The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-08-20

To attain proficiency. They could set
the same result BY uniting with any of
the uniformed secret societies with far
less cost to Themselves and much more
pleasure.
In nearly every state in the Union
there are medals for craftsmanship. We
nave never heard of one here The only
mark of distinction the Utah soldier has
is a service eheVron which is a badge IN
dieating that the wearer has had patience
enough to serve three years at drill, and
more. He knows how to stack his arms.
clean his revolver or wipe the dust off
his cannon That's all Ninety-hve per
cent of the several commands know moth
ing of judging distance But they drill
They have worn the same uniforms for
three years while drilling and now it is
proposed 20 give them g, service ehevron,
when q patch on the rear of the trousers
would be more appropriate.
The last legislature made an appropria-
ton ample TO cover all needs. There is
ammunition in plenty for all purposes
To deny the right TO learn the use of
weapons is unmilitary; it is criminal 1t
is the business OF the soldier to shoot
and he should know it we'll.
But target practice alone is not all.
What the men want is some encourage
ment. | have yet to learn that the
brigade commander has ever visited a
single organization and observed their
work. There are no suggestions made
for their benefit 1t is simply. drill
For three years the First infantry has
out with colors it borrows them from the
G. A r. or some other organization.
There isn't even the state color. It is the
same way with the other arm Of the Serv-
Ice, SO Major Gibbs informs me. If the
men want information they must buy
tactics themselves. 1 learn that the
adjutant of the artillery purchased tao
tics for both batteries of the organiza-
ton at mis- own expense. know person.
ally that he and his major were at the
expense of going 10 Ogden two or three
n NA III from TFf.f d4fs
ruin and did il. I know that one OF them
paid the entire amount for Transporting
the Twenty-fourth Infantry band there
and back in order to work up interest in
Ogden. | know infantry officers VINO have
expended money freely. IF the general
officers would attend to their duties in
one-half the energetic manner displayed
ty their subordinates there would be
results follow
The Mount Pleasant company would be
in existence today had the right word
been said on the night they were
mustered out. I call attention to the
article written in the Pyramid the day
following in which the editor. member,
of the company. explained the situation
The same is true of nearly every other
company. There has been too much dis
play OF epaulettet5 and shoulder knots and
too little attention paid 10 the men who
drill
have been approached by men in Bat
terry a, not later than this afternoon who
have asked me to go to see Governor
Wells and see if they can set the money
they have coming to them for horses and
services rendered at Garfield beach on
July % Their efforts netted the Jubilee
commission nearly 81. 0G0 so a member in
forms me But the men who worked all
night nearly in getting the cannons back
and then arose next day 10 take part in
the parade are stiH waiting for their
money. I have advised them to so to
the governor themselves. IT is not mill
tary, but what can they do? They tell
me they have seen their captain and the
adjutant general and one tells them the
other IS the man and both say the COM
mission and there it is Men get dis
couraged under such circumstances
In conclusion let me say for the gov
ernors benefit. There are ugly rumors
in the air. Rumors OF grave Importance
which reflect upon the integrity of the
guard. Let him investigate and he viii
ascertain the truth. Let him call IN Of
ficers ard men and assure them of pro-
lection ard the results he will unearth
will aStound him.
Unless something radical is done and
that soon, the National Guard of Utah
Will cease TO exist The resignation of
Colonel Page is only q beginner Every
officer knows why that was rendered 1t
was because he was snubbed, overlooked.
ignored and treated IS though he had no
rIeht to insist upOn the rules Of military
usage being applied to himself and his
command. GUARDSMAN.