The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-06-16
THURSDAY. JUNE 1s 1898.
ALJTTLE ADVICE TO THE PRESI-
DENT

The Times took the liberty some Gays
hack Of calling President McKinleys At
tention 20 the fact that the plans Tor
organizing and equipping our forces, land
and naval. were very defective and that
some of the government agents some
where were totally inefficient or dishon-
est whereby the forces failed to receive
the equipment and supplies that they
ought to have, to the fostering Of great
discomfort amongst them and TO the
scandal and discredit of tho government
The Times took the further liberty Of
advising the President to take hold of this
matter himself and give it his personal
attention TO the exclusion Of all other
business. however important that other
business might be, and TO hold on TO 1t
until he got matters to working in such
a way that every soldier in the army
would receive promptly his meals each
day of the food that the laws contem-
plate ne shall receive and that each one
shall be Immediately supplied with pro-
per clothing, shoes. tents add whatever
else that the law contemplates he shall
receive.
The Times again takes the liberty of
pressing this matter upon the Presidents
attention and urging him to take It up
and give it his personal attention until
order has been brought out of the exist
ing chaos.
We have just seen a letter from a vol
unteer soldier embarked upon one of the
transports at Key West which makes
revelations that are simply astounding.
This soldier is no doubt on the seas now
steaming for Santiago, and here are some
of his statements as to his preparations
for meeting the Spanish infantry. In the
matter Of food he IS doing little better
than being starved. They give him no
meat. coffee unground. that they have to
break as best they can with sticks and
canned tomatoes that they have to eat
uncOoked. Indeed as we understand his
letter. his food consists of these uncook-
ed tomatoes, unground coffee and very
hard tack. This is utterly inexcusable.
The law provides for an abundance of
sound and healthy food for the soldiers,
inc tOunAig - sANNhNA NAF4- - ~ -Ni-N
ton, the government has all the money
necessary for buying it. but the defect
is in inefficient or dishonest government
agents who are charged with the duty
OF getting the food to the soldiers.
In the matter Of clothing this soldiers
statements were just as remarkable. He
is going to the tropical climate of Cuba
with no preparations for it whatever.
His company is 50 short OF tents that
before he went aboard Of the transports
ne had 20 sleep IN the open upon pile
OF bags with the rain falling upon him
at night in torrents. lie had supplied
himself by purchase with some light
clothing for which he paid six and
seven prices. but he was unable TO get
any shoes at all. lie had on a pair OF
thin patent leather shoes that the hot
decks Of the ship made fntolerable, but
he was unable TO get any others from the
government or by purchase. lie had TO
pay twenty-five cents for the sheet OF
paper upon which he was writing that
lctter-with an envelope and stamp.
Now all this Is simply scandalous. As
we have said. the government is given all
the money Il can spend and the country
sbounds with verything that the soldiers
need. why are they kept in this state
OF restitution? There was some excuse
for It al the beginning. because It takes
a little time 20 start a new machine and
make It run smoothly But cur prepare
lions have been going on long enough
now for men who understand their busi,
ness 10 have got everything into work
ing shape. The fault is with the govern
ments agents. There is either inefIlclen-
cy or dishonesty at that point, and we
have only too much reason 10 fear that
dishonesty has as much to do with 1t as
ineficiency.
The way in which the government has
been mulcted IN the purchase Of ships
Is becoming an open scandal. Many
ships have been sold 10 Il at about double
what any other purchaser would give
for them. and somebody has been pocket
ing immense stcalings at this point. The
poor soldiers In camp arc no doubt badly
mulcted by dishonest arrangements be-
tween the quartermasters and the suit
lSrs-when they are not left absolutely
destitute through the ignorance Of quar-