The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1898-08-10
A BLOW AT THE SOUTH.
SENATOR BACON ENTERS AN INx
DIGNANT PROTEST.
The Georgian Unearths Plot Matched In
the War Department. at Wash

ington.
Washington dispatch states that
Senator Bacon, who went to Washing
ton for the purpose of directing atten-
ton to the gross mismanagement of GER
tain military camps in the south, and
the direful results that have followed,
has unearthed plot Matched IN the war
department to remove all troops from
the south to northern points, the excuse
being that climatic conditions in the
south are not favorable to the health of
the troops.
Senator Bacon has expressed just in-
dignation at the conclusions reached by
Secretary Alger, and he has presented
some solid facts in REPUTATION of the
charge which is involved in the eontem-
plated action of the war department.
1t is not clear, as Senator Bacon says,
how such an outrage is to be prevented,
since the war department has deter
mined upon this course, but it seems to
us that it would be but right and proper
for the commercial, health and munich
pal bodies of the south to supplement
Senator Bacon's efforts in defense of the
south by vigorous protests and the pre-
sentation of such facts as will in a meas
ure counterfeit the bad effect which the
war departments action will necessarily
produce.
Senator Bacon has offered the proper
explanation of health conditions now
prevailing at certain military camps in
the south, and he has also suggested the
proper remedy. The fact is, as stated,
that too many men have been encamped
at these places, and too little attention
paid to sanitary conditions and health
regulations Where the proper course
has been pursued there has been COM
paratively little sickness. The sensible
thing to do, as Senator Bacon suggests,
is to divide the troops into brigades and
establish smaller camps at different
points throughout the south. As every
one knows, Georgia can accommodate
the entire United States army, as for
that matter, provided 1t be properly di-
vided and properly placed at the many
available points throughout the state.
Indeed, there are enough good camp
sites in Georgia, where the health of
each individual soldier would be actual
ly improved, to accommodate an army
twice the size of the present one.
1t is only necessary to point to the
condition of the tro ps at Griffin or the
immune regiment at Camp Price to
demonstrate the fact that where the
camps are not unnecessarily overcrowd-
ed the health of the troops is all that
could be desired.
1t is rank foolishnesss for Secretary
Alger, or anyone else, to contend other
wise, and it is a criminal libel to declare
the south too unhealthy for the army.
1t is a serious matter to suspect the
war department of any unfrendly freel-
ing for any section of the country, or 10
believe that it can be moved by any inn
proper motives, but it is difficult to ac-
count for Secretary Algers condCct in
any other way. He has already made
this war more profitable to the railroads
and to certain other interests than
would ord narily have been the case, but
it now seems that he is determined
squander the peoples money in exc
cutting other foolish-or knavish-plans
having a similar effect.
President McKnly will be weak in
deed if he ignores the protest of the
south in this matter. And that protest
should be Immediately forthcoming.
Macon News.