The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-24
CIVILIAN ARMY APPOINTMENTS.

The Democratic congressional committee
has been sending from its headquarters a
circular entitled .Papas Sons" etc.. con-
tanning a list of 125 officers who have been
appointed from civil life because of the war
with Spain, declaring that such men were
appointed to promote partisan ends and
please Republicans in Congress. That the
animus of those issuing this circular may
be seen, the following extract is taken
from it:
The crime of starving and decimating by
disease our soldier boys belongs TO the po-
litical organization of the War Department,
who filled the commiSSary and quartermaS-
ter's departments with these incompetents
for political purposes. Every individual
who could be depended on to assist in any
way the political designs of Hannaism was
favored in the manner set forth above.
The shame of the American people has fol-
lowed these appointments obtained by pull.
Pest ships and pest camps have followed.
More terrible yet than war is the peace that
has come to the American people.
Thus is the character of every civil APP
pcintee of the President to a position in
the army smirched. That it is not true
that every individual who could be de-
pended upon to assist in any way the de-
signs of Hannaism was favored" the fol-
lowing list will show:
Indiana: w. e. English, captain. son of
the late Hon. w. H. English. Kentucky:
Captain John G.. Breckenridge, captain, son
of Cabell Breckenridge. Virginia. Fitzhugh
Lee; j. E. e. Stuart son of the Confederate
cavalry leader of the same name. Georgia:
Hugh H. Gordon, major, son of General
John b. Gordon. Texas: Charles H. Mills,
major son of Senator Mills. South Caro-
lima: John Earle, captain, son OF the late
Senator Earle mississippi: Beverly A.
Read, captain, SOn-in-law of Senator
Money; 7. c. Catchings, jr., captain, son of
Representative Catchings. Ohio: Stewart M.
Brice, major, son of ex-senator Brice. New
York: Erskine Hewitt, captain. son of ex-
Mayor Hewitt; Edward Murphy, jr., son of
Senator Murphy.
This list could be extended to include
many more Democrats who are relied upon
to assist Hannaism.',; Even ex-Repre-
sentative Belford. Populist. of Colorado
and Representative Botkin, Populist, of
Kansas, are among those who are relied
upon to assist Hannaism''-the formers son
and the latter's brother having received APP
pointments 1t further appears that COM
nissary officer was appointed at the sug-
gestion of Senator German, of Maryland,
and a quartermaster and assistant on the
recommendation of Representative Elliott
of South Caroina-all Democrats until Sc
lected to be thereafter the supporters of
Hannaism. The list of Democrats could be
considerably extended, but the foregoing is
sufficient to show the falsity of the charge
of the Democratic congressional committee.
The statement to the effect that pest
ships and pest camps more terrible than
war have followed as the result of the APP
pointment of quartermasters and commits
saries for the volunteers is SANDER upon
Democratic appointees as well as Repub-
lican AS matter of fact, the charge is
false, for these officials were subordinates
in both branches of the service and had
nothing to do with the general direction of
affairs. More than that the name of no
one of such appointees has thus far been
given as that of an official neglecting his
duty or falling to discharge it.
The truth is. the President did not let
partisan considerations influence him in
these appointments. Among the first volun-
teer major generals nominated by the Pres
ident were Fitzhugh Lee and Joseph Wheel
err The only brigadier general appointed
from civil life in this State is a Democrat.
Governor Shaw, of Iowa, is being assailed
because he recommended and the President
appointed an ex-Confederate living in that
State to the position of brigadier general.
1t may be added that none of these posi-
tions has been such as a man would covet
If compensation was the object. No man
having a family to support by hiseempoy-
ment could afford to accept one of them.
This, however, is not the point: it is that
all these men are charged with the re-
sponsibiity Of pest ships and pest camps.
1t is blow at the President.