The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-10-11
MILITIA MIDDLE THICKENs.
Rank and File of the National Guard
Onposed to General O,Brien.

TACOMA Oct 10-[SpeciaLl 1.-THE militia
muddle seems to grow thicker and thicker" said
slocal National Guard officer to a correspondent
OF the PosT sand a very pecu-
liar state of affairs exist. The entire rank and
file of the National Guard seems to be arrayed
against the adiutant general, aud many ask
why? And the answer comes, he is incompe-
tent: and they 20 on to explain that they have
not received armory rent they have not got uni
forms. men leave the state and can not get their
discharges, officers are elected and can not get
their commissions, state property is scattered
around and no one takes care of IL, non-com-
missioued officers have never received warrants,
and dozen other charges, and TO all this the
sdjutant general stands convicted by his own
words. When 500 men ask him why this is he
returns old woman's answer that Captain
File, or some one else has not sent in
his reports, and tries 10 throw the blame upon
scme one else. That the blame rests on himself
there is no doubt He is the military adviser of
ne vovernnr. and is paid salary 10 manage
and attend to the affairs of the National Guard.
and has full power TO act II the captain of =
company does not send in his reports aud attend
10 the business he is commissioned for, why
does not the adjutant general suspend him and
appoint some one who will9 He has that power
IL is his business 10 see that these men attend
10 the duties which they are commissioned to
attend to, and If they do not he is to blame il he
does not censure or punish them for it Ii is
ing OF. and ii any captain is dereliot in his duty
then O'Brieu is 20 blame for it The idea of a
company being mustered in under the laws of
our state and not making any report for prop-
erty or anything else for year and a half as
0Brien charges, and never even being censured
for it, nor not so much IS asked for their report
iii this is the case, which he claims IL is, then
this clearly proves that he is incompetent, and
should get out, and let somebody manage the
Office who can do better. He seems to think
that when the cry is raised about the Ma
tional Guard being neglected aud he is
charged with il that this charge is made by one
OF those captains who have not been attending
TO their duty, and consequently jumps on them
with the idea that two wrongs are gong TO make
Alright and SAYS that it is their fault. The real
isct OF the matter is that these captains have
very small share in the kick. The men in the
fsnks Kick great deal worse, and while the
.e!ntsnt general may not know that fact, II he
VII take the trouble To invest gate it he will
nna mat II is the case. II an officer does not
s.'ehu 10 MS duties the men in the ranks want
nm punished for it. The principle upon which
WI mintary system is bssed is that the head Is
nspousio'e Tor everything under II, as the head
"s vac power TO make all the junior officers and
.as. '"'npy with the rules, regulations and dis
s.yAne Oh the National Guard, and IL he does
wv then ne Is responsible for any injury that
may occur from this neglect.
a., as 'he cause of the affairs of the Ma.
-. laI vuaro being neglected is the captains
saer reports, very much doubt