The San Francisco call., 1905-06-28
PLAN Bic DAY
FOR VETERANS
Fourth Will Be Celebrated
at YOuntrille Home With
Patriotic Demonstration
J. D. REDDING TO SPEAK
Ais Well at the Institu-
ton and Natal Day Will
Bring Added Good Cheer

Bring Added Good Cheer
The nations birthday will be COM
memorated IN brave style at the Veter-
ans Home in Napa County. Interesting
features of the celebration will attract
the attention Of the residents of the
valley from Napa City to St. Helena.
Fireworks 10 delight the old and young
Will be exploded. Bombs. skyrockets. will
low trees and highballs of flame have
been manufactured specially for4this .cele-
bration Farmers adjoining the reserva-
ton have been cautioned to look out for
sparks I'm their hayfelds.
Joseph d. Redding has accepted the in
vitation 70 address the veterans and their
guests on the Fourth. Uncle George I.
Bromley, who has visited the camp on
several memorable occasions, will go
this time with Mr.. Redding as the special
envoy of the owl. in the archives of the
Veterans Home there is big mark to
the credit Of the Bohemian Club. The
net proceeds of Paul Neumann's lecture
on Debt at Platt's Hall many years
ago were given by the club to the fund
for the establishment of the home. The
sum Of $1O0S was thus contributed. 1t
stands in the record of donations as the
largest cash contribution to the insti-
tuition
Messrs Redding and Bromley. leading
factors in the club will therefore be more
than welcome visitors among the old
soldiers. A treat of bright sayings and
stirring sentiments is in store from these
famous speakers. Mr.. Redding is an ora
tor of far more than ordinary ability
and before an assemblage of the Yeter-
q ans of three wars he will have inspira-
ton for highest effort. The directors are
much pleased because of Mr.. Redding's
acceptance of the invitation to speak.
Mrs Snyder Johnson, a singer of rare
accomplishment, will sing The Star
Epangled Banner to delight the de-
Tenders Of the flag Between speech and
song the orchestra of the home will dis
course sweet music
DR.. Russell. department commander OF
the Grand Army of the Republic. accom-
panied by his staff, visited the home two
weeks ago On his return to Marysville
he was interviewed by the Appeal. He
spoke in the highest terms OF the man
agement Of the institution. He remarked
that the supplies furnished were the best
in the market, and the men were happy
and contentcd lot.
CoMMENDS MANAGEMENT.
Colonel Richards. L. S. A. inspector Of
homes. national and State. visited the
home in Yountville in May. During his
three DAYS sojourn he went through ev-
cry nook and corner of every department
and Listened to every member who asked
to speak to him. He frankly asserted
that tho home was not surpassed and
hardly ecualed in the United States,
and that his report 10 the National Board
Of Managers would give the State of
California credit for caring for her dis
abled soldiers in a generous and COM
mendable manner. He found the per-
centage Of happy and contented members
exceptionally large
Without resorting to harsh and ex-
irene measures the board of directors is
doing all that can be done tot ptevent
weak members of the institution from
souandering their money and disgracing
themselves in exhibitions of drunkenness
in the saloons Of Yountville.
There is no agitation in the board for
legislative measures in Congress TO re-
store the canteen. Duncan Z. Mchin-
lav. the Representative of the district,
NAV introduce such a measure at the
reo1,est Of the veterans themselves.
General Samuel w. Backus was asked
yesterday concerning the death rate since
The canteen was abolished. He said: The
death rate has increased since the canteen
was closed. the number of deaths In the
month of May being exceptionally large
sT-ba hoard has not that control over the
uouor drinking propensity of weak mem
hers that IL had when the canteen existed
The medical department reports that the
uouor sold in some of the saloons OF
YountvilIe is vile and poisonous What
we are now compelled to guard against Is
that the men who go TO the dives ana get
drunk shall not be permitted to disturb
the rest and sleep OF their sober COM
rades."
HOME IN GOOD CONDITION.
Concerning general conditions at the
home, General Backus said: The home
"a IN excellent order. The men, or the
great majority Of them, are happy and
contented.
s'The Strohl-McAllister affair seems to
be a Napa County political feud of long
standing notice that many OF the incl
dents referred to in the newspaper gossip
Gate back seven or eight years. The mer-
chants of Napa County have always been
fairly treated by the management of the
home and In no instance has Napa
County dealer failed to receive award Of
contract when he was the lowest bidder.
Other members of the board assert that
the Strohl- -McAllister fight is simply the
revival of an old struggle Of Napa fac
tions for political mastery, and has moth
ing whatever TO do with the management
OF the home On the advice of the ma
tional inspectors the board Of directors
has adopted the policy OF permitting
guests TO be entertained at the officers
cottage. Every well regulated home en-
tertains guests. Five years ago the board
adopted a resolution that every officer and
director should be permitted to entertain
guests at the officers cottage on payment
TO the treasury of the cost of subsistence.
Governor Gage and Governor Pardee held
that as the directors received no COM
pensation for their services they should
not be obliged TO pay, but the board for
its own protection maintained the rule.
II is well enough for guests to be kept
away from asylums. prisons and pest
houses. but the Veterans Home is an
institution of a different character. Sew
eral Of the States have made appropri-
ations to enable the old veterans ia bring
their wives into camp as permanent resi-
dents The visits of ladies and children
are encouraged in every well regulated
soldiers home. Books, music and agree
able guests brighten a home and render
life cheerful.
HPfWeeu the