Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-02-10
The Protest of the Signal Men.

Editor taJ:-Ctrcumscribed as all enlisted
men are by the military law which environs
them, and whose dictum is implicit obedience
10 orders without question, !" we are compelled
10 resort TO the press through which TO vent
our grievances. Theoretically. the clerks or the
signal corps are enlisted soldiers. but not more
so than are the enlisted force composing what
is known as the general service clerks: and
as misery loves company. we think tnat II we
can be compelled to make monkeys OF ourselves
on the 18th OF March. so also should the clerks
OF the general service. Many OF the men In the
signal corps, 1t is true. have served terms in the
United States army, yet at time when the
service OF every patriotic citizen was freely
given TO protect and maintain the great fabric
of our national government; but very few men
Low In the signal corps would choose it, IN time
OF peace, as field In which to display their
love OF soldering; they. If they enlisted In the
army at all, would select some organization
or known military standing, not the signal
corps. We enlist for SPECIFIC object, and, ac-
cording to the enlistment circular are only
required to go through preparatory course OF
instruction In military tactics, meteorology
&C., at this school OF instruction at Fort Myer,
late Fort .Whipple. in order to qualify us to do
the machine work required OF the observers
and assistant observers On the stations CON-
posing the great ~ system over which the dis
tinguishtd Indian fighter. Gen'l. Ha2en. holds
the scepIer. And even this is useless, but TO
the point, we submit. that 1t is the duty OF
the employe to obey his employer but
"hen that employer OverstepS the bounds OF
right, and unwarrantably and arbitrarily issues
an tOlct when 10 Obey would forever destroy
that dignity which every gentleman seeks TO
maintain, then lit Is the time TO kick. Can
not Congress do something for us? They can II
they Will, but fear we will not be able to hold
our own against the powers that be" backed
up as they are by garden parties, &c. dc. Let
congress look into the status OF the signal corps
men. ana put them on the same footing as
clerks In the general service: abolish Fort Myer
for OF what earthly use is it except
to spend annually $40. 500 OF the peoples money?
'toggy" says In his letter ia your issue of yes
terday. "gtve us some preparatory drills before
paradiDg us on the 4th OF March, We object.
We have had enough OF soldering. Give us In
stead scientific man at the head OF scientific
corps, and not Soldier; give US the same pay
that clerks performing similar work In the other
departments receive: muster us out as soldiers
and employ US as men, not machines and, IL IL
is considered matter of public eXigency TO
uniform US, let the garb be that worn by the
employees OF other civil departments or the gov
eminent, but Tor the love OF heaven. give us no
more semi-monthiy tramps, In all weathers to
Fort Myer, there TO go through such evOlu-
lions and maneuvreS as would disgust the yerf.
est powder monkey" We sincerely trust that
II General HaZen shall persist In compelling us
TO 60 out on the 4th OF March. that he will for
the sake OF decency, allow US TO go In citizens
dress; in fact many OF the men belong to organ
Kat1ons which are TO participate and conse-
quently had intended TO Ioinin the ceremonies
incident TO the Gay. CIvIe.