The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-02-08

and to his state and country. Then l
would teach him the one great funda-
mental principle of military existence. the
necessity of courtesy and prompt, I'M
questioning obedience to his superior Off
GERS. In the home, the child who is ever
ready TO run to his father or his mother
with his troubles. with the story of his
dissapointmentS or his triumphS; the
/, child who makes his parents a confident
in all his dealings. is the one, who. in
after years, will be sure TO make his way
in life. How many instances can we
recall where the great men of our time
give the credit of their success in life to
the teachings instiled into their minds
in childhood. If this is true in the home,
why is ii not true with the child soldier,
for that is what recruit really is. This
being admitted | would then take the
young soldier and try to instill into his
mind that he IS ever to be under the di-
rection and guidance of those over him.
First OF all. he is to recognize the au-
thorlty OF the corporal placed over him.
The two stripes upon the arm may some
day rise TO the dignity of pair of
shoulder STRAPS. Then come his sergsants.
his lieutenants. his captain and so on
up through the line. etc. There should
be impressed upon him that no distinc-
ton is to be made in an order. Whether
it comes from a corporal or from his
commanding officer, ii matters not. 1t is
an order, and that fact alone should be
sufficient to exact prompt obedience. Is
it not fact that too many officers neg
lect this important feature? Do we teach
the new members of our commands that
a non-commissioned officer is entitled to
the same respect that we expect our
selves? We lay down a set of rules. If
we instruct our men in the observance
of those rules. will we have very much
trouble in the government of our men?
The hardest to govern. | think you will
grant me are those who have not the
right conception of the rules and regula-
lions under which they are serving
one answer. will leave it to each one
to answer for himself. Then again, |
would try and have each man in my
company recognize the fact that ! was
taking a personal interest in his progress
and advancement. In turn, / would win
the mans confidence and esteem. This
gained, we have won great deal The
successful officers in our late war we're
those who were loved and respected by
their men. When Grant proposed to
flight it out on this line if it takes ell
able of doing it. When Sherman COM
menced his famous march to the sea. his
men confidently expected TO reach their
destination. When sheridan at Cedar
Creek told his panic-stricken troops to
turn boys turn; were going back, they
knew that victory awaited them. And so
it is with us. If we gain the confidence
of our men, and we start to attain to
some definite object we will undoubtedly
reach the desired end. For illustration
take two companies: One is an ideal
organization such as I have been pictur-
ing 1t is commanded by a set of officers
loved by their men, and who possess the
confidence of their command. Another
company is commanded by officers who
take a great interest in their drill. but
outside of this their interest ceases. They
want it understood that full attendance
drill must be obtained by some means
or other. Obedience to all orders must
be given. AS to coming into closer rela-
tons with their men. why, this is rot
to be dreamed of. They seem to think:
Now. there is so-and-so, he is a private. |
am an officer. How far would this senti-
ment spread if allowed to have full sway?
The non-comms. would soon be affected
then it would extend to the rank and
file. I know that my views on this phase
of my subject will meet with some oppo-
sition. l will be disappointed If thew do
not. a period in the history of these
two organizations arises in which the
superiority of them both is to be tested
Which one. think you. will best stand the
test? Now then. gentlemen, / do not
wish to convey the impression that I am
advocating the dwelling of all rank be-
tween officer and man. l do not wish it
understood that I would throw open this
room to the enlisted men. for would not
I do not mean to say that l am in favor
of the officers and men mingling together
in all of our various affairs, for | would
not think of such a thing. What I do
mean, however. is this: I would break
down the false barriers with which some
of us surround ourselves What they
are you know 1t is CALLING to the pride
of an enlisted man to be snUbbed by
those above him. This has been done too
often in our own CITY Is 1t right? Is 1t
conducive TO good dlSclplne. l. saw no.
Then what should we do? I would try
to show the men that I respect and love
that blue suit with its brass buttons. be-
cause it represents the sovereignty of our
nation. 1 would try to forget that he
is but private and remember that he
is soldier in the service of the state of
Utah and of the United States of
America. would show my generation
for that plate of brass upon his belt.
because II bears unon its surface those
magical letters U. s.. the emblem OF
powerful nation A nation we love be-
cause ii stands as the representative of
all civilized nations In turn. he will not
only obey the badge of authority with
which our shoulders are adorned, but he