Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1898-10-06
Gus KEITH AND THE ADVOCATE.

jessie hclIn vi IlllS Clty, cllilSlcU III
st. Joe, Mo-. in the 18th regiment Mo.
VOL The regiment, like many other
regiments, has spent tile time since in
camp drilling its men and awaiting
orders Mr.. Keith came home few
weeks ago on furlough and since then
has been talking great deal about
what he calls the hardships, privations,
sufferings, neglect and abuse of the
soldiers. This talk has been caught up
with evident relish by the Advocate
and used for political effect in its
efforts to prejudice the people against
the Mckinley administration and it's
conduct of the war. On Sept. 23d. in
an alleged interview with Keith the
Advocate says
He (Keith) says the treatment which
the soldiers have received in regard to
rations, etc has not been exaggerated
by the newspapers and has ecen been
more horrible. Abuse has been heaped
upoiI W cupSiioA
and the food furnished them has not
been sufficient TO satisfy their cravings.
The soldiers hold the government re
sponSible for their lniStreatment, so he
says"
In the same issue the Advocate says
of the death of Ed Elicit, Keith's COM
panion, who was i'll the same company
that he died of neglect. 1t says that
Keith says Elicit could not partake OF
food for week and that:
"The physician refused to send him
to the hospital. After such continued
refuSalS he arose one morning and ill.,
formed Mr.. Keith that he would at
tempt to go to the hospital himself,
which he did though his condition was
feeble. He first went to the End.
division hospital and when his illness
had become alarming he was transfer
red to the Red Cross hospital where he
! died Before Mr.. Keith left he went to
the hospital and requested that he be
permitted TO see his sick comrade, a
request which was refused. Thus alone,
| among strangers, the deceased breathed
his last"
OOllC DCllCFltIS tIlCOC DldlClllClllO III
the Advocate to be for political effect
and not according to the facts wrote
to the commanding officer of the COM
pany and received the following reply
which we are allowed to publish:
Middletown, Pa, Sept, 30, 1898.
Audubon. Iowa.
Dear Sir:
In answer to your letter of the
Goth. inst will say, that you surmised it
right that you are of opinion that there
is some mistake about it. There is not
an army in the UOrid that feeds the
men One-half as good as the present
army of the United States Volunteers
and Regulars are fed. They get fresh
beef three to four times per week, one
kind of vegetables, best of coffee, good
sugar, best of bread, nearly all this
whole time except fen days that we
were out OH practice marches.
| don't believe that Gus Keith ever
reported the suppose or alleged inter
view us your Audubon Advocate had
it Sept. 23rd.
Now | will come back again to what
Uncle Sam feeds his army daily and
you as All old veteran will appreciate
same and would have thanked heaven
if you had received only one-half dur
ing your service. We eat every day
bacon or fresh beef, three times per day
potatoes, bread aOhich is fresh baked
every day 10y our army corps, tomatoes
or rice, beans, coffee, sugar, pepper and
salt. My company fares Il good deal
better than tkat. We have Il company
fund of several hundred dollars and |
spend every week from SO to $15 for
vegetables, dry fruits and other things.
Gus Keith and Elicit both have had
charge of Company G kitchen as cooks
and for that reason | don't believe Gus
Keith ever made that statement as the
clipping that you sent me. Now in re-
gard to abuse from superior officers
can only say that it is not so of Com
pany G. Both men have been good,
Obidient soldiers and have never been
punished by me or any of the officers of
the company and / will further state
that no soldier of Co. G has ever been
abused by me. Some have been pull
ished by court martial for violations
of articles of war, but all were of Il
!, minor nature.
Regarding Priv. Elletts death will
state that while sick in quarters he re-
ceived every attention the men in the
company and the regimental doctor
could give him. he went to the hospital
, Just as soon as he became feverish, fOi
his first sickness did not at all seem
alarming. Our hospitals are run ac
cording to army regulations and know
that he received the best of attention
whila thpra Tho Gnntnr hiS
= stitution was not strong and could not
. stand the severe attack of fever which
: he had, so poor boy, he had to be takel
. away. AS to his walking to the hos
pltal or ever attempting anything OF
t the kind, it is a mistake and should bt
verified. Further than this state
ment which l have made can say
nothing except that my men receive
al.