The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-08-28
MILITARY EFFICIENCY MENAcED.
business Men Protest Against Loss
Caused by Absence of Employees.


Caused by Absence OF Employees.
There is a feeling current that the neces-
silly that has lately arisen for the services
OF the companies Of the First Regiment.
at a point many miles distant from Sa
vannah and fer days al a time, win result
eventually in sittle good to the volunteer
forces of the city.
Among business men, many Of whom
have been put TO great Inconvenience and
annoyance and have suffered material loss
through the departure Of their employees
for the seat of trouble there is a senti-
ment that to protect themselves they must
at least, limit the number of men in their
employ who are members of the various
companies, and thus TO guard against
repetition of the annoyance TO which they
have recently been subjected. 1t IS proba-
BE, 100, that the members of the police
and fire departments wif be required to re-
sign their active connection with military
commands.
For obvious reasons, the business men
who are talking about the subject do not
wish to be quoted, but among themselves
they are free enough in expressing their
opinions. These gentlemen are, of course,
vitality interested in the preservation Of
the military spirit and in the efficiency
of the military commands. They are not
DESTROYS of doing anything that would
cast damper upon the spirit or impair
the efficiency, and are willing to make
some sacrifices to preserve them both.
What they are moi willing to do is 10
bear more than their fair share of the
burden and to have their working forces
cut in half, or even worse, by the de
parture of one or another of the com
mands for the scene Of riot or disorder
Il is probable that in the future the young
men of the city VII not be allowed so
free a rein in the matter Of enlisdng In
the state service, but that their employers
will require that only a reasonable pro-
portion of their men be liable for such
duty.
II will be well if even worse than this
does not happen, for there are some bust
ness men who are unwilling 20 bear any
share of the burden ard who will rigorous
ly require that no empiOye Of theirs be
enlisted in military command and liable
to be called away from his business duties
A prominent military man, when rhe
subject was mentioned 20 him and he was
told of the feeling prevalent in many bus
mess quarters, agreed fully that tie ques-
ton is serious one Il am quite abe
to appreciate" he said, that there has
been a certain amount of Inconvenience
and possibly of loss because of the calling
away Of the First Regiment from SaVan-
nah. 1 experienced and am experiencing
this Inconvenience and this Joss through
the absence of my own employees"
'On the other hand l recognize that in
case Of a riot or other serious disturb
ance in the city the business men viii be
the principal losers and that their pro-
- t.
from the military. Unless we make sacri-
fees now, we shall be compelled to make
greater sacrifices in the contingency / have
mentioned and we must balance the one
against the other. Ii is neither public
spirited or right thar we should expect
others to bear all the burdens and expect
ourselves to reap our share Of the protec-
ton"
Usually 1t is che men occupying suhor-
dinate positions in business establish
ments who are members of the military
companies-the young men. They are de-
pendent upon the tacit or avowed per-
mission of their employers for the re-
tention of their membership and unless
this permission is granted the commands
viii go down. l consider it fact that
those who would otherwise be inclined to
riot are restrained from doing so In Sa-
vannah by the presence of an adequate
force of military to suppress disorder and
disregard OF law promptly DebeNe tndt
this accounts for the freedom of our city
from all disturbances of this character
1t would be very unWise for our mer-
chants to discourage the efforts of the
local military OrsaniIqtions to attain and
preserve efficiency. ! cannot think that
any large number of them would whiting
ly DO So"
Despite the uaansworable arguments of
the military man quoted there are many
who do not feel that they apply to them
Either their interests are not large
enough or their expenses of one kind
and another are already too heavy or
simply because they do not like to be dis
turbed in the even conduct of their bust
ness, they object to having in their en-
ploy men who are members of the mill
tary commands and It is reasonably GER
tain that in the future they will not toll
crate il. 1t is unfortunate but it is true
To avert the catastrophe some prompt
action on the part of the officers of the
military who are possessed Of most in
huence is essential.