The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-11-19
RIVAL RED LIGHTS
continued from .,age One. /

| Confined from :'age One.I
admitted. on the fact that protests had
| been sent to newspapers and individ-
uals outside the home. In but one
case was it admitted that dishonor-
able discharges had been given. They
were merely discharged, the COM
mander testified.
Inmates of the home were not per-
mitted to attend the hearing before
the officers of the state G. A r. A
record of the testimony was made by
a stenographer, but witnesses were
not sworn and the hearing was large
ly informal
Girls on Motorcycles.
Near the close of his testimony and
under direct examination by G. M.
Brassfield, assistant adjutant general,
Martin told of the immoral conditions
which are said to have existed at the
old soldiers home. His authority was
the home physician, the witness said.
when 1 came here, 1 was told by
the physician that daughters of old
young men from town and did not re-
turn to the home until nearly day
light" Martin testified.
I'VE started an investigation of
these conditions. We found that this
home was being made rendezvous
for immoral men and women. There
were things going on here equal to
the red light districts of Kansas City
or CnlCdSO- we OrQeTeQ OIL THESE
people out One man who came here
to see a woman and for no good pur-
self
Commander Martin then quoted DR..
AFFORD, the physician, as authority
for the statement that the moral con-
dition of the home had been restored.
1t was concerning the remarks
about conditions at the home which
aroused many of the inmates, mem
bers of the investigating committee
were told. Martin denied that in
flammatory remarks had been made,
petition by some of the OLD soldiers
had been branded as false.
Did you ever make or hear a state
ment in which the speaker told in
tramps, beggars and hangers-on and
must go'?' Martin was asked.
Never heard it or was it said in
my presence"
statement: Those who signed that
paper are damnabIe liars and not
worthy If a home here or in hades ?"
Killed Cats and Dogs.
Il read the heading of the story in
the State Journal. 1 said, That is lie.
That condition doesn't exist here
who ordered the killing of the
cats and dogs at the home?" asked c.
A. Meek, department commander.
The board under an old ruling that
WAS that statutory provision or
Just an obsolete rule?"
1T was a rule that was in the book
For nearly thirty minutes Comman- |
der Meek examined Martin concerning |
the discharge of inmates of the home. |
Martin produced an order from the |
board for the discharge of S. E. |
Thomas S. F. Hunt, ]. N. Baker, John |
discharged for characterization. Much |
of the insu bordination, the witness adj |
mitted, consisted of the preparation |
and circulation of petitions criticising
the management of the home.
Thomas, the witness admitted. had !
been removed because of his persiS- !
tence in writing letters.
One Man Owned Typewriter
Hunt was Socialist and an agita- |
tor the home commander explained. !
He owned a typewriter and prepared /
most of their complaints"
Every phase of the complaints con- /
corning conditions at the home were /
mentioned in Commander Meek's ex-
of the witness He brought !
out the fact that 500 of the states |
money had been used to repair and !
many of the materials used in repair !
ing the old soldiers homes must be /
bought by the inmates, although the
state owns the property. !
An inspection of the grounds, show I
ed that the state owned a lumber yard.
But there was no lumber. /
The commission looked at the COM
Inissary; 1t was poorly stocked. Ye- |
Floyd Baker, who investigated he
books, told the G. \. r. officers that
nearly $500 worth of goods bought /
during the last fiscal year had not
been paid for and that the claims
would probably go to the legislature
Denies Clothes Charge.
Were inma ties of tie home told :
that they must wear out their clothes
before they could get new ones?
Martin was asked.
Il never heard of such a thing
said the witness
How many anonymous letters
have you received since coming
here?" Meek asked.
About ten or a Dozen" replied
Martin.
IF conditions in the home were
good, why did these people write you
these letters2 %
Il don't know"
Martin was asked concerning the