Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-04
THE SAN JUAN FIASC0
TT SHOWS THAT OLD TIMERS
OUGHT TO DE RETIRED.
DR., HARPER HIS OWN LAWYER
And He Disproves the Saying About
the Ciientage of such q Man
Heavy Artillery Company from
Nrstnia-Richmond Cadetship.


comment from my friend, the ex-Confede
rate naval officer.
IT might better be termed the 'oId-tim,
lighters hasco.' You may recall a so
called Fighting joe Hooker), and a triy
he made into what was called the VIII
derness; also, how he got out of the vii
derness. and never went back again
Whatever sins of omission or commits
sion may be charged TO the Board a
strategy, l am sure that with such able
men as Mahan is composing it they never
ordered such an attack. If. as has since
been claimed, 1t diverted the Spanish ad
miral from his course, It was by accident
rather than by design. and the sequel may
develop that he had better be in San Juar
than bottled up in Santiago, though ]
sincerely hope not.
Il have not changed my opinion as tc
the gallant men who made records way
back in the sixties. and still believe that
not one in one thousand of them is either
physically or mentally fit for active SER
vice, especially in the tropics at this sea-
son OF the year. But very few Farraguts.
Buchanans, or Deweys have been pro-
duced among men who have served
through two generations.
OLD-TIMERS SHOULD RETIRE.
THE sooner the powers that be, whe-
ther naval or military, are made to under
stand and fully realize this fact, and re-
tire the old-time fighters in favor of the
up-to-date article. the better IT will be
Tor the future of our country, in the pres
ent or any other contest. They can do
better service upon advisory boards in
Washington or elsewhere than on land
in Cuba, or afioat, either in the Caribbean
Sea or Gulf of Mexico, with the Their
mometer at 10 in the shade.
Just as the movements of a squadron
must be regulated by the speed of its
slowest vessel, so must ale movements
OF men and officers. either afioat or
ashore, accommodate themselves to the
gait, physical or mental, of the men in
command. Don't think me an iconoclast.
1t is not my idea to pull down our heroes
from their pedestals, but to save them
from being pulled down, to their own
detriment, or to the detriment of the
country by hands which will not hesitate
TO do so when opportunity offers, as offer
1t must In the very near future"
HIS OWN LAWYER.
DR.. Robert N. Harper president Of the
Virginia Democratic Association, who
takes a lively interest in Virginia politics,
was placed in quite an awkward position
yesterday before a meeting Of the Board
of District Commissioners. The Doctor,
though a Virginian. is a Washington bust
ness-man, and it appears that he had pur-
chased a piece of ground a few weeks
ago, which he wished TO subdivde for
building purposes. Owing, however, to
some complications in the building regu-
lations on that subject the chief Of each
department before whom he appeared re-
fused to grant the permission to subdi-
vide He appealed from their decision.
employed counsel, and took the case d.
rectly before the District Commissioners.
Yesterday morning at II o'clock was
the hour appointed to hear the case
DIR. Harper was on hand but for some
reason his attorney vas not nor could
the latter be found. The Doctor stated
his predicament to the Commissioners,
and asked permission 10 present his own
case, which was granted. He did it so
effectively that he won, though opposed
by the District lawyer. DR.. Harper now
feels justified in presenting bill TO his
attorney for arguing the case for him.
DOWNS DOCTORS ALSO.
Last week DR.. Harper represented the
District of Columbia Pharmaceutical AS
before a congressional commit
tee in opposition to a bill to regulate
the sale of poisons," presented by the
medical society Of this city, which re-
suited in the rejection of the bill by the
committee. Quite lively fight took place
At this meeting. six or eight of the most
noted doctors of the city participating in
The discussion in defence of the bill, and
DR.. Harper in opposition.
HEAVY ARTILLERY COMPANY.
Colonel William Lamb, of Norfolk, we'll
known as the Confederate commander Of
Fort Fisher, has applied to Governor j.
doge Tyler for authority for his son.
Henry Whiting Lamb, and Goldsborough
serpen, a graduate of the Virginia Mill
AIRY Institute, to organize a heavy artil-
cry company, to serve the modern-sci-
.nce guns at any post where the United |
States flag floats, at home or abroad. No |
member of the company can have any
me dependent upon him. Every man |
must be free to give his whole time and |
lbility TO the cause.
Colonel Lamb says ii is the most i'm |
,ortant arm of the service, requiring |
kill and knowledge OF modern ammuni- |
ion and projectiles, and, besides the men |
must be proficient in light artillery and |
Infantry drill for service in case OF |
ortie or the necessity of abandoning the |
,ost for the field. The garrison at Fort |
Usher was so well drilled in infantry
actics that it kept up the fight hours
fter the fort was entered, and those
yho escaped capture by being absent on
ccount of sickness or on furlough when
he fort fell distinguished themselves
nder Lieutenant-Colonel Taylor. OF the
North Carolina Regiment at
L. frOVr
inform and conspicuous bravery as the
red infantry" Taylor lost an arm in
aiding the Fort Fisher men in this bat
e.
PERSONAL NOTES.
Representative Lamb has secured the
of Seldom Darlington, OF
ichmond. TO a cadetship at the Military
cademy at West Point, and James V.
eddy. of Richmond, as alternate.
Mr.. w. w. Statham, of Appomattox,
lreinia Military Institute graduate and
,orough businessman. is here. applying
n the position Of quartermaster in the
Dlunteer army.
Master Willie r. Reinhardt of Rich
ond. is paying his first visit to Wash
gton. He is registered at the Metro
,litan Hotel.
HANNA'S PROGRAMME.
Tonight / have II from an authorita-
We source that Senator Hanna stated
at Congress would adjourn by the 2Oth
June: that a rule would be adopted
, which the House would pass the Ha-
allan annexation resolution, and that
ere would be a sufficient vote In the
nate also TO pass 1t, although a two
irds vote could not be mustered in that
,dy to ratify a treaty Of annexation.
On the other hand, It is positively as
rted that the Democrats in the Senate