Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1898-05-19
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Admiral Walker Praises Dewey-Politi-
clans Not Wanted as Commander
Patriotism at the Soldiers Home.
rspeciai correspondence

Patriotism at the Soldiers Home.
rrSpeciai correspondence
Rear Admiral John G.. Walker, re-
,ired. is loud and strong in his praises
80 the achievement of Commodore Dew
ov and his forces at Manila. Admiral
Walker is we'll acquainted with ooh'
modore Dewey and is thoroughly IA
miliar with his record in the navy. 10
a croup of acquaintance and Washing-
ton correspondents he said the otner
dav: dewey is an unusually eooo
man both as a fighter and strateeis''
He served with distinction In the navy
during the war of the rebellion ana sa"
considerable hard fighting. he ana up
that affair at Manila in a most tnor
ouyb businesslike way, and Is entitieu
20 b;gh praise for the skillful manner
>. .aeneuvered his fleet. Ii
was lust like him to sail right in past
| the Qualifications and through the mines
and torpedoes with which III uo
fses,,,,,o.o, 60 ba..------sru IN thorough,
tn OPPOSE. e Way without any fuss or
feathers.
Politicians Not Wanted.
Several of the gentlemen present
echoed the sentiments of Admiral
Walker and the conversation became
general, the leading topic being tactics
and tactioians. One old soldier who
wore shoulder straps in the civil war
called attention to the march of politi-
cal brigadiers to the White House. eve
want the tacticians, not politicians, at
this stage of the game, he said.
"Why, it would simply be criminal to
put at the head of regiment some of
the men who are now making a grand
stand play for swords and stars. Might
as we'll put a cowboy in the cab of a To-
connective as trust the lives of the men
in the field to an officer who knows no
more about war than landlubber does
about handling a fleet My idea is that
these political major generals or briga-
der generals should form a regiment of
that- ~. and take turns commanding
, 1T. Then, If the war lasts long enough,
tbs cenntEy would tnd ont the ditfsr;
spellbinder. And there wasn't dis
senting word from his listeners
Would Fight the Cussed Spaniards.
No one is more interested in the war
titan the veterans at the Soldiers home.
That usually quiet place is stirred up
by excitement. Men with gray boards
and faces scanned with wrinkles, men
manned and i'll, gather in little knots
under the trees in the beautiful grounds
of their peaceful home and discuss the
situation with eagerpess, intelligence
and patriotism. Many tale of their
prowess in bygone days Is brought out
and furnished up for the entertainment
nf their comrades, and the stories of
battles long ago fought are told over
again.
1--WE fought our brothers them said
one of them. "Oh, if / only had nv
leg back that left at Winchester and
could get a good chance at those cussed
Spaniards. l would die happy
Would You really like to fight
again. he was asked.
AYE, that I would" he answered,
THAT i would, and there's hardly boy
here that wouldn't go in the ranks |
again. if he could, to fight for Old Clio
~, God bless her. |
Patronage Dispensers Harassed |
Members of congress, as dispensers of |
patronage, have troubles of their own
all on account of the war. Applicants
for commissions not only from the gov
c,
regard senators and representatives as /
their legal prey for Endorsements and /
the correspondence Of nearly every man
who holds seat in either house at the /
capitol has increased fully third since
war was declared. The poor clerks Of |
course have their troubles. too but it is
nothing beside the brain racking inge-
nuity their chiefs must exercise to pre-
vent building up "a throng of disappoint-
ed office seekers at home just before the
conventions.
The Speakers Autograph.
Speaker Reed has many requests for
his autograph. He is, like most men in
public life, very obliging in granting
these requests, and probably hundreds
Of people every month bear away cards
Oh which is written in a full, bold
band, IT. B. Reed {" But signatures
such as the speaker attaches to war
and other legislative enact
ments that are to be lodged with docu-
ments to form part of the archives of
the state department are rare. When
the precious pieces CT parchment ON
which acts of congress are printed are
banded up to the speakers desk, he
Ices not dash the signature off SO rapid
y. He writes in the same bold hand, |
nut with more finish, and his name ap-
pears as Thomas B. Reed. .
The speakers correspondents indulge
III sort of whims and fancies in spell
ng his name, but a gentleman from
he southern states has found the most
Ingenious way Of bringing in the largest
lumber Of letters of the alphabet He
addresses the speaker as Mr. '.Wreade.
Other Things Than War.
Despite the smoke OF battle and the !
III absorbing interest in war and war
optics other matters are not being neg
ecsed at the capitol The horse show at
Convention hall was as popular As on
ny previous year and as a social event !
vas pronounced complete success The !
ttendance was not limited TO local /
.orse folk Some Of New York's most
oted whips were present and prominent e