The Alaska daily empire., 1915-03-04
INDECENT HOME
 ASKS FOR HELP

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 wi.h plea for further improve
 ments at the Home In order that the llndlgeut Pioneers shall spend their las. days in Alaska amid the most ! comfortable surroundings, tho Board ! of Trustees Of the sitla Pioneers Home. Territorial Institution creat- ed by Che Legislature two years ago yesterday filed its first report to the Senate. The report is signed by Gov. ernor J. r. A. Strong, chairman of tho board, W. P. Mills. Treasurer and George Kostrometinor. Secretary
 Proof of the hard fight to keep the institution alive during the pnst two years is contained in the ioreword of the report, which says
 "At one time it was feared by the Board that the appropriation made for the maintenance Of the Home would be exhausted before another appror- riation could be made by the Legisla- ture. Happily such fear proved groundless and the Home was enabled to continue through appropriations re. ceived rom tho federal indigont fund from the judges of the four judicial divisions, for the support Of inmates from their respective divisions"
 Shoup's Work Praised.
 In praise of Supt. A. c. shoup. the Board says they feel that they can not close this report without render ing due acknowledgement of the in- valuable services Of Honorable Arthur c. Shoup. a member of your honorable body. in the establishment and con duct of the Home. The success achieved In its management has been due largely to his unsclfish efforts in behalf without other compensation than the knowledge that he was as- sistins in making the declining days brighter happier and easier for men who have spent their years in Alaska as trail-blazers and pioneers in a new land"
 Character Of Inmates
 In his attached report Supt A. G. Shoup says:
 Almost all Of the men who have come Co the Alashla Pioneers Home l arc Of the highest type of American ! They arc men who have lived alone in the silent places. and are Of a naturally adventurous dispo- ! iition. In fact it is this very quality | hat has kept them upon tho Alaska ! frontier. and 1t is to such men that .hc Territory must credit much Of ts development.
 Some friends of tho Institution nave suggested that more rigid dis ,ipline should be enforced upon these 'ld men in this Home. TO me. how ,ver it seems that to annoy these nen with unnecessary restrictions gould be an unkindness that is not .alled for The Alaska Pioneers Home WAS established 90 place ghere these men might spend their years in comfort aud is in- ended as partial reward For their 'ath-dnding services. To avoid re- traint was one of the factors which made them Independent prospectors nd frontiersmen. And. as a matter Of act. the best way in my opinion, to asure good comfort and avoid friction mong such men Is 10 allow taem to blow their own inclinations as much 8 possible They ike an or their ind, are big-hearted and generous to
 fault and are the last men in the 'orld to impose upon the rights of thers or to allow others to Impose pon them. Of course, there have cen some occasional cases of admit ng men who never were or any use nd they have given some trouble; ut for such cases there is the sim { ie remedy Of summary dismissal j -om the Home. Instances Of 'ntcM- ltion here have been exceptional I wing to the weakened physical re- stence Of these men, # for no other o 'ason. intoxication cannot be permit I'd mone them under any circum- ( anee and that is one thing neainst [ alcA 9 positive rule has been estab- Q she'd The most effective factor in g scouraging heavy drinking by an iu. ate of the Alaska Pioneers Home is .e bad standing he thereby estab- t. ---------------------