Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-09-15
ARMY SCANDAL.
North Dakota Has n Very Unsavory
Case of This sort ON Hand.

Fargo. y. D.-North Dakota is 10th
ing il not progressive. She keeps up
with other states in all lines. Since
the mustering-in process Of the volun-
teers began last spring there have been
rumors of scandal in connection with
the different camps. Now North Da-
kota comes 10 the front with n SUP
pressed sensation that promises to he
as full of scandal a sany that have
been heard from.
At the time the volunteers were at
Camp Briggs, there We're reports of
future trouble for some Of the officials.
The matter passed over until recently.
and now il looks as if there will be
some hot stuff. that will involve the
administration as well as the military
officials.
The alleged scandal hinges around
the purchase of supplies and equip
ment. When the volunteers We're first
ordered 10 rendezvous here ii was sup
posed that Col. fuller. the chief of
supply. would Ice the purchasing agent.
For some reason. Gov. Briggs and
Adjt. Gen. Miller relegated him TO the
rear. and made .Adjt. Poole, deputy IN
Insurance Commissioner Fancher's
office. the whole thing. He located the
camp and had full charge of all de-
tails of the camp prior TO its occupancy
by the troops. He arranged for most
of the supplies. and was the much
sought-after-man by the dealers.
Now that some of the bills have been
naid and more are coming in. the facts
are being exposed. 1t is said that at
first only 5000 of the state funds
we're TO Ice expended for the camp.
The vouchers o. K.d so far already
amount to over $1,000.
AS a sample of some of the charges
maze. il is claimed that State Treasur-
er Nichols has paid a bill of some 5000,
properly q. KID, for 800 wire cots,
said 10 have been sent 10 he camp by
Mai. Flint of jamestown. Ii is alleged
that all the cots used at the camp
numbered forty-seven. which were
,shipped here from Bismarck. and az
terward returned to the capital. the
public would like to know what be-
came Of the cots and who indorsed the
bill.
During the rendezvous II was an
nouEced that Col. Phelps. GOV. Briggs
private secretary. had presented the
boys with 900 pipes and a number OF
pounds of tobacco. This was hough
10 be a personal donation. but {. w.
Haggart of Fargo sent in a bill OF s54
to the state for the smoking outnt.
Leach X Gamble OF Wahpeton re-
ceived the contract for supplying gro
ceries. Leach is a brother-in-law OF
Col. Phelps. 1t is claimed h a some
Supplies were mildewed, but We're new
er returned TO the firm. and We're nnal-
IN thrown out when the camp was
broken up.
Another matter that is raising a row
is the board bill of the officers at the
N~etropole. Some of the bills We're not
over $40. That of Mai. Flint was over
500. and il is said that il included the
expenses at the hotel of the wives of
two of the military officials. \ livery
hill for n rig used by the wife of one OF
the officers for 81 daily during the rem
devious is also regarded as exorbitaht.
Added 10 this comes the report OF a
court martial for Col. fuller, chief or
supnly. 1t is alleged that he has been
cr;ticising some of the official acts or
his superior officers. u Will be or
dered under arrest and taken Defore
the epaulette wearers TO give an ac-
count of himself. Col. Creel. the fu-
sion congressional nominee. is judge
advocate. He and Col. fuller are great
friends. and the charges will have 10
be pretty near the real thing before
Creel will make a strong play on the
case. He is a regular army man.
the .~.play-soldier" red tape will prob
aIlv NOT ..clpaya many glaciers with
him.
1t is understood that Col. Tulier de-
mands a complete investigation OF the
alleged scandals. and is ready To sub
nit To "A court-martial II necessary.
Gov. Deyine has promised an mvesti-
CATION.