The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-03-19
At FORT DODGE.

al TUn UUDUIs
CONTINUED from PAGE One.l
ferred improvements. the cramped
quarters, and demands for admitfance
that could not be met. Throughout
an entire afternoon the eove5no r
wives, visited in their homes. studied
their needs and wants. And before
the governor and his party mofored
back to Dodge City that night Fort
Dodge knew that her cause Wa IN
friendly hands and that the 1916 leg
money necessary to overhaul her
plant. build new homes and Improve
the buildings and cottages on the
states 6sO-acre tract six miles south
east Of Dodge City.
Many stories have como out OF Fort
to the Newspaper offices through tho
old grapevine" route. Sitting at
their typewriters $50 miles away, ann
bilious reporters have written OF the
needs of the veterans and tho failure
Of q state administration to care Tor
the more than 700 men. women and
children who arc residents OF the
home. One Of the favorite stories
concerned the purchase of prison
stock garments for the inmates OF the
home. Another concerned poor quail
ity groceries Still another told Of
short rations. They were interesting.
But the stories Of q yesterday and an
actual visit to the home and an aft
ernoon with the men and women re-
vealed q situation that was somewhat
different.
DELEGATION Met the Train.
As the train which carried the gov
ernor and his party stopped at Dodge
City, q delegation Of business men met
the train and welcomed the state off,
Gals. Twenty automobiles were in the
parade which rushed to the fort for
the MONDAY luncheon. More than 500
men and women cheered as the COVER
nor and his party marched between
the double line Of old soldiers and en-
tered the fort. 1t was q military af-
fair. An official escort met the party
at the main entrance. A drum crops
headed the procession to the barracks.
the veterans in blue uniform swung in
behind the governors party and the
Dodge City delegation-several hum
dred men and women-follOwed afoot
and in motor cars.
Probably 900 people sat at the noon
day luncheon. Commandant A. r..
mandant since the establishment Of
the fort-presided. He introduced
Mike Sutton OF Dodge City. Mike SUIT
ton. father of the fort and veteran
leader-who needed no introduction
told Governor Hodges OF the needs of
the home He said that not one, but
many state administrations had over
looked the needs of the home, that
larger quarters were needed. He de-
manded relief and called on Governor
for an increased appropriation for the
men whose step Is faltering and slow
and who are the guests Of the state in
their last days. The governor promised
to use his every influence and to rec
onmend such improvements as condi-
tions required. That was what the old
boys wanted and they cheered when
he said he would fight with them and
for them. Commander Harrison talk
ed. Colonel Harrison is something
of a godfather among the old soldiers.
And when Colonel Harrison said that
he had come to the fort at the per-
sonal request Of the governor and as
sured the old soldiers that he would
support him. there were more cheers.
The old soldiers and their wives
were happy.
The Forts Theater.
Two blocks away, the forts amuse-
ment hall-the building where the old
soldiers hold their public meetings and
go three times each week to attend q
moving picture show-there was q
crowd that occupied every seat and
possible foot Of standing room. Here
more traditions regarding conditions
In the fort were shattered. For q Few
minutes Mrs. Jennie Maffat was In the
center of the stage. On behalf Of the
women of the fort she presented Gov
ernor Hodges with a gold handled silk
umbrella as a token of respect and
love and confidence of the women in
the home. She declared that condi-
tons in the home had been exception
ally good under the present admins
tration and that the men ana women
believed every effort was being made
to add to their comfort with such
funds as were available from the leg
islative appropriations.
Mike Sutton Mourns for Turkey.
Then Mike Sutton spoke again. He
reminded the old boys that there was
no turkey dinner last Christmas. And
Mike Sutton's remarks started an ex-
perience meeting that for a time rival
ed an old fashioned Methodist revival
Down near the front Of the hall a
gray haired little man reminded SUIT
ton that the fort had been given $50
quarts of oysters for Christmas and
that they answered for the absence OF
turkey or chicken dinner quite nice
i ~. Besides. and the little gray haired