Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-09-28
May Deal With Guardsm an
Belcher.
TO TAlKABoUT YOUR SUPERIOR

AUSTIN, Sept. q, 1872

special Correspondence
AUSTIN, Sept. q, 1892.
No small degree OF interest has been
aroused by tho publication in the Aus
tin Statesmen Of charges by M. A.
Belcher, Jr., OF Taylor. as a member OF
the Texas Volunteer Guard, more than
insinuating that politics had so far en-
tered the Guard as TO cause the loss OF
commissions to several officers, simply
because they support Judge Clark, and
at the same time rejecting In the Sc
yerest manner on the conduct OF Gov
ernor Hogg in his official capacity as
commander-in-chief Of the state militia.
Ordinarily the acknowledgement would
pay no attention to such a cOmmunica-
tion, but when member OF n state mil
itary organization takes IL on himself
TO dotf his uniform, replace his musket
with pen, and with that pen assault
his superior officers through the col
ums of the public press, II is regarded
as too serious an oiIense to pass unno-
ticed.
To the correspondent OF THE GA
zETTE Acknowledgement Mabry stated
that he win forward Guardsman
Belcher, through his captain, severe
roprimand for the unsoldiolly manner
in which he has seen fit
to attempt to reflect upon the
dignity OF the office OF the COM
mander-in-chief, and will also call his
attention to article l, section 4, OF the
army regulations and articles 10, % and
% of articles OF war, which he has vio-
lated by appearing In print officially,
over his name as member OF the
Texas Volunteer Guard, for the purpose
OF casting reflections upon his COM
mander-in-chief He will also call the
attention OF the captain Of the company,
the Taylor Rifles, to the olfense COM
mitted by Mr.. Belcher and cite 10 him
the articles violated. II is not the po-
litical phase OF the newspaper article
which is TO be taken up, nor will any
OF the charges made be controyerted,
though none Of them | think can be
sustained. II grant TO every man the
right to his own political views and the
right to express them. As citizens, the
men who compose the Texas Volunteer
Guard hold what opinion they please
and do as they please. Some OF the best
men in the organization are supporters
OF Judge Clark, as private citizens, but
as soldiers they know no party, no po-
litical utilization, and so long as ! re-
tain my position, | expect to see the
guard kept up to the high standard
know the majority OF the men are
striving for. A breach OF discipline SO
grave, so premeditated, cannot so by
unnotlced.
THE LAW IN THE CASE.
BY an examination of the state militia
| laws THE GAZETTE correspondent
| finds that under article 39i6, the articles
Of war and the army regulation OF the
| United States in so FAR as the same may
| be applicable, and not inconsistent
| with the laws OF the state shall cOnsti-
| tutc the rules for the government Of
| the Volunteer Guard OF this state, with
such notifications and changes as the
commander-in-ch may direct
Under article 9Of the articles Of war
II is provided that any soldier who may
use contcmptuOus or disrespectful
words against the president, vice-presl-
dent, the congress of the United States
or the chief magistrate or legislature
Of any OF the United States inwhich no
Is quartered shall be punished as a
court martial may direct
Article OF the army reg
ulations prohibits deliberations
on discussions among military
men conveying praise or censure, On
amy mark OF appreciation towards other
IN the military service, and all publica-
tion relative to transactions between
officers OF a private or personal nature.
The adjutant general having called
TO the attention OF the captain Of tho
company the oifense committed by NJ.
a. Beloher, Jr- OF the Texas Volunteer
Guard IL becomes his duty tC
.tull rfaafstlul In tltu ii
sit upon the case of the offending sol
dior,
This Is the first instance OF tho kind
IN tho history OF the organization, sc
far as have been able to ascertain and
The outcome will be closely watched, as
both interesting and instructive.
WORKINGS or THE NEW AMENDMENT
The state school board has begun L
set aside funds as required by the con
stitutional amendment, put in force by
the last legislature, by which 1t is pro
vided that per cent OF the permanent
school fund should be taken each yea
and transferred To the available schoo
fund, to be apportioned out Throughout
the state as has been the case hereto
fore with whatever amount appeared I,
the credit OF the available fund.
The wisdom OF this amendment ha
been variously commented upon, bu
general verdict appears to have beeI
withheld until a practical dcmonstra
ton could show the good and bad thu
is in IT,,
Investigation shows that this yea
the amount set aside under the now Ia,
will be about 500, 900, This sum tn
state board Of education will place 4
the credit OF the available school fun
as soon as II accumulates inthe treasury
/ which it is thought iwill require ye
about two months.
In the meantime the board will no
buy any more county court house an
jail bonds, such purchases being neces
, sarily delayed until the required amour
, has been secured.
RoBr. j. BROWN.
WIN Pat Nail or Two in the Conn.
I