The Philipsburg mail., 1898-06-10
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HERSEY'S 5 LETTER
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Washington, D. G., June 3.-The
fact that we are a peG"o-loviny nation
and that tie full term Of our national
existence has been devoted to the I'D
building oi the most splendid CONNER
cial and industrial empire the world
has ever seen. while o-her people have
weakened and strntod themselves bv
keeping up great military machines,
is to he *"en HOW in the crrdities
which surround our newly organized
armies and navies and the remarkable
slowness with which we are getting
our men into the field Of action and
into the presence Of the foe. In view
of the somewhat sorry figure which we
are thus cutting in the eyes of the
great militay nations OF the world it
then becomes pctiuenr to reflect il af-
ter all our course has been an alto
gether wise one and whether we have
not thus placed ourselves in imminent
peril of national extinction One
that is, that the situation would be a
grave and doubtful one were we face
to faca with either one of four or five
Of the great warlike powers of the
world today as we are face to face with
Spain. The president reviewed the
troops at Camp Alger yesterday and
the papers today say that he was star
tied to find that the men are in a
wretched plight, many of them with
out bedding, clothing and sufficient
food. Of course it is all due to the
difficulties that interpose themselves
in the way of finding the necessary
material for the support of $4,000
men on so sudden call, but it is
none the less unfortunate.
l saw Ed Hotter today at the capitol.
He is with Troop A, New York, and
is attached to the headquarters guard
of General Graham, commanding
officer of Camp Alger. Mr. Hotter will
be we'll known to our people as the
second son of Hon. A. M. Hotter of
Helena. He has just graduated from
a law school and enlisted with the
New York national guards, Of which
he has been member for year and a
half. OF Camp Alger Mr.. Hotter
says: NEARLY everybody is under
cover. but there are many who lack
almost everything One regiment
which passed in review before the
president had neither uniform, gun or
knapsack. Some men are doing guard
duty in society clothes and plug hats.
The food is tough and many are on
straight bread, beef and coffee. Our
crowd have made up a purse and buy
extras enough to make the living toler-
able. - This is certainly not what our
young men should be asked to endure
in the face Of the hardships which are
sure to become inevitable hereafter.
The government is doing all in it's
power to aid and encourage the success
of the Trans Mississippi International
which, in site of war
times, bids fair to reach the very
highest standard of the greatest of the
Worlds fairs. Congress has given
5000, 900 for the government buildings
and exhibits The exhibits will be
made up from the Smithsonian,
United States Fish Commission and
National Museum collections. The
postmaster general has ordered Sc
lies of special commemorative postage
stamps in recognition of the exposi- !
ion and everything will be done in |
,very way through official patronage |
o. expand the useful influence of the
air. Thirty five states have filed ap.