Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-04-28
maine's Response to the Call.

Tn some parts of the State, both from
individuals and from papers, there are
criticisms that Maine is not true to its
motto in the present crisis. and that
Governor Powers is unnecessarily slow
in concentrating our National Guard at
Augusta, where it may he mustered
into United States service as part of
the volunteer army. These criticisms
are unjust and hasty. Governor Pow
ers has acted and is acting with his
customary prudence and sound judg-
ment, and all haste is being used that
is consistent with the welfare of the
service and the necessities of the hour.
Few if any states in the Union are
making a more prompt and satisfac-
tory response to the call for volunteers
than Maine On the day following the
receipt of the call from the war depart
ment Governor Powers was able to
| telegraph Secretary Alger that Maine
would be amply able to fill its quota
from its Guard, and that the Guard was
| recruited to its limit with carefully
picked men, we'll trained and equipped
for instant service No state could say
more than that, or say it better.
But from some quarters complaint is
made because the troops are not ordered
to Augusta sooner than the first of
next week. This complaint is as un-
just and senseless as the other. II
Maine had been provided with big
rcginlental armories, costing hundreds
| of thousands of dollars. like those of
Massachusetts, New York. Illinois, and
Pennsylvania for instance, we could
have concentrated the Guard, last week.
in anticipation of the call, or at once
upon receipt of it, though such haste is
not demanded or expected of the ma
tional government But Maine has no
place to mobilize its citizen soldiers
except an open field on a wind
swept plateau where they must live in
tents TO have called our troops into
camp under thtSt circumstances, IN a
cold stormy April like the present, when
our climatic conditionsare worse than in
been little short Of a criminal act on
the part of the state authorities I'M
| less the needs Of the hour Were much
more Imperative than they have been
or are now. What a week the past
| would have been for 1900 or 400 young
men mostly city bred. from offices
shops and schools, to have lived in
tents at Augusta. Scores if not hun
areds would have been sick: many
deaths would have resulted and the
whole Guard would have lost much Of
the enthusiasm and spirit that counts
50 much in its efficiency. And all to
no purpose, as 40 such Imperative
haste or unnecessary sacrifice is re-
CURED by the needs Of the government
When the Maine troops are assembled
to be mustered into the service ana pay
Of the United States. they Will doubt
less be- kept here several weeks. and
perhaps even for months. There is MT
the least need of their concentration
before May , and 3. as the Governor
has ordered, and then it is reasonable
to expect continued mild weather. with
less sickness more comfort and better
service IN camp. A few states with
regimental armorics or where the
climate is now like our md-summcr
may nave their quota mustered into
| government service ahead of Maine
but they Will be very few and nothing
will be gained by it, as the government
policy of action will show. Some cx-
citabie and boodthirsty jingoes would
like to have had our troops called ont
by the sound of the fire alarm and sent
on special trains to Augusta or Wash
ington the moment war was declared
but such a course would have been
as ridiculous as unnecc.saryN
There are many who want to see
something done" whose sole business
is to criticise and condemn the work Of
those in authority. Why not take the
| better course, and assume that the ma
| tlonal and state governments know
what they are doing, and understand
best the needs ana necessities of the
| hour? In preparing for the call for
volunteers that has long been regarded
| as inevitable Governor Powers AMI
| Adjutant General richards have done
| everything possible. The Guard has
been recruited to its limit with picked
| men. and drilled and disciplined to a
point of efficiency second to none in the
| Union 1t is ready to a man to Volun-
| teer into its cOuntryS service The
| national government knows these facts
and the situation does not demand the
| concentration of our Guard any before
| the time set by Governor Powers
Names motto of "Dirigo' was never
more deserved than at the present