The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1911-01-05
3H15 OnU6 5TUKFS
DEAL IN LIQUORS
CoMMANDANT GEDnEs THUS EA.
PLAINS THE TROUBLES HE
HAS BEEN HAVING WITH
INMATES OF SOLDIERS
HOME.

Canton. S. D.-A representative OF
me Tribune interviewed Colonel j.
b. Geddes, commandant of soldiers
Ihome at Hot Springs. who Is now IN
!Canton consulting with Colonel Linn,
chairman of the soldiers home board.
Colonel Geddes was emphatic in his
statements. He said in part as fol-
lows;
Il, as commandant of the home,
have during my term met with the
combined opposition of a certain
clique in Hot Springs who eel to
think that the home is a local insti-
tuition. 1 accepted the position as
lcommandant with greet reluctance,
knowing as l did, that this same gang
in Hot Springs would make it I'M
peasant for me did l not bow to them
and allow them to run things At
the time of my appointment as COM
mandant l was chairman Of the
board, and 1 state hut the truth when
l say that l refused the position both
before and after my election, but was
finally prevailed upon to accept. Dur
ing my administration l have cut
out Hot Springs raft and grafters,
thence they don't like me there. How
ever, l am willing that each and ev-
cry person who signed the Round
Robin to the governor may be called
to testify before a legally appointed
board, and I shall claim the right to
summon &c or more of the reputa-
BILE business and professional men of
Hot Springs in rebuttal, all of whom
will testify that the home has been
conducted during my administration
in a manner calculated to conserve
1.-THE good of the home and it's in
mates. The rules of the home, which
lby the way are not mine, but made
for me are such hat a viOlator OF
same could be punished under the
flaws of the state. Such are some Of
the laws, to-wit: Drunkenness pro-
Inhibited; obscene or vulgar language
prohibited, conduct calculated to
disturb prohibited, etc. In case each
and every case those charged with
o~ffenses have pleaded guilty before
THE court of the home, and in no
case has a ~-nial been entered. 1
have in my possession evidence in the
line of bottle, partly filled with
whisky, which have been taken from
some of the poor, weak comrades of
the home when the yhave returned
lin an intoxicated condition, which
might cause some of the petitioners
who accuse me of arrogance, some
little amount of trouble. do not
accuse the saloonkeeprs of Hot
lSprinys with violation of law, but l
do unqualifiedly charge certain
druggists there of furnishing the old
soldiers with this fire of he'll 9TH
erwise why should their labels be on
the bottles. 1 have little to say as
Ito whate the governor will do, If
ianything, but l am certainly willing
ito meet investigation either as to the
financial or moral conditions of the
home. l conceive that l am but the
Representative Of the board of con-
Itrol and am accountable to them. II
these persons whose hearts go out to
1.-THE old soldires are SO sure of their
charges, ! simply ask that same be
lmade specific and not general. I am
now and have been willing to meet
them in a matter of legal investiga-
ltion now or any other time"
Colonel Geddes then exhibited a
statement of approval signed by PIP
Iof the inmates of the home. Colonel
'Geddes is very emphatic in his con
demnation OF a certain physician in
! Hot Springs whom he claims is the
ring leader of all trouble and who
hopes to be made surgeon in case of
la change. This same man." says
THE colonel, twas fired by Governor
Elrod upon good cause shown, or,
in other words was allowed to re-
sign.n