The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1898-09-09
Gross Negligence.
From the World :

From the World:
More men have been killed by malad.
ministration in our home camps than
were killed by Spanish bullets plus the
Cuban climate.
And for this slaughter the administra-
tive agents Of the Government are solely
responsible
More men have died OF desease at
Uhickamauga alone than were killed Ia
battle during the war. Nearly the same
thing is true of Camp Alger and Camp
Wikotf.
Why?
The answer is simply because the ad-
ministrative departments of the country
and OF the army have proved themselves
to BE- grossly incompetent.
They had all tho experience of the
civil war to teach them, but tthey would
not learn.
During the civil war it was q fixed
rule on both sides never, except in ex
treme necessity, to encsmp more than q
division upon ole ground, lest the camp
| become Q pest.holc Yet these War De-
partment officials camped forty or Fifty
thousand men at ChickamauRa and q
multitude at Falls Church, both cons
spicuously unfit camping places-,he
most unfit in all tie regions round about
So true Is this that the moment the siteI
Of these camps were made known pro
teet went up from those old soldiers OF
both aides who knew the facts and quick
ly anticipated the gsstlv results tha
have followed.
With all Of Northern. Virginia to selec
from. the most unsuitable spot in ths
region was deliberately chosen for rea'
sons, as is alleged, that 1t would not b
proper even to state.
With all OF Georgia and Alabama anC
Tennessee "where TO choose" Chicka
mauga Was selected in spite of the fac
that at that point (because rock lice nea
the surface) camp drainsVs must almoe
Immediately pollute A-I p9iesn th'
. wafer supply.
Another rule of prudence during th,
civil war wac never, without imperative
necessity. to continue 9 camp in An!
, one spot longer than ten or twelve days
Yet these camps have been in use To-
months, when their shifting from on
spot tc another would have been cas-,
and very inexpensive.
Again, men by hupdreds have starve'
to death at Camp Wikoff for lack Of Il
food for sick men. eimply as the rssulr Q
standardization and stupid incom
potency.
Camp Wikof lice only lie miles iron
New York. Every food produe, know
to man 10 inaNew York in abundAnes
M lions of willing dollars are and hav
been At command 10 take these supple
to the camp. II the wretched Long lei
aud Railroad Is incapable of transport
ing the food, shy were not thousau
or % OF the steam boats in ouI hArbo
chartered TO save the lives OF our suifei
ing hers? Il is said that the TAilroa
would not allow such reliei vessels t
land at their docks. But there lie . riRh
of eminent domain vested in the Unite
States, and in such a ease little high
handed justice, administered by bat
terry or two, would have commando
:, popular approval
Without going further into details, th
flct is obvious that Q grea: crime ha
been committed. An adequate investi
CATION is imperatively needed. 1t shoul
It not be made by the officially responsib
4 for the wrong aud not under theiE dire;
= ton. Il should be made By q eommi
t tee representing the people who ha,
IT been outraged, a committee stror
s enough and brave enough to lay bare =
q the facts and not to stop even 81 Il
l. dOors OF the War Department itseli j
d justly fixing the blame.