REPUBLICAN

November 17, 1905

 

CHARGES DENIED

 

Veteran’s Home Management Courts Fullest Investigation

 

            The daily press of Oshkosh and Milwaukee have made in many quarters considerable of a sensation by publishing a statement made by H.S. Maynard of Oshkosh who was for a time and after Oct. 1, 1904 an inmate of the home and who was dishonorably discharged for cause.  In an interview with a reporter of the Milwaukee Free Press with Adjutant T.L. Jeffers Nov. 15, Mr. Jeffers gives explanation to each and every charge as set forth against the Home in the recent published reports.  It is well enough at the outset to state, that no one hears of complaints of any moment at the Home.  Probably nineteen twentieths of the members are perfectly satisfied with the Home and their treatment.  All the trouble seems to come from outside sources, that is those who have been discharged because the Home could not be run according to a schedule mapped out by the discontents instead of the present management which according to trustees Bryant of LaCrosse and Chase of Oshkosh is good and putting Gen. Bryant’s own words:  “I have never known the Home when it was in better condition and never in its existence has its management been so good.”  And the old Veteran Gen. Curtis who is the Government Inspector of All Soldier’s Homes says, “It is the best and most model Home in the United States.”

INTERVIEW WITH ADJUTANT

            When asked about H.S. Maynard, who has filed charges with the governor, Maj. Jeffers gave the record in these words:  “H.S. Maynard was admitted to the Home on Oct. 8, 1904.  He posed among the members as a United States detective.  He began to pry into the affairs of the Home post office.  Postmaster Brown reported Maynard to Col. Woodworth, the commandant, and he was called to the office and asked to produce his authority to act as government detective.  He promised to do that at 1 o’clock that afternoon.

            “He failed to report, and two days later sent word by a member, to the commandant that he wanted his discharge from the Home.  His request was granted, as customary when such requests are made. 

            “He got a boarding place near the Home and went about to work up feelings against the Home management for taking a portion of the pension received by the inmates.  He got a number of the inmates to sign an impudent paper addressed to the board of trustees, in which they declared that they would refuse to pay any portion of their pension to the Home.

FIVE DISHONORABLY DISCHARGED.

            “Each signer of the paper was called before the board of trustees composed of Department Commander Copeland, Col. B.F. Bryant, D.G. James, O.F. Chase, Dr. H.E. Mann and F.A. Wilde, at their next meeting, and all but five declared that they did not know what they had signed.  They also said that they wanted to remain in the Home and were willing to continue giving a part of their pension to the support of the Home in which they were faring to their satisfaction.  The other five said that they would not pay any of their pension to the Home, and the board of trustees ordered that they be dishonorably discharged.  It is alleged that Maynard collected from those who signed the paper sum of $100, which was to be used to employ an attorney to bring action against the board to restrain it from taking a part of their pension. Col. Woodnorth has received two letters from the department of the interior asking if the man is insane.”

THE JAMES A WEEKS CASE.

            “What about the case of James A. Weeks who was frozen?”

            “He came to the Home in 1901 and left it on March 19, 1904, taking with him the wife of another member of the Home.  They resided in a neighboring village.  Both Weeks and the woman were dishonorably discharged.  Last January A.R. Potts, chairman of the town of Dayton, reported to the commandant that Weeks had been found on the road, intoxicated, with his hands badly frozen, and he requested that Weeks be allowed to go to the Home hospital for treatment.  He was admitted and treated by Dr. Bantley until Feb. 4, when he assisted Dr. Hayes in amputating the frozen fingers.  Weeks has been at the Home ever since.  The town of Dayton paid Dr. Hayes’ fee.  The woman who left the Home with Weeks died last March, and was buried in the Home cemetery and a stone was placed at her grave, paid for by the Home.  That is the manner in which the Home management heaped abuse upon James A. Weeks.”

THE MELVIN O. TARR CASE.

            “What about the Melvin O. Tarr Case?”  “He was admitted last June.  Last month he was granted a pension of $12 per month.  He was one of the five men dishonorably discharged for refusing to keep the pledge made to pay a portion of their pension to the support of the Home.  He met Surgeon Bantley of the Home in Waupaca, and he asked if he could not visit the Home hospital to have his face dressed.  He has a malignant growth on his cheek.

            ‘I will dress your face,’ said Dr. Bantley providing you pay the Home for your dressing.  You appear to have money to buy whisky, and if you pay for the dressing you can buy less whisky.’  That is all of the cruelty shown in the case of Mr. Tarr.”

COLLECTION OF PENSION MONEY

            What is there to the charge of misappropriation of pension money collected from the members?”

            “I collect the money, and in all cases give a receipt for the amount paid.  It is entered on the journal as of the ‘maintenance fund’, and it is all used for the support of the Home, repairs and improvements.  I do not imagine that taxpayers are going to complain of the rule regarding pensions.  If there is any crookedness in handling the fund, I am the guilty person, for I handle all of it.  Our system of bookkeeping is such that it is impossible for a misappropriation of funds to occur.