Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1910-12-23
CRISIS SCATHES
SOLDIERS HOME
AT HOT SPRINGS
Members of Managing Board
Are drilled In Caustic Mes
sage Demanding
Investigation.

Hot Springs, S. D., Dec. 12-Differ-
ences long existing between the BOARD
Of managers of the State Soldiers
home at this place, including the COM
mandant on the one side and on the
other the inmates of the home, chafng
under what they term tyrannical rules
and restrictions, came to an open erup-
ton yesterday with the flames Of re-
bellion at white heat with many of
the leading citizens of Hot Springs
taking sides with the veterans In an
effort to get past the board and catch
the ear of Governor Wesley who has
the appointing power in the formation
OF the board.
Oppressive, unjust, cruel" and even
"diabolical," are some OF the terms
used in attempting to express the feel
ing of citizens toward the management
of the home, which they declare has
ceased to be a home and corresponds
more nearly to a military prison, the
dead lines working custer or other
dire penalty to those comrades who
come under the ~displeasure of the COM
mandant who in turn receives his
rules of government largely from the
soldiers home board.
Old Trouble Revives.
The trouble is of long standing,
though it has broken out afresh re-
Gently because of cases Of penalizing
which have come to the attention of
the people of Hot Springs. At a meeting
of citizens yesterday where the griev-
ances were stated by some Of the vet
Grams who are suffering the displeas-
ure of the board and commandant for
alleged infractions Of the rules admin
istered. al they declare, under the
manipulation OF a car, a telegram
CfoNnI hty rrnnffnnI liz, nNyaryr nitNr and
county official was prepared n for
warded 10 Governor Wesley demanding
on immediate investigation and fur
thermore a radical revision OF the
rules governing the home so that II
may be what its name implies.
While the names attached to the
message were as above stated, a null
titude of the best citizens of the place
were back OF the movement. and it is
proposed that once and for all the
status Of veterans in the home shall be
fixed on such conditions that they may
realize that they are in a home provid-
ed by a patriotic people rather than for
the purpose OF ~encroaching upon their
simple personal liberties. Never has the
sentiment of the city been so wrought
up over any matter as in the present
case, and there promises to be no back
step until the governor recognizes the
demand and Institutes a more thor
ough investigation han has ever been
had.
Colonel Arthur Linn, of Canton, for
mer c"ommandant of the Home. and
now a member Of the board, as well as
Colonel a. b. Nelson, Of Pierre, chair
man of the board, come in for bitter
castigation in the charges which are
made to the governor.
The telegram TO Governor Vessey is
as follows:
Tyranny. a relic of babarism, now ex,
lists in the management OF the state sol.
diers' home. Although having fought and
suffered FOR their country, WORTHY ret
Grams, destitute and physically incapaci-
tated, for frivolous or fancied o~ffenses are
turned out in winters cold, without food
or shelter. while the tvrant. Gaddes and
his co-conspirators, Linn and Nelson,
chortel in glee over the sufferings OF these
pleadings and our demands. Western
South Dakota hangs her head in disgrace;
what the state built for a home is now a
bastile. A mighty and just protest goes
up from all good citizens; and immediate
relief from such abominable conditions is
demanded. We, as citizens and officials,
know the conditions, but stand powerless:
you, as governor. now know them. Won
can and should alter them Immediately or
you yourself become a party to the out
rage.
Lawrence II. Hedrick. City Attorney.
w. s.. Bentley, Mayor.
J. L. Marcoux, Councilman and Coroner.
b. J.-Glattly. Councilman Second Ward
L. r. Highley, Councilman First Ward
and State Senator.
5. E.. Wilson, States Attorney.
Hugh Houghton, Chairman County Board
Arthur S. Terrell, Member County Board
Emil Hargen, County Commissioner.
J. b. Herman, County Auditor.
F.. G.. Osmotherly, Justice of the Peace.
Chas. f. Sage, County Treasurer.
A.. r.. Peterson, Councilman Fourth Ward
). G.. Evans, Councilman Third Ward.
Charles Stewart City Treasurer.
?. f. Walker. President Commercial Club
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