Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-09-03
NEW YORK's GOVERNOR RETURNS
FROM A TOUR OF CAMPS.
FOUND CONDITIONS NOT BAD
ONE HOSPITAL AT CHICKAMAUGA
NOT WHAT 1T SHOULD BE.
Soldiers Abundnntly Supplied With
Good Food, Well COOked-Gov-
ernor Black Thinks 1t a Mis-
take to Blame Secre-
tnry AIEer.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 2-Governor Frank
s. Black and party, of New York. arrived
in Washington late in the afternoon from
a trip during which they visited the mobi-
liZation camps at Chickamauga Park. Lex
ington. KY, and Huntsville, Ala Cover
nor Blacks idea in visiting the camps was
to ascertain their conditions. particularly
as they related to the New York troops
located there. desiring from personal obser-
walton to be in u position to recommend
to the war department what New York
regiments should be mustered out OF the
service at once.
AS result of his investigation, he will
suggest to the war authorities that the
Ninth and Fourteenth New York regi-
ments, located at Chickamauga, be re-
lieyed from service as soon as practicable.
The Twelfth New York. located at Lexing-
ton, and the Sixty-ninth New York. located
at Huntsville. are In excellent condition,
and while the men of both regiments would
be glad to receive an order mastering them
out. there is no pressing need. in the opin-
ion of Governor Black, for their leaving
the service at this time. In addition to
his recommendation that the Ninth and
Fourteenth be discharged, It Is likely that
Governor Black will suggest to the depart
ment that the Third New York, now at
Camp Meade, Pa, also be mustered out of
the service.
1.-The conditions of the camps We visited"
said Governor Black this evening, in epit-
omizing the results of the trip, were bet
ter really than I had expected to find
them; that is they were better than they
had been pictured in the newspaper reports
had read before visiting the camps. Many
things, doubtless. could be remedied, but,
on the whole, the camps We found to be
not in bad condition. Those at Lexington
and Huntsville are in excellent shape. How
long they will remain SO depends, take
il, upon the length Of time the troops are
kept there.
THE camp at Chickamauga is the worst
Of the three. If such a comparison may be
made. That has been occupied for four
months by many thousands of troops. and
the very ground has become infected with
disease.
MY idea is that the camp ought to be
abandoned-or. at least, the resimental
camp sites ought to be moved frequently.
The whole of North America Is ribboned
with railroads, and the troops can be
moved easily and quickly from one camp
around to another. With the thousands
of eligible camp sites in this country at
the disposal of the government, it is not
necessary that the troops be kept in one
place SO long that they become i'll from
the effects of polluted water.
with good pure water in abundant sup
ply, and such food as 1 know the men in
the camps / visited are receiving, there Is
no reason in the world why a well man
should not continue in good health and
actually thrive. The food furnished the
troops is ample and of excellent quality.
They get fresh beef, ham, bacon, plenty Of
vegetables, hardtack and bread. In ad-
dition, they have coffee three times day.
There is no reason why well man should
not live and thrive on that diet. That the
the food is good and well cooked know,
because 1 ate some of 1t myself
"At Chickamauga the regimental hos
pitals are in good condition" continued
Governor Black. They are well provided
for and the patients are receiving careful
attention. In the Second division hospital
the conditions are not good. In that there
are about 200 patients. While I do not
speak as an expert 1 do say that the hos
pitai is not well managed or adequately
supplied, either with stores or with nelp
A large majority of the patients are SUI
fering from fever, yet when We were there
they had neither ice nor milk-two requl-
sites, it seems to me. in the treatment OF
of affairs, IL blame is to be attached, do
not pretend to fix. Criticism of the secre-
tary of war for this and similar conditions
in other camps and hospitals is not, take
IL, proper or becoming.
He cannot be familiar with the condi-
ton of every sick soldier in the United
States or be in personal touch with all the
minute details of camp and hospital life.
When attention is directed to cases like the
one I mention, the secretary applies a
remedy. My idea Is that some man, do
not say who, who is nearer the scene of the
conditions complained of is responsible for
them. He ought to apply the remedy, and
Il he does not then his head should come
off.
"This is a vast problem the country is
row solving-a problem not of war, but of |
life and personal security. 1t requires the |
most careful and considerate attention. We |
must not be hysterical in our comments, or |
oblivious to patent facts. Withal. we must |
be just to all. This war has taught this |
lesson that it has needed for a |
ong time That Is, with our immense re- |
sources of wealth and population, We can !
not put into the field a great army in a |
lew weeks without serious consequences.
We ought to maintain an army commen- |
;urate, in some degree, with our size. With |
such a force at our governments disposal, |
We should be able to meet an emergency, |
because we would be prepared for it."
Governor Black will call upon Adjutant |
General Corbin tomorrow morning and !
will then return to New York.