Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-10-07
SPLIT WITH j. D. c.
BLAMED FOR STRIFE
At SOLDIERS HOME


at the State capitol Saturday night
at 7 o'clock, after three days Of
double sessions. The committee de
cided to hear no more testimony, but
to return to Atlanta at some future
date for an inspection Of the home
and personal investigation OF the
conditions there.
Following the adjournment, Repre-
sentative w. K. Smith, of Bryan
county, chairman OF the committee,
stated that it would take the official
stenographer at least one month to
make a transcript of the record, and
it would probably be two or three
months before the committeeman re-
assemble.
With his eyes alternately flashing
fire and dimmed by tears, Major w.
Z. McAllister, superintendent of the
home for the past three years, de-
MED the charges of nismanagement
and graft made against him, item
by item, and sWore that he has paid
money out of his own pocket for
the comfort of the veterans at the
home, instead of deriving any profit
from his management there.
Split Over Picture Show
Major McAllister charged that all
the complaints against the home
grew out Of a disa greenent between
himself and officials of the Atlanta
chapter of the United Daughters of
the Confederacy, over the receipts
from a motion picture show operat-
ed at the home, which both claimed
to have been instrumental in buying.
The ladies stood behind me until
the picture show business came up
and then they got in front of me, -
Major McAllister declared.
You are rather sorry they got
behind you this, time, aren't you,
major?" asked Frank Hooper, Jr.,
attorney for the compliments.
81 certainly am" replied Major
McAllister. 1T is a very serious
matter to try to tear down q mans
character that he has been seventy
five years in building up, and espe-
cially when he has a blind wife to
support"
Major McAllister declared thhat
the Atlanta chapter gave $50 to-
ward the picture machine which
cost $3.50, and the rest was raised
by his own efforts. He said the
home divided the receipts from
patrons outside the home, with the
Atlanta chapter, until the motion
picture operator objected because he
was serving the veterans for moth
ing, and when he stopped dividing
the receipts 1.-The women took him
up Salt river"
Major McAllister testified that
the store operated by him on~the
home premises was opened at the
request of the veterans, to save
them carfare to town, and has been
a burden instead of an asset to him,
with the profits never exceeding
SIS or $40 per month. He said he
sold the store gladly when complaint
was made.
Denies Lumber Graft
Asked about the lumber sawed
from trees that stood C the home
property, from which it had been
charged that he took 5000 personal
profit and a part of the material
used to build houses for himself and
his son, Major McAllister swore that
not one inch of the lumber went into
either of the houses he and his son
were building. He said that much
of it was used to build annexes to
the home kitchen and hospital, and
the proceeds of the part that was
sold went into the installation of a
steam heating system at the home.
ReVerting to the receipts from
the picture show, Major McAllister
stated that the revenues from this
source were used to buy new uni
forms for % veterans who went to
the Memphis reunion, and they were
also given spending money out OF
the fund
Concerning the charge that he
worked state cOnvicts in his store
and at his sons home, Major Meal
lister admitted that ConVicts assign.
ed to the filling station adjacent to
the store, which was operated for the
home, worked in the store when they
were not busy with the cars, anC
that two Of them did plant some
grass and dig a ditch at the home
of his son. He also admitted that
it was probably true that ingredients
from the home commissary Went
into ice cream sold at the store. but
if so. it was against his instructions
Asked pOintedly by Attorney Hoop
or if he had not accumulated con
siderable property since he became
superintendent of the home, Major
MCAllister stated that he had $500
in cash when he went there, and has
been making from 500 to $3.50 a
month, with living expenses paid, sc
that his necessary outlay was Is
cents a week for washing. He stated
that he bought two lots at $675 each,
gave one to his son, and built a
house on the other, which he values
at IS, 500 or $4,000, and on which he
owes $3.50.
81 am ready to turn all the books
I keep over to the committee at any
time" Major McAllister added.
Don't You think it is more i'm
portant to take care Of the veterans
in the hospital than to work order
lies at your store?" asked Mr. Hoop
err.
Certainly. The old men ought to
be cared for before anything else is
done, but when I went there they
had only one sleepy-headed negro
on duty at night, and now we have
three Orderlies and an inferno, >"
Major McAllister replied.
Major McAllister stated that he
has never set foot more than twice
in a. Pierce-Arrow automobile given
by John A. Nanget for the use Of
the veterans, but uses his own car
at all times. He praised the work
of Mrs. Bertha NJ. Card head nurse
in the home hospital, and said the
physical condition of the home. hos
rltal and grounds would speak for