The National tribune., 1892-03-24
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE WASHINGTON THURSDAY

NUlUIS, ~. VI, AnOIGODhI II
lected and tho pedestal erected by commits
sion, which will be composed of the Secretary
of War the Architect of the Capitol, and Gen.
Granville NJ. Dodge. the President of the So
ciety of the Army of the Tennessee who was
elected to that position last October. to succeed
Gen. Sherman, who held the position from the
organization of the Society in 1865 until his
death.
Ozias Markle, the War Department clerk who
created a commotion some weeks ago by writ
ing letters to the young ladies of the families
of two or three Cabinet officers, had hearing
regarding his sanity last week. A jury, after
mature deliberation, decided that while Markle
was somewhat cranky, he was sane. One of the
witnesses. to whom Markle had confided his
troubles, testified that Markle came to him at
one time and complained that because someone
had remarked to him (bIarklo) Pull down your
vest" he (Markle) considered this as evidence
of widespread Grand Army of the Republic
conspiracy against him; that because Markle
had superseded Grand Army man once as
teacher in Western school, the Washington
Grand Army had been notified; the same ex-
preston had been used to him in the West, and
that the Grand Army insisted upon having
him pull down his vest no matter where he
might be located. At one time Markle had
Como to Baltimore to consult physician, and
he said detectives had followed him, and that
when he intended to make another trip to Bal
timore he (Markle) inserted an advertisement
in a paper to the effect that if any one followed
him he would be prepared. AS before stated,
the Jury found him sane but little cranky
about Grand Army people, and he was released.
&#x
Representative Cutting, of California, re-
ported from the Committee on Militia of the
House his own bill to reorganize the Militia
and increasing the appropriation therefor $780,
0OO The report accompanying the bill says
that "Great Britain could, if uninterrupted.
place within DO days an army Of 100000 men
in the midst of the wheatfelds, the lumber re-
gions and ore beds of the Northwest, tho
entire output of which would be controlled by
the presence of an army moving from Winni-
peg south into the United States, thus cutting
the Northern Pacific Railroad. That Great
Britain could also by means of her lght-draft
thus have uninterrupted water communication
between the left wing of the army of occupa-
ton of the Northwest, resting at Duluth, and
the right wing of the army of the Northeast
with its right resting on Lake Erie" Let Us
hope however, that Great Britain will have no
need of "an army of occupation" and that our
Militia will not be needed. But it will do no
harm to 'get good and ready" in case the
necessity should arise. IS In time Of peace pre-
pare for war;" holds as good now as it ever did.
@@z
Secretary Elkins issued an order last week
providing for the reorganization of the Bureau
of Hillary Information of the War Depart
ment, and detailing Gen. Robert Williams, the
ranking Assistant Adjutant-G General of the
Army, to take charge of the bureau. This order
exctes general interest in military circles.
Not only are the duties of the bureau enlarged.
so as to extend its inquiries farther than ever
before, but it seems to be the purpose of Secre-
tary Elkins to make it of equal scope and use
fitness to similar institutions Of all the larger
powers Of Earope. One OF its most interesting
features is the proposed plan for the mobiliza-
ton of Federal and volunteer troops at stra-
tegic points on the frontier, system which is at
present in vogue in almost every large country
in the world except the United States. The
establishment of closer connection and rela-
tionship between tho Federal troops and the
State National Guards seems to he an under
lying purpose Of the new measure, which will
be admitted by all to be- much-desired result,
and the new Secretary Of War has every reason
to congratulate himself or iuaugurating meas
ure in his Office which promises to be greatly
advantageous to the Army and the country.
Another interesting feature of the recognized
bureau is the establishment of a military
museum, in which will be gathered all the in
teresting souvenirs and curios of all American
wars, which are ut present scattered through
tho various bureaus of the War Department.
Among these odds and ends are mementoes Of
the assassination of President Lincoln, the
dresses in which jeff Davis was captured, the
rebel flags which President Cleveland and Adj't-
Gen. Drum failed to return to their rebel Or
carnations, and many others too numerous to
mention.
Solicitor General Taft rendered his resigna-
ton to the President ON Friday, March Is, to
enter upon his new duties as Judge of the
Fifth Judicial Circuit, his nomination to that
position having been confirmed by the Senate
on Thursday. Hon. Charles II. Aldrich,
prominent Illinois attorney, has been nomi-
mated by tho President to succeed Judge Taft
as Solicitor. General
wa @A0 -