Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-07
PROMISE GIVEN TO
THE OLD SOLDIERS
U. S. SENATOR WARNER AND
REST OF BOARD ARRIVE
HEAD OF NATIONAL MANAGERS
WANTS THE FACTS
Hearing of Testimony on Mismanage-
ment of Soldiers Home Will Begin
There at O'Clock This
Afternoon
q A NY intimation of a whitewash

~ A NY intimation of whitewash
II investigation of conditions at
~ the Soldiers home near Saw
telle will not be countenanced by me,
and 1 promise the public, and partic-
ularly the old soldiers, that l will use
my best endeavors to get at the bottom
of conditions at Sawtelle--conditions
which have been brought to the notice
of the board from time to time in the
past few months. We desire that all
persons whose testimony will enlighten
the commission be present at the home
Tuesday afternoon We want the facts
and will endeavor to obtain them, but
in order to do so we must have the wit
nesses."
This was the statement of Maj Will
liam Warner, United States senator
from Missouri and a member of the
national board of managers of soldiers
homes, who, accompanied by the other
six members of the board, arrived in
Los Angeles shortly after noon yester-
day.
Tired and weary after long delay.
the members of the board arrived at
the Santa Fe station and because OF
the fact that the train was many hours
late change of program had to be
made. Arrangements had been made
for breakfast at the Van Nuys hotel
and trip about Los Angeles, but these
plans were Cancelled and the board
members left for the big home at Saw
telle Immediately.
Met by Old Comrades
A delegation of Grand Army mem
bers awaited the arrival of the COM
mission, and Maj. James M. Wards
worth, president Of the board, and Maj.
Warner were met by delegations of
old Grand Army comrades.
Governor Cochrane of the Soldiers
home and Treasurer Moore, who have
been accused repeatedly of bringing
about the wretched conditions at the
Soldiers home, which resulted in the
investigation by the national board,
were among those to greet the inspec-
tors.
Governor Cochrane at once took
charge of the party and the intended
stop in Los Angeles was cancelled and
the party taken to the Soldiers home,
as guests of Governor Cochrane.
Capt !. N. Strickler of Los Angeles,
a former comrade of Maj Warner,
was one of the first to greet the dis
tinguished United States senator and,
In reply to a question in regard to the
investigation, warmly assured Capt.
Strickler that a thorough investiga-
tion of conditions at the home would be
made and requested that all persons
having information in regard to the
management or mismanagement Of the
home appear before the board at the
session to be held this afternoon.
Hearing opens Today
Major Wordsworth voiced the same
opinion, and it is probable that a num-
ber of civilians as we'll as members of
the home will give testimony this
afternoon in regard to conditions at the
home.
The statement that nothing wrong
existed at the home is shown to be un-
true by the hurried visit of the ma
tional board of governors, who came
to Southern California for the express
purpose of making an official inves-
tigation, as the result of complaints
about the management of Governor
Cochrane, which have assumed ma
tional Importance.
Yesterday afternoon the members of
the national board were entertained by
Governor Cochrane and the reception
which was planned for the morning
was carried out late yesterday after
noon.
Following the reception a visit was
made to the home and the parapher-
MALTA of the veterans inspected. But
little was accomplished by the inspec-
ton as the members of the board were
tired after their long journey.
Remained at SawteIIe
The board members remained at
Sawtelle last night as guests of Gov
ernor Cochrane and will begin this
morning the rigid investigation that
has been so earnestly demanded.
Grand Army men in and about L--J