The news & observer., 1897-02-21
Batchelor Gets His Commission
All Right Enough.
AND TOM BAILEY GETS LEFT
HE MUST EITHER RESIGN NOW
OR STOP CRITICISING.
SO SAYS ADJUTANT GENEPAL
The Governor of Virginia Writes Gen.
Cowles Letter Granting Him Per-
mission to Take Armed Iroops
Through Virginia.


The Bailey -Batchelor battle is ended
MIR. Batchelor has has commission in his
inside pocket and Mr.. Bailey must either
put up that resignation he has been talk
ing so much about or shut up. That is
the order from headquarters, and Gen.
Cowles is the man to enforce discipline
among the officers with epanlettes as well
as among the men in Ene.
Readers Of the News and Observer are
familiar with the unseemly row Bailey
made when Batdhelor was appointed
how he called him dude" and declined
to be associated with him on the Adju-
tant Generals staff. They will recall
also that Bailey went to call on the Gov
ernor and subsequently sent a deputa-
ton of distinguished Republicans, :"
headed by Col. john Nichols, to notify
the ExceIlency that unless Batchelor's
commission should be Withdrawn he
(Bailey) would resign.
This, Of course, would be great, a
very great loss to the Guard and a deci-
sion must be carefully and deliberately
arrived at So the Governor took time
not by the forelock, where people usually
seize the old fellow, but ordinary time
to consider the matter. He reached a
decision yesterday morning when he di-
rected Private Secretary Alexander to
make out a commission to Starke s.
Batchelor, of Raleigh, as Commissary
General with rank Of Colonel. This set
tied the row.
/ talked with Gen. Cowles at the Var
borough House last night i'm regard to the
matter. / asked him if there would be
any designations in consequence of Col.
Bachelors commission, reminding him
that one of his personal staff had threat
ened to resign If the appointment was
confirmed by the Governor.
Cen Cowles, who has himself been a
soldier in the ranks and has learned what
discipline means, seemed to regret the
row very much. He told me how his
whole ambition was to build up the State
Guard and make it more efficient. Then
speaking of the particular case in point
he said:
after due consideration the Governor
has commissioned this officer Col.
Batchelor) who viii serve in the State
Guard during the pleasure of his Excel
lency. Nothing has been said against
Mr. Batchel0r's character or integrity and
he is conceded to be cultured gentle
man. / presume you refer to Maj Bal
ley's threat to resign. l trust that he
will not do so, as he is my personal
choice for appointment, but Of course, /
do not undertake to Dictate any private
action Of his If he sees proper to
resign his resignation will be promptly
accepted by me.
"And further, it will be my duty Rs
Adiutant General, as a matter OF disci-
pine, to request his resignation If criti-
cisms of the Governors appointment do
not cease. OF course l have the high
est personal regard for Maj Bailey, or l
would not have appointed him, but
propose to stand by the Governor and
will not and should not tolerate any
censorship of my conduct as Adjutant
General except by the Governor, who is
commander-in-chief of the State Guard
He is my superior officer, to whom l owe
obedience as all other officers owe theirs
to him and to me-"
General Cowles yesterday received a
letter from Lieut.. Col 10. Lane Stern,
Acting Adjutant General of Virginia,
containing the following:
Il have the honor to acknowledge re-
ceipt of your letter of the 18th, request
ing permission for companies of the State
Guard of North Carolina to enter and
pass through the State of Virginia, under
arms, to and fro, in attending the In
augural ceremonies at Washington, d.
c.. March 4th, 1897.
81 ann directed by the Governor and
4 -1.s Ii.
mission is granted with much pleasure"