the old soldiers present at the home feel comfortable and provide for those who desired to come.
 Talk Without Results.
 Ever since the war I have been meet ing men who knew exactly how to build soldiers home. how to raise the money and how to manage a home after 1t was built, but for some reason these gentle men never put their ideas into operation.
 We have had all sorts of criticism concerning this home since 1t started, but I am glad to say that know of no adverse criticism on the part of any one who has materially aided or contributed toward the building or maintenance of the present home
 There is limit to human effort and looking back to the beginning of this home I do not believe that with the means at hand that 1t was possible to make any greater progress than we have done. We started last year with a set of plans for one building, $5 in cash and the balance of our assets was faith, and I confess that during this time when I have seen notices of great gatherings of Confederate sol diers .n their annual reunions, where they have heen addressed by men who are sup posed to occupy high positions and who are now prominent among the people, not one word has been said in behalf of the indigent Confederate soldier or the necessity of providing a home for him and keeping him out of the poor houses of the several counties confess that my stock of faith has been considerably weakened, but for the good women of the state of Alabama, I would have long since thrown up the sponge
 I've will be ready at a nearly date to turn the home over to the state, when I hope that every soldier unprovided for will at an early date have home that he can call his home"