Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-09-05
THE OTHER SIDE
Some Inside Facts Concerning the
Dissatisfaction Among Soldiers
at Whipple Barracks.
OFFICERS OPENLY MALIGNED
None But fragrant Breaches of Army Dis.
cipline Punished-M Many Demands Made
by Men Unreasonable Santa Fe
Boys Behaving Themselves.

Wnlpple BaffacKs, aug. 5l.-Ine Ter
ritorial regiment is now occupying a re-
served anxious seat, awaiting some ac-
ton by the War department relative to
its final disposition.
Yesterday the regiment was recruited
to it's maximum strength, in accordance
with a telegram from Washington.
This is taken as an indication that the
will not be mustered out, but
will be ordered to active duty.
A representative of Leslie's Weekly /
today made photographs of the officers
at Whipple and furnished the informa-
ton that the regiment was slated for a
part in subsequent develop
ments, being destined to fulfill the for
eign duties formerly intended for the
"Rough Riders"
The fact that each company contains
a great many Spanish speaking volun-
teers, eminently fits it for such distinc-
tive service. The supposition is now
entertained that Havana is the future
point of operations.
A number of the boys in the Arizona
and Albuquerque companies, whose at
tack of "cold feet" vas delayed some
what, have utilized considerable prec-
ious time (Which could have been spent
to better advantage in the guard house,
in preparing and signing petitions for
their discharge. These petitions con-
sist mainly of charges against officers
and a fearful plea for public pity.
A majority of the men who indulge in
this sort of thing are of the class who,
prior to enlistment, could not raise a
dollar with a crow bar, and for whom
square meals were as scarce as hens
teeth. Others are entitled to considers
ton, from the fact that a lack of knowl-
edge in army affairs induced them to
permit the 'walking delegates" to in
veigle them into a strike.
If there is any place where a strike
meets with bowling and overwhelming
success, it is in the United States army,
and the whole population of the country
will doubtless hear the War department
tremble when the mighty appeals of the
d%isgruntled volunteers reach the nations
capital.
The petitioners made a grand mistake
in attempting to place their officers in a
falls. light. Naturally, after reading one
of these petitions, the public would be-
lieve them soulless martinets with no
ambition than the subjugation of enlist
ed men in their commands.
Such stories are absolute ''rot" and
could only originate in the brain of some
befuddled gallinipper who had run a bill
behind a Prescott bar. The choicest
sample of these "petitions" found Its
way into an Albuquerque paper recent
ly. Its inception is worth considering.
1t was ascertained that a member of
the Albuquerque company, named Will
cox, intended to desert, and M of the
more intelligent recruits induced him to
sign a previously written appeal and
send it to Deleg gate Ferguson. In it.,
the "soft jobs" hold by the officers were
enlarged on and tho grievances Of the
brave soldier boy set forth in terms war
ranted to wiring sympathy from a door
bell.
If there is an officer in the regiment
who has made a dollar from his ''soft
job" no one here is acquainted with
him. Were they to be handed six
months pay today, many would be far
in arrears tomorrow. They spent their
ready money and borrowed profusely to
meet the expenses of recruiting, and
later mortgaged their pay to provide
mands.
As for the ''martinet" feature, none
but the most fragrant breaches of army
discipline have met with punishment
and the sufferance of the officers is
attested by their penchant for allow
ing the perpetrators of petitions to 60
UNPUBLISHED.
The officers Of the Santa Fe company
are considerate, and even indulgent,
and doubtless the other officers are the
same. No one can form IN idea of the
things they commended with in bringing
order out of chaos and arranging old
dismantled barracks to accommodate
the greater portion of a regiment. Un-
der such conditions, no wonder exists
that the luXuries and some of the com-
forts of life must be dispensed with
temporarily. Yet, there lives q class
of people who earn bacon and clamor
for pie. If given pie they would demand
ice cream.
Those who imagine the army a Kelley
cure institute and enter the service be-
cause weak minds prevent them from
remaining sober long long enough to
attend to business, should not complain
of restrictions or attempt to blame their
officers for not providing feather beds
and hotel fare. The loyalty Of such
people is on o par with the man who
remains at home and sings patriotic
songs, while others 60 to the front and
make material for the composer.
Each volunteer knew, when he en-
listed, that there was a probability of
peace being declared; in which event the
regiment would not see service at the
front. OF course, the first ambition of
the embryo soldiers was to display pa
triotism on the field of battle and later
be placed in a position to grasp govern
mental and commercial opportunities in
a g country. Disappointment is no
excuse for a kick now. No one expected
the government to stir up q little war in
behalf of the New Mexico and Arizona
volunteers, in case the war with Spain
ended before the regiment got to the
front, nor was there any clause In the
muster proceedings guaranteeing trip
passes to Manila and q start in life at
the conclusion of hostilities. 1t was
freely predicted that peace would be de-.
clared before the regiment could be
equipped and sent to the Philippines.
Those who thought different and de-
cided to take chances. display poor logic
in saddling their bad Judgment on the
officers.
1t is safe to assert that the officers are
as little pleased with existing conditions
as the enlisted men. They are Disguised
with being held in ramshackle barracks
and receiving no consideration from the
powers that be, and will gladly welcome
release or activity.