The San Francisco call., 1897-05-31
NOTES FOR THE
NATIONAL GUARD
Talk About the Assistant
Adjutant- Generals
Resignation.
The Comments of a Guardsman
About Fine Gold Lace and
Practical Work.
Drills Announced for the First In
fantry, Second Brigade Items
FIo Third Brigade.

The Inspections, generally speaking, being
over, the mem bers of the National Guard have
not had anything TO talk about last week but
the designations that have taken place and
those that are TO come.
Colonel ]. c. Currier, assistant adjutant-
general OF division an old soldier, veteran OF
the War of the Re bellion. well versed in miii-
tary matters ana iully competent to discharge
the duties of the Office he filed, and he did
discharge them well, tendered his resignation
few days since, as has already been an
nounced in the local columns OF THE CALL
While the colonel does not desire 10 enter into
any discussion as to the cause which induced
him 10 take the step he did there are those
who well acquainted with him who
say that the reason was the removal OF the
division headquarters from The office in
which Colonel Currier has been located for a
long time TO the Baldwin HOTEL So long as
the headquarters were where the assistant ad-
jutant-general could be on hand TO attend 10
National Guard duties in addition TO his other
business it did not cause him any great
amount OF inconvenience. but he could not
well divide his time so as 10 be in two places
that are ten blocks apart without material in
jury to one OF the duties he would have to
carry out.
There are many of the officers of the guard
who question the Visibility OF the change OF
headquarters and hold that the division head
quarters ought not TO be In SO public place
hotel, and that they cannot see any possible
reason for the change unless 1t is to give those
who wear gold lace a better opportunity to
display their uniforms on state occasions.
"What is the good of division commander
and his staff, anyway?' asked member of the
guard who was discussing the situation few
Qavs since.
"In our armory we have been waiting for
long time for visits from the members of the
division commanders staff, because We believe
that such visits show that the officers really
have an interest in the guard, but such visits
have not been made and it does really seem as
ii those VINO accepted the offices did so simply
for the purpose of having their friends call
them by high-soulding title The apparent
lack OF interest on the part OF the superior
officers has much to do with the difficulties IN
securing from the Legislatures that which will
place our citizen soldiery on the tootiug It
should be. During the session OF the last Leg
islature member of that body asked: why
should the peoples money be appropriated for
the National Guard when IL is used in great
measure to sustain lot OF men who 10 not do
anything for its advancement? Take, for in
stance, the case OF the troubles in Sacramento
during the railroad strike. There were don't
know how many men, memb rs of some body's
staff and somebody else's staff drawing SO 8
day for doing much less In all the time tnat
they remained up there than ordinary
private who was paid 81 per day did In one
day
"The trouble is that there is altogether too
much gold lace in the guard and 100 many
men who wear IL simply for the title. If d
man is rendered an office on a staff there
should be several things to move the party ap-
pointing To ask these questions: Are you a
military man? Being such, are you so sit
uated that you will have the time to devote to
the duties OF the Office? Having the time.
will you attend to such duties and advance the
National Guard? Unless man can give sim
cere affirmative answer to each question he
should not be appoin ted. When We get supe-
rior officers who will give time and atten tion
to the guard We will have an organization that
will command respect and not be The subject
OF jibes every time there is parade. The men
in the ranks are all right, but the trouble is
with those who are over them. and way over
thu al that"
The resignation of Colonel VIII T. Fisher as
aid-de-camp to Governor B1dd, commander
in-chief, has been The subject OF considerable
talk and the outlook is that there will be more
tires tomorrow and his successor is commits
stoned. The indications are that Lieutenant
Colonel II. 7. Bush, judpe advocate on the
division commanders staff, will succeed to the
office of assistant adjutant of division. The
air is full of gossip as TO possible designations
if the iieutenant-colonel is promoted.
The trouble between the Office of the ad ju-
tant-general al Sacramento and the State
Printer is still open and the adjutant-genera
is unable to have any printing done. General
orders No. 5, issued from general headquarters
on the Goth of May, were not in the regulation
form, but were struck off on q typewriter
The change may have been military neces-
sity, but it is not desirable one for the orders
as issued ere not OF convenient shape for filing
and they do not look as well as do those in
prin ted form,