New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-21
SLAPS At POLITICIANS.
NATIONAL GUARD OFFICERS RESENT
STAFF APPOINTMENTS.
THEY ASK THAT SELECTIONS OF MEN FOR HIGH
PLACES IN THE SERVICE BE MADE FOR
MILITARY RATHER THAN
POLITICAL REASONS.

MILITARY RATHER THAN
POLITICAL REASONS.
Albany Jan o0-This afternoons session OF the
National Guard Association OF the State WAS full of
spice The delegates put themselves record as
condemnng political selections OF men for high
places The members Of the Governors staff came
In for share Of criticism and a pretty slap
was administered to the deposcd Inspect General
McLewee. Major Smith. of the lis. Regiment. New
York. offered the following resolution. which
apparently aimed at General McLewee's methods
pursued in the canvass for the Office of Adjutant
General:
b Res9ved That it Is the sense Of this association
hcers of the National Guard Of petitions requesting
or recommending the selection or appointment OF
wise and prejudicial TO the best interests OF the
service
The resolution adopted without debate.
General Robert Shaw Oliver. of the Third Brigade,
made what was regarded attack on the pres
ent system OF distributing high Offices in tho
Guard to civilians The business Of the session
about to close. when General Oliver arose and said
he would like to see expression given Of the
desire Of the association that politicians and polti
cal generals and colonies be wiped out He believed
that all the high offices in the Guard belonged to
the National Guard and that the Governor would
meet them halfway in the matter He did not
why these places should not be a reward TO the
officers of the Guard who had done well and
qualified by the duty they had performed and the
ability they had shown members Of the Guard
and not by work they had done at the primaries.
He moved the appointment of a committee of three
or five TO convey to the Governor and the Legs-
lature the desires of the association and the
Of the meeting that high Offices be bestowed only
on men who have served in the National Guard.
Colonel Greene offered amendment that a
committee of four be appointed to draft resou-
tions embodying General divers ideas. which
could be transmitted through the Adjutant- General
to the Commander-in-Ch Chief The amendment pre-
q
Colonies Greene. Seward and Watson the COM
mittee. The committee presented the following
resolutions
II is detrimental TO the best interests of the Ma
tional Guard that appointments to high positions
in the National Guard should be made for any
other than strictly military reasons
Resolved. That 1t would be beneficial TO the Ma
tional Guard II all staff officers should be subject
ed 10 the same examination to their capacity
and fitness for their positions are now required
of officers serving In the line IN the national Guard
Guard If all appointments above the grace OF MAJOR
should be restricted to officers who have had not
mr. the Regular Army or both collectively.
Resolved That this association request that per-
mission be granted It's code ON tar TO ode re
carry the above recommendations into permanent
effect ,., =. ,x.,.u,,..oa
through fhe Adiutant- General to the Commander
in-Chief. with the respectful! but earnest request
that he give them due consideration.
The resolutions were adopted
These officers were elected President. Lieuten-
,n,-Colonel Charles Harris Luscomb, 18th Regi-
went Rrooklyn; first vice president Coonei Henry
Chauncev IT, Sth Regiment New IorK; secona
Chapin eth Regiment. Buffalo: secretary, captain
John S. Pruyn. 4th Separate COMPANY aonKeIs,
treasurer Captain Dayd W!Is ,ism "a punne I'D
York. chaplain the Kew. "liha" AZ D ~
Repiment NewYOrk.