The evening times., 1898-09-02
SONS OF THEIR FATHERS
Suffering of the Soldiers Is
Charged to Nepotism.
LAUNDERING APP0INTEES
Hundreds Of Civilians, with No Other
Recommendation Than Political
Prestige, Assigned to Duty in the
Adiutant Generals, Quartermns-
ter's and Medical Departments.

The work of the staff departments Of
the army plainly shows the disastrous ef-
feet Of political pulls in selecting officers
for the volunteers. Most of the appoint
ees were assigned TO duty in the adju-
tant generals, inspector generals, quar-
termaster's, subsistence, medical and pay
departments. These men were in charge
of the health, comfort and efficiency OF
the volunteers. The result is known in
part to the people of America. Here is
a partial list of the men in the stan de-
partments who have political pulls:
William A. Wadsworth, chief quarter
master. rank of major: son Cor relatiye)
of Congressman Wadsworth Of New York.
Edward L. Robins. quartermaster, with
rank of major: resigned seat in Congress
10 enter army.
Assistant quartermasters, with rank of
captain-Hiram r. Mitchell. son of eN-
Senator Mitchell OF Oregon; Abraham 5.
Bickham, son OF the proprietor of the
Dayton COhio) Journal; Lloyd Carpenter
Griscom, son of the president OF the In
ternational Steamship Company: John {.
Breckenridge, Of the New York branch of
the Breckenridge family; William f. Eng
lish, son of the eX-congreSsman from In
diana; Charles T. Goff. son of Judge Goff,
OF West Virginia: James Ii. Mcmillan, son
OF the senator from Michigan: Clifton l..
Fenton, son OF the congressman from
Ohio; Thomas S. Grasselli. son of the
largest vitriol manufacturer Cleveland,
Ohio: Nathan NJ Flower. relative OF eN-
Gov. Flower, New York; William ;. Scott.
son of the eX-congressman from Pennsyl-
Vania-
Chief commissaries. with the rank OF
major-RObert Lee LoncsIreet. son of
Gen. Longstreet, Georgia; William NJ
Grinnel, son of the eX-congressman from
New York.
Commissaries, with the rank of cap
tain-Richard w. Thompson, jr.. son Of
the ex-congressman. Indiana; Daniel Van
Vorhies, of the eX-congressman,
Ohio: Jay Cooke third son of Phi!a
delphia banker; Eben b. Fenton, political
appointment by Congressman Corliss.
Michigan; Stewart NJ. BrIce, son of the
ex-senator; Peter c. Deming, son of the
eX-congressman, New York: Seth NJ. Mil
lizen, son of the eX-congressman. Maine:
James Edward Calhoun. New York;
Warren c. Fairbanks son of the senator.
Indiana: c. Dupont Coudert, son Of
banker. New York: Robert Dudley Win
throp New York.
All appointees to medical depart
ment had first to produce diplomas per-
mitting holders to practice
Inspector, with the rank Of lieutenant
colonel-JOhn Jacob Astor, Fifth Army
Corps Santiago.
Inspectors with the rank of major-J.
Creighton Webb, New York; Russell y.
Harrison. son of the eN-President at
tached to Seventh Army Corps. Jackson
VILE; Perry Belmont. New York, attach
ed TO Second Army Corps. Camp Aiger-
for two or three days only.
At the breaking out of war the public
read with more or less emotion how the
inexperienced sons Of great men and
others equally incompetent had been ap-
pointed % high positions in the cOmmiS-
sary and quartermaster' departments
OF the army. Pictures OF these daring
men and their swords were printed asd
the country maryelled at the military az
ray.
Today the public reads with growing
horror of the ghastly blunders commit
ted by these officials at Santiago and
MOntauk Point, of soldiers starved on
ships loaded with rotting provisions. and
of fever patients allowed to die Of brutal
neglect. Every form in blue from the
pest camps adds another chapter TO tais
pitiful serial story.
The country knows in a general way
that some things have gone wrong with
our soldier boys. who went forth nobly
to fight, with the glorious privilege of
starving to death at home when peace
was declared. Mistakes have been made,
blunders that cost lives. and the needless
suffering and mortality continue and in
crease with the arrival of each trans
port at Montauk Point. Truly the 5 ms
OF great men and others equally inCom-
petent have made war records that wild
Ows and orphans may read on marble
headstones