The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-06-22
DAN FIGHTS HARD
Loses Struggle for Better Food
for Veterans.
Proves Himself Real Debater
ON Floor of House.
TELLS OF COSTLY MONOPOLY
Standard Oil Company Re-
ceives Good Pay for Fuel.
Old Soldiers Fed on Improper
Food, Anthony Says.

Washington, June Congressman
Dan r. Anthony of Kansas is a Chip
off the old block so far as his fight
ing facilities are concerned. He, like
his late father, Colonel Dan Anthony,
fights in the good old fashioned way
when 1T comes to fighting for what is
right and wrong. And Dan, junior,
did some real fighting in the house re-
Gently which won him honors, and in
cidentaIly. showed that he had de-
veloped into a debtor of no small
class.
1t was during the consideration OF
the sundry civil appropriation bill
when he told of how the old veterans
of the Leavenworth and other nation
al soldiers homes were fed on food
not sufficient to properly nourish these
old and disabled men. He also took
occasion to roast the national board
of managers of these institutions, told
how the Standard Oil corporation was
permitted to monopolize the fuel sup
ply for the Leavenworth home at a
big and unnecessary cost to the gov
eminent when coal should be used at
a less expense.
Mr. Anthony offered two amend
ments to the bill. One was to in
crease the appropriation committees
amendment for expense of food. 1t
authorized the purchase of an ample
supply of eggs, pure butter, milk and
fresh fruit to be supplied the veterans,
and prohibited mo part of the appro-
purchase of oleomargarire.
He declared the old veterans were
being surfeited with oleomargarine
three times a day, every day in the
week. that it was being used in all
cooking. which, in consequence, he
said. is making many of them sick.
His other amendment provided that
the purchase of fuel oil at the western
branch should be prohibited when
the cost of the oil equivalent to coal
is greater than the cost Of COAL
Democrats Vote Him Down.
Mr.. Anthony made a manful fight
for these reforms. but the Democratic
odds were too great against him to
win in either instance. He was on the
floor at short intervals for more than
three hours, sparring contention with
at least twenty different members.
81 want to say for the benefit of the
house. said Mr.. Anthony. that have
one of these homes in nv district, To-
Gated in my home town, and 1 am very
familiar with the character of food
given them. There is universal COM
plant that the food is not such as
should be given to men of the age of
these old soldiers. They are reaching
the ages of rs and so years, and the
same ration that is melted out to the
army or in a penitentiary or any other
public institution is no longer fit for
the maintenance of the old soldier.
They deserve the very best that can be
given them, and it is a fact, and l get
1t from personal complaint from MEM
bers of these homes, that while they
get an ample supply of food and what
they do get is of good quality, it is not
sufficient in its class to maintain and
properly nourish old men like the ma
jority of the members of these homes.
I hope the gentleman will permit a
sufficient increase in this appropriation
to enable the management to give the
men what they require"
To this statement Mr.. Fitzgerald,
chairman of appropriations, replied:
IF the gentleman from Kansas will
permit, the only justification for any
complaint is complaint that is I'M
avoida BILE. Whenever food is prepared
for a large number of men they be-
come in time tired of the food. Com
plant was made as to the character
of food I'm the hospitals, and the
president of the board of managers
made a statement as to the character
of food in the hospitals and the char