The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-03-07
FROM CAPTAIN CoNEY.
Writes a Few Lines About State Sol
diers' Home Appropriation.

TO the Editor of the State Journal and
to the Veterans and Our Friends:
To our surprise, an assault has been
made upon the appropriation bills,
making provision for the protection
and comfort of the inmates of the
'sSoldiers' home at Dodge City and
the Mother Bickerdyke home at
Ellsworth. Kan. from sources that
was least expected, and is most dis
creditable to them and to the patriot
ism of the constituents they represent
Their hostility has become abusive
and venomous, to the degree that
these appropriations are in jeopardy
of not providing sufficient to protect
these homes and provide for the suit
able comfort of their inmates.
The unpatriotic and disloyal assaults
made by some members of the senate
on the appropriation for these institu-
tons, provided by the patriotism and
patriots of Kansas, in grateful recOg-
milton of the valiant services and
heroic accomplishments of the de-
tenders of this nation who rendered
greater services to Kansas, and the
civilization and prosperity we now
enjoy, than all other influences COM
bined in this nation; was a gratuitous
act of the loyal people of Kansas at a
time when the veterans and their de-
pendentS were more numerous than
now, and when such recreancy as is
others toward these institutions, would
be met with condemnation that would
put these antagonists out of official
life forever, as their conduct would
not be tolerated by public sentiment,
for an instant. I am sure that the
time has not yet come when their ex-
pressiOns OF antagonism and disre-
gard of the constitutional rights of
the defenders of this nation will be
listened to, or respected with any
serious degree of consideration. They
have succeeded in defeating the bills
introduced in the legislature to amend
the veterans preference law and the
veterans vendors law to make them
more specific and definite, so as to
prevent their evasion or disregard.
These amendments were found to be
necessary after the decisions of the
supreme court holding these laws con-
Btitutional but permitting the discre-
hOnary powers to subvert them by
evasive conduct that practically nulli-
hed the laws, and prevented their be-
Ing executed in the spirit and intent
of their enactment In other words
multiplying these laws that are charged
to our comrades, and thereby loading
up with a charge that is of no avail
to US.
But now they are going farther, and
striking at our INDECENT and HELPLESS
comrades and their widows, wives and
mothers, who are being taken care of
an Institutions provided by the patri-
otto people of Kansas This should
not be permitted. and therefore I an
peal to the veterans and their friends
20 come TO their rescue and go in a
body to the legislature, and once more
appear in all their strength. patriotism
and courage to demand their consti-
tutiOnal rights in protecting and pro-
viding for their comrades and their
dependents in these homes, provided
for their care and protection in their
feeblenesS and age. I hope that my
comrad es and their friends will go in
a body to the legislature and insist
upon these homes receiving such SUD
port, by appropriation. necessary to
protect them and provide for their
inmates in accordance with their re-
quirements. and thereby sustain the
hands of such magnificent champions
and patriots as Senators Noftzger.
Miller and Waggener, and our other
loyal and faithful friends in the house
felt constrained to make this an
peal because of the necessity of the
occasion, and in the absence of 9TH
ers who ought to be present and Of
ficially act in the premises. Comrades
and friends. rally once more and
demonstrate to these recreant mem
bers of the legislature, that the heroes
who preserved the government of
Washington. Jefferson and Lincoln
and gave to the world the highest
standard of civilization and prosperity.
are yet strong enough to defend them
selves and rebuke their enemies
Yours in F. c. and l..
P. H. CONEY.