The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-07-19
ALGER and SHAF7ER.
They Have Recently Suffered
Sharp Criticism.
CHARGE OF FAvORITISM Is MADE,

II
Health of the Michigan Soldiers Prac.
| tically Perfect-President Pleased with
General Skaters Work.
| Washington, July 19.-The secretary
or war and General Shafter have re-
Gently suffered sharp criticism in army
and navy circles. The story is that be-
cause Shafter is a Michigan man and
the secretary of war a Michigan man,
Shafter has been put to the front, and
given prominence at the expense of
| General Miles, the senior major general
Of the army.
| Secretary Alger was finally visited by
| Senator Hoar Of Massachusetts, who
said: You are at liberty to make he
] roes out of Michigan soldiers in the
| present war, but you have no right to
| overlook the heroes of the civil war;
General Miles enlisted in Boston when
a very young man. He made a heroic
record and rose TO the chief command
by reason of his ability He must not
| now be held down solely because
Michigan soldier is to be favored
Secretary Alger denied having shown
favoritfsm to Shafter at the expense OF
Miles, and on the following day General
Miles was ordered to the front, and
went to Santiago. Whether there was
any cause for this talk of favoritism
or not, the story that Shafter has been
given prominence by Alger is generally
believed. And why not? Alger and
Smarter were Michigan soldiers in the
civil war and have always been good
friends. Every secretary of war looks
out for his friends. Besides, Shafter is
a good soldier. and perfectly competent
to command an army.
Michigan Soldiers Keep Well
General Duffield has written to the
war department, saying: THE health
or Michigan soldiers continues to be
practically perfect. The Wolverines are
strong and hardy. Their wholesome
modes OF living in the magnificent cli-
mate OF Michigan now demonstrates
their superior physical condition. They
not only endure the fatigue of a SOL
ciers life, but they endure the heat
or this island without complaint and
without suffering. Moreover, they are
as well disciplined today as veterans.
and are as ready to fight as they are
10 eat, and they all have good appe-
tites.''
General Duffield writes officially and
unofficially TO General Alger. and
through his letters we will be able to
get weekly reports from the front and
Keep well posted about our boys who
have gone to war.
Before leaving for Michigan Senator
burrows said: There is no truth in
the story that General Skaters cam
paign was not satisfactory to the ad-
ministration at Washington. On the
contrary. know that the president was
pleased with Skaters work from the
beginning, and that he holds Shafter ind
high esteem
Idle to Talk Politics Now.
Senator Mcmillan said: ut is time
enough to talk politics when there is
a political campaign going on. There
is no campaign now, and hence il would
be idle to talk about political affairs.
1t is true that there are rumors of some
political struggles in Michigan. but thew
Will not eliminate and be worthy of
controversy until state conventions
have declared policies and principles"
The Thirty-first infantry has had a
hard time of it getting to the front.
They were sent to Chickamauga and
went into camp there before the other
regiments reached Camp Alger in Vir-
ginia. But, the soldiers in Virginia were
nearer the seat of war and were first
ordered to the field. Colonel Gardner's
regiment has been obliged to remain
In camp and witness the departure of
the others. Word is received here from |
Gardner saying that his men are anx
ious to go into active service. and that |
they are exceedingly dissatisfied be- |
cause they have not been where they |
could have shot at the enemy. They |
don't like sham battles. They want a |
taste of the real thing.
General Ayers Business Partner.
The war department has been fort |
innate In having the services of Colonel |
Frank Hecker of Detroit, General AL |
gers business partner. He has SUPER
vised the contracts which have been |
made with transportation companies for |
carrying troops and supplies to Cuba |
and Porto Rico. and has saved the gov
eminent many thousands of dollars by
his business and reuuir-
Ing reasonable terms in all cases. Be-
fore he was sent south to look after this
matter the government was paying
Whatever prices were asked. Hecker
put that business on business basis.
Major George Hopkins of Detroit, mil
ssoiy oiuS " the SECRETARY or war. is
valuable service here. He
accepted the appointment of adjutant
on General Skaters STAFF and
wanted to go to the front, but Secre-
tary Alger ordered him on duty in the
war department. There he is every
day, seeing visitors. attending to cor
respondence and relieving the secretary
Of an immense amount of routine work
Of great importance. The work of Ma
jor Hopkins enables the secretary of
war to give more time and attention to
The most important duties Of his office
IN connection with the administration
policies and the direction Of the army I'm
the field.
BY inquiry at the department It has
been ascertained that the story is true
the discharged soldier boy.
He was 10 years old, strong and
healthy. and not only willing but anx-
ous to go to the front. But a letter
from his mother caused him to visit
he secretary OF war