The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1898-07-20
ALGER and SHAFTER.
CHARGE OF FAvORITISM Is MADE,

Front-General Dufield Reports the
Health Of the Michigan Soldiers Prac-
ticalIy Perfect-President Pleased with
| General Skaters Work.
Washington, July 19.-The secretary
OF 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
| 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
| favoritism 10 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
Shafter were Michigan soldiers in the
civil war and have always been good
| friends. Every secretary Of war looks
| ont for his friends. Besides, Shafter is
good soldier, and perfectly competent
| TO command an army.
Michigan Soldiers Keep Well.
General Duffield has written to the
war department, saying: The health
OF 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
dier's life, but they endure the heat
OF this island without complaint and
without suffering. Moreover, they are
as we'll disciplined today as veterans,
and are as ready to fight as they are
TO eat, and they all have good appe-
tites.'
General Duffield writes officially and
unofficially 10 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 in
high esteem"
Idle To Talk Politics Now.
Senator Mcmillan said: 1T is time
enough to talk politics when there is
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 they
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 ii 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 Gardeners
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 a 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
understanding his business and reauir-
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
itary aide to the secretary OF war, is
| rendering valuable service here. He
accepted the appointment Of adjutant
general 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 in
| the field.
BY inquiry at the department IL has
been ascertained that the story is true
concerning the discharged soldier boy.
He was 10 years old, strong and
| healthy, and not only willing but anx-
ious TO go to the front. But letter
from his mother caused him TO visit
the secretary of war.
Two Locks of Hair.
The door was not closed against him