The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-13
The Governor and His critics.


Gov. Atkinson feels that those who have
condemned his method of providing Geor-
GAS quota of troops and have charged
that he has been influenced in the appoint
ment of officers by political considerations
have done him great injustice Georgia's
quota being about complete, he has taken
the opportunity TO answer his critics.
He gives his reasons for not calling OUT
thessntire militia force of the state before
calling for volunteers, and the reasons he
gives appear 10 be good ones. He points
out that in states in which that plan was
followed-the plan of ordering out the
whole militia force-a great deal of I'M
necessary expense was incurred and the
quotas were not secured any sooner than
the quota in this state. Besides, if ali
the regiments had been called into camp
there would have been serious complica-
tons in respect to officers. A militia regi-
ment in this state contains only about $50
men, while a volunteer regiment in the
United States service contains all the way
from 924 to 1272 men. 1t can easily DE
SEEN therefore, that if the whole militia
teers were called for there would have
been great deal of trouble about officers.
For instance, in the militia there, are
eighteen majors, while for the two regs-
ments of infantry required from the state
only four majors are needed.
Not only would there have been trouble
in respect to officers but there would
have been some difhculty in. selecting the
regiments to volunteer. Those selected
would have been satisfied, while the others
would have felt they had cause for grum-
bling. This dissatisfaction might have
become so general that the Two regiments
selected would have found it difficult TO
secure enough volunteers to FIN their
ranks. Besides the Governor didn't want
all the military organizations to leave the
state.
The Governor contends that politics has
had nothing whatever to do with the ap.
pontment OF officers. The two colonies
were chosen at a conference of the militia
officers and they selected the lieutenant
colonies and majors. To as great an ex-
tent as possible the company officers were
chosen by the companies. The Governor
says that one of the colonies has no po-
iitical influence whatever and no political
following, and that the other colonel has
always been opposed to him in politics.
Continuing, he says: "Of the eight colon
els lieutenant colonies and majors whose
recommendations of company officers
have in every instance been accepted by
me, only two have ever been my politl-
cal friends" and they were selected by
the two colonies without knowing that
they were political and personal friends
of the Governor.
It was natural, of course, that there
should be charges of one sort and an,
other growing out of so important a mat
ter as that of furnishing several thotfs
and volunteers to the national govern
ment, but in view of the success which
has attended Georgias efforts TO furnish
her quota it is doubtful IL any of the
charges will be believed or remembered.
The states quota is ready for service
that is. the regiments are complete--bat
the government has not yet furnished the
necessary guns and uniforms. No one
seems TO know when these things will be
furnished While waiting for them. how.
ever, the volunteers will be put under
discipline. and by the time they get their
arms and uniforms they will be pretty
good soldiers