Mexico Missouri message., 1912-08-01
TO the Patriotic, Honest and
Thoughtful Citizens of Au-
drain County.

peal in the interest of our candi-
dacy for the Legislature of Mis-
souri,. We make this call because |
of certain claims worthy and too
long neglected, coming to us from |
every nook and corner of the |
State, rising on the evening
breeze, sweeping across the broad
prairies of Missouri, rising to the
tops of the mountains, reverber
ating back to the ears in plaintive
notes to every honest and consid-
crate soul Is there no help for
the "Orphan Boys" or "The
Widows Sons?" The condition
upon which the State assumed to
care for and provide accommoda-
ton for the old dependent Con-
federate Soldiers was made on
condition that the State was to
assume charge and provide for the
old Federal Soldiers that served
in the Federal Army from Mis-
souri,, and an equal amount of
money on agreement was to be
expended or provided for each Di-
vision. Yet the Government is
piling up pensions for the FEEDER
ais mountain high, not a crumb
suggested for the Confederates.
There was a Home in prospect of
building, and partly on the way
of completion, when owing to the
impoverished condition of the
people, your allies and especially
those who were in sympathy with
the Confederate cause, were no
longer able to contribute to the
, needs of the Home, and by agree
ment, through a Committee with
the authorities of the State, it
was the arrangement that the
State assume charge of the Con-
, federate Home at Higginsville and
! provide every means for the con-
venience and caring for the old
. Confederates. The Home already
D under way was improved, extend
ed, etc, yet the Home is already
q filed to its capacity, and old, in
I digent, needy ones are turned
o away for the lack of room to ac-
o commodate them. at the end OF
! twenty years according to the
, Contract, this lease will expire
and the Home, with all its appur-
tenances will revert to the State
{ Not speaking positively, | think
the Lease expires in two years,
:, hence there will have to be some
thing done this Session of the
Legislature or the $40 patients
now in the Home will be left with
p out shelter or food. Can the
friends of the old Confederates be
Indifferent to so vital a question
s Can you afford, at this important,
( yes, critical moment, to be indif-
n ferent to the call to duty and send
I a man who has no common fellow
n feeling, and who would be natur-
l. ally Indifferent as to the needs
G and just claims of these neglected
citizens? / repeat the interroga-
tory-Can you stand idly by and
J. let this, the last hour of hope to
S these old friends go by default ?
!, Send the undersigned to the Leg
}, islature next January, and !
pledge you my honor as a man, !
will give the best EFFORTS of my
= life in trying to extend the Lease
0 of the Home at Higginsville, with
g such improvements to buildings
e and other accommodations suffi-
r cient to meet present needs to
others, whose INDECENT condition
demands your help. IS there any
reasonable excuse that Missouri,
r the Empire State of the West, cen
$ trally located, with more wealth
n and natural resources than any
other State engaged in the rebel
/, lion, should be the only exception