Evening star., 1897-01-09
The Pennsylvania Militia.

The question of the attendance of Penn
sylvania's militiamen at the inaugural Is
now agitating the rank and file of the
Keystone state guard and Is matter of
interest to the people of Washington. 1t Is
still to be determined, and the present
plan. outlined by Gov. Hastings, is to sub
init the proposition to the men themselves.
If a practically unanimous sentiment in
favor of attendance is demonstrated orders
will be issued for their participation in
the great parade. but not otherwise. Much
has been said to give the impression that
the Pennsylvania troops have been dis
courteously treated while in Washington
on previous inaugural occasions. but this
charge has not been proved, and the local
conscience on that score is entirely clear.
On the other hand, it has been asserted
with more truth than lies in the other in
dictment-that individual members of the
Pennsylvania troops have not always be-
haved In strict accordance with the spirit
of civil or military discipline while here.
and the unquestioned acts of violence and
even of pillage committed by a compare
lively few members of the organization
have been brought to mind to the unde-
served disrepute of the entire guard. Gov.
Hastings in a way balances the situation
in the following somewhat vague state
ment: ''There have been some instances of
ill-usage and bad treatment of our troops
and because there are so many of them
they are sometimes blamed without cause
for breaches of etiquette" There Is no
doubt of the reason for blaming some of
the Keystone soldiers But, the gov
ernor says, the membership Of the guard
is very large and constantly changing, and
he asserts that today fully three-fourths of
the men have never attended an inaugural.
-Four years ago there was little complaint
on the score of misbehavior, and probably
the publicity given to the actions OF GER
tain skylarkers in 1885 and 1889 has caused
a gratifying change of heart that together
with the influx of new men, guarantees
universal good behavior this year. The
governor acknowledges that the treatment
OF the militia by those in charge of the
ceremonies has been uniformly courteous
and thoughtful"
The Philadelphia Press. in discussing the
matter today, says: Washington has
never treated the Pennsylvania troops with
any marked hospitality. but that does not
affect their participation in an event that
is national In its character and not
mere local affair" Washington has never
conceived that its duty at Inauguration
time ever called for a marked degree OF
hospitality toward any special class of the
twenty-five thousand paraders and the nom
participating visitors, numbering three
times as many more. Pennsylvania
troops have always received their share of
whatever has been distributed in the way
of gratuitous accommodations and direct
attentions. and the unpleasantness caused
by the pranks of a few individuals has
the courtesy extended to the general body.
In short, Washington has always conscien-
tiously met the obligations imposed upon
1t as the national capital and has lent it
self to the task of receiving the army of
visitors with cheerfuiress and pleasure,
without playing favorites'' and without
discrimination.