The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-24
DON'T OVERLOOK THE GOVERNORS.


The commission to investigate the con-
duct of the war should not forget to in
qure whether or not the Governors, in
appointing regimental and company Dffi-
GERS, performed their duties faithfully
and fearlessly and with an eye single 10
The good of the service and the welfare of
the men in the ranks. II is well under
stood that the men who suffered most in
the home camps were the volunteers. not
the regulars. There is ground for saying
that 10 the majority of instances sickness
prevailed in companies and regiments be-
cause there was an utter disregard of SAN
itary regulations. And the complaints of
insufficient food and Of food that was UNI
fit to eat in the earlier days of the camps
we're not the result of the lack of provi-
sions, but of the ignorance and incompe-
tency of the commissary officers.
Whose duty was it TO see that sanitary
regulations were enforced, and TO provide
wholesome food in sufficient quantities?
Was it not the duty of the officers of the
regiments and companies? And who is
responsible for the appointment of these
officers? Are not the Governors Of the
states responsible? They certainly are.
They appointed them. Among the regi-
mental and company officers there are
many competent men, who have discharg-
ed their duty faithfully and satisfactorily.
There are others, however. and the per-
centage is large, who have proven them
selves wholly unfit for the responsible po-
sitions they hold. How came these men
to be appointed? Were they appointed be
cause they had political pull, or because
their fathers were rich and influential or
because they had rendered some political
service or were expected to render come
political service to the appointing power?
These are questions which the invesd-
eating commission should ask in its search
for truth. 1t is safe TO say that there are
thousands of men in the ranks who are
superior in every respect as soldiers to a
large number of those who wear shoulder
straps. Facts justify the statement that
there are regimental and company officers
who have neither the knowledge nor the
ability to FIJI acceptably the positions they
bold. They have learned nothing since
they have been in the service and they
have no inclination to learn.
How did they get commissions? That
is what the people would like to know.
There was certainly no dearth Of good ma
terial for officers. There are army Off
GERS who would have been glad to get po-
sitions as colonies, majors and captains
in the volunteer forces, and there are
thousands of ex-Union and ex-Confederate
veterans stin in the prime of life who
would have willingly entered the service
as officers. Why were they passed over
and nincompoops, ia too many instances,
appointed? The ex-Union and ex-Con-
federate veterans having been trained in
the school of experience would have
known how to take care of the men of
their commands. Many of those appoint
ed by the Governors do not know how to
take care of themselves, much less the
men they were appointed to command.
in this. stale probably fewer officers
We're appointed for political and personal
reasons than in any one of great ma
jority of the other states, but even in this
state the Governor would have been kind
er 10 the men in the ranks if he had
overlooked some of the men he did APP
point and had given commissions to ex-
Confederates who made good records in
the civil war. The Governors of the states
ARE responsible for much of the hardship
and suffering which the private soldiers
endured, and the investigating commission
should see TO it that the country is made
aware of that fact.