The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-09-04
WHO Is RESPONSIBILITY

Criticism Of the war department i:
nisdirected. Alger is eensured, but the
administration is to blame. The Re
publican party should be held respon-
sible. It has no right to make a scape-
goat of the secretary Of war.
It isn't Ayers fault; it is his weak
ness. He lacks ability. He never was
a military man. He never possessed
the qualifications of leader. But ma
ture made him so, and experience left
him so. he couldn't help it. He can
not rise above the groove he fits.
Ayers success in the lumber bust
ness was phenomenal. 1t caused him
to over-estimate his worth. But there
is difference between the state and
a sawmill which even yet he does not
seem to realize, His ambition has been
a reckless one. 1t has always scared
/ beyond the reach of his intellect.
Fortune gave him opportunities, and
political corruption rewarded him with
position. That the place was larger
than the man was not his fault, nor the
fault of the place. The wrong was in
putting him there
Ayers incompetency is McKinley's
crime
The inexcusable delays al the begin
ming of the war, the humiliatinS vacil-
latiOn, the deplorable errors in the
selection of army camps. the gross mis-
management of supplies, the cruel neg
lect Of volunteers. the thieyery and job
berry to which the men were exposed,
and the unnecessary privations to
which they have been subjected, are
crimes for which the American people
should and viii demand an account
ing
The flower Of military manhood has
withered under the blighting breath Of
partisan corruption and official igno-
rance. Thousands of vigorous men
who sprang from every hamlet in the
land at duty's can and formed a solid
line before the nations honor, are
broken, lettering wrecks today; not
from contact with 4 foreign foe, but
from a bitter experience under an in
competent administration.
Imbecility selected the rendezvous
and avarice handled the supplies.
In a land famous for its springs and
rivers, its railroad facilities, its varied
climate, its open country, its range of
possibilities. there was no excuse for
sending armies to the pest holes of
Florida and the fever breeding marshes
Of the Potomac; there was no excuse
for placing them beyond the reach of
adequate railroad accommodations. ex-
cept TO leave them at the mercy of the
contractors; there was no excuse for
keeping them where the water was bad
and insufficient. The only explanation
is ignorance. Charity would suggest
that, rather than indifference.
The administration is responsible for
the acts of its agents, done within the
scope of their authority.
1t cannot escape the consequence of
their deeds by discharging the agents
The Republican party will be held to
an accounting. The people will de-
mand redress of their wrongs.
Every emaciated soldier who totters /
from the plague-stricken camps is a /
witness for the prosecution.
When the seal of military discipline |
IS broken his story will be told. His
condition is proof already. The graves
1t every camp are mute appeals for
Justice to be done.
The man who placed the welfare of !
'ur nations brave defenders in the
lands of an Incompetent supervisor is
for the misery wrought.
Ayers Incompetence is AIcBinley's
rhine.