Los Angeles herald., 1909-07-20
SMITH DEFENDED
BY OLD FRIENDS
SAWTELLE VETERANS RALLY
TO SUPPORT
FORMER MEMBER OF HOME NOT
WORRIED BY DISCHARGE
Aqed Soldier Considers His Dismissal
Perfectly Honorable, In Light of
Recent Developments at
the Institution

"I consider a dishonorable discharge
from the soldiers home perfectly hon
orable at the present time and l have
hundreds of friends who will agree
with me-" John A. Smith, formerly of
Company G, Twenty-fourth Ohio in
fantry, said yesterday at the soldiers
home Smith was dishonorably dis
charged from the home July because
of alleged disrespect shown to su-
perior officer.
"I firmly believe" said Smith, that
it is but a question of time before we
have a new regime and the men who
offered their lives in their country's
service are no longer treated like dogs.
1 am not dependent on the home, but
object to being dishonorably dis
charged. I have taken my case to
Manager Markham and believe that
before long 1 shall be reinstated. L
am also a member of the Masons, the
Odd Fellows and the knights of
Pythias, and all of these organizations
have taken active steps in my behalf.
l have as good a military record as
any of the men, and when the officers
got hold of me they thought they
so that the other men would
stop talking, but they got hold of the
wrong man. | am not dependent on
the home, am comfortably fixed In
every respect and shall lend every eff
fort toward lettering the now out
rageous conditions in the home. There
were absolutely no legal grounds for
discharging me- the remark / made
regarding Treasurer Moore simply be-
ing a question, and no disrespect was
intended. Matters have now gone far
beyond my power to control and l
expect that before long the foreigners
who govern the home will hear from
the federal authorities at Washington"
Foreigners DisIiked
Talks with the old veterans about the
home revealed the fact that conditions
had been little if any better since the
recent agitation regarding existing con-
ditions. The men still allege that they
are repeatedly insulted by those in
command over them and subject to all
manner of neglect. There is also much
sentiment against the government of
the home being placed in the hands OF
foreigners. The old gray boards, the
majority of whom have seen active
service in the Civil war, state that
their records are far better than those
of their superiors. John A. Smith, who
fought in the battles of Lookout Noun
tain,> Missionary Ridge, Stone river,
Chickamauga and others, said that the
only native American in power at the
soldiers home is Governor Cochrane.
1t is generally admitted, however,
that the rations have improved within
the past two months, some of the sol
diers stating that during the period
when the question of government in
the soldiers home was being agitated
the meals were the best which they had
eaten for several years.
Joe Enderlein, formerly commissary
officer and now commander of G. A. r.
post No. 1T, said yesterday that the
water supply at the home was so vile
that it was remarkable that the SOL
diers had not contracted some serious
malady. I'm every respect. except the
rations, conditions at the home are
the same as they were three months
ago." said Enderlein. 1.-THE men are
for the greater part respectable, law
abiding citizens, and if treated with
even ordinary decency would make no
outcry or complaint. When, however,
they are treated unjustly, are given
the gate" for little or no cause, and
are referred to as "old stiffs" and
''hoboes," it is remarkable that they
have stood the outrageous treatment
as long as they have.
Defends Smith
Regarding the dishonorable dis
charge of John Smith from the home,
the general sentiment is most con-
demnatory against those who have
brought it about Smith has commit
ted no crime and has been guilty of no
breach of military etiquette. He has
fifty friends in the home to the man
agement's one, and he will certainly
be vindicated.
"Since I came to the home, several
years ago." continued Enderlein, there
have been Il series of dishonorable dis
charges of men who have, to my
knowledge, done everything in their
power for their country. Every minor
offense, such as drunkenness or petty
negligence, has been the pretext for
some discharge.
''When I first entered the home I
was placed in charge of the commits
sary department, but when Governor
Cochrane was placed in charge I lost
my position. The attitude of those in
charge of the home encourages the ut
most hostility among the men and 1
have never heard Major Moore refer
to any of the veterans in any but a
derogatory manner, calling them old
stiffs' and 'hoboes' I expect that be-
fore long will be given the gate but
I shall at any event aid the boys in
carrying this fight to finish"