Abilene weekly reflector., 1899-11-23
Tho Twentieth Kansas Troubles.

oWty w oVo Wy o~s~s~~ ~ SsAss~
that has come from certain parts Of
the goth Kansas regiment IN an ap.
parent attempt to besmirch the rec
ords Of Gen. Funstonand Col. Metcalf.
The excited eagerness Of Lieutenant
Callahan and others to prove that
Callahan was at Guiguinto and to
connect with Funston statement
that be was not is directed entirely
against a straw man. Gen. Funston
has never been quoted as saying that
Callahan was not at Guiguinto. What
be did say was that he missed "sev-
eral principal engagements" A
newspaper headline writer at Kansas
City did the rest
The attack on Colonel Metcali will
in no respect lessen Kansas regard
for the brave and soldierly gentle
man who has won promotion in the
field. The man who makes the at
tack Is one Hall of Lawrence and be
is supported by one Husky said to
have been Metcalf's orderly but who
is now supposed to be in the Philip
pines.
The Lawrence Journal asks these
pertinent questions Of Hall concern
ing the matter;
When was Husky made Metcalf's
orderlyp Quackenbush was Metcalf's
orderly throughout the entire war
X company was on the extreme
right Of the line. What was Husky
doing quarter Of a mile from his
company's position in the engage
mentP
Why didn't Hall secure the state'
ment Of someone now in the United
States as to his storyP
Did not military board investigate
the matter and was not full report
made to the president long before
Metcalf was brevetedp
Did not Husky testify before this
board and is 1t not true that bis tes-
timony was discreditedP
How much has the fact that you
did not earn or receive promotion to
do with your present attempt TO gain
notorietyP
The Journal whose editor has lived
by the side Of Metcali and Hall for
years says
TO those who know Hall it is un-
necessary to say anything as to his
methods and work. To those who
are acquainted with him his allusion
to grand stand playing" by Others is
received with a very animated
chuckle. He may be able to make
some one who knows neither Colonel
Metcalf nor himself believe his fairy
tales, but those who know either or
both will treat the stories and the
author Of them with the contempt |
that fair and honest men give to all
uufounded ISLANDERS.
1t is exceedingly unfortunate that
the glory Of the Goth should be tarn.
lshed by the sort OF squabbling that
is in progress. The history Of the
world has demonstrated that no man
has ever lifted himself up by attempt
Ing to drag another man down and
this will prove no exception to the
rule. The goth won glory enough
for all and it would be the part Of
true heroes TO strive to retain it un-
tarnished rather than to allow any d.
minution Of It's brilliancy. The fol-
lowing close Of an editorial in the
Kansas City Star shows how the
world outside Of Kansas looks at it:
The story Of Lieutenant Hall Is
much weakened by his statement that
Metcali never did anything Of merit
on the firing line and that the success
Of Funston was due to his good stand.
ing with the newspapers. These ab-
surd claims reveal distinctly the ami.
mus which Is at the bottom OF the
scheme to detract from the honor aud
glory OF the achievements Of Metcalf
and Funston in the Philippine cam.
paign. This disposition on the part
Of certain soldiers and officers in the
Twentieth Kansas has Been noted BY
the public with the keenest regret.
1t appears inconceivable that so mean
a spirit could exist in regiment
that has achieved such an enviable
fame as the one that went forth to
war under the command Of General
Funston. 1t would seem that a de.
cent sense Of regimental pride and
loyalty would forbid criticism, even
where 1t might be justified, much
more the dissemination Of scandals
which are not supported by any
plausible testimony. 1t is difficult to
understand the sort OF personal hos.
tility or jealousy on the part Of
subordinate officer or private that
will 60 to the limit Of besmirching
his own regiment---and one so illus.
trious as the Kansas Twentieth-for
the qualification Of a mean and envi.
Ous snirit