The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1899-08-18
win Be Made By Administration,
Says Secretary Root.
FIVE NEW REGIMENTS PROPOSED
Governors Of Respective States
VIII BE Allowed to Name
Officers.

A Washington special says; Secre-
tary Root stated positively Monday that
FIVE new volunteer regiments are to be
established, aud orders to that end
will be promulgated from the war de-
partment in a few days.
This statement was made to Senator
Clay and Representative Adamson, Of
Georgia, who called to consult the new
secretary about certain appointments.
Not only did Secretary Root ac-
knowledge that il is the intention Of
the administration to assemble with
out delay force sufficient to put down
the rebellion in the Philippines as
quickly as possible, but he stated fur
ther that the administration proposes
to protect itself against scandal and
criticism in the matter of appointing
staff and field officers. 1t has been
rumored since Secretary Roots recent
conference with the president at Lake
Champlain that a call for additional
volunteers might be made soon, but
this is the first official utterance of
Secretary Root on the subject.
Senator Clay and Representative
Adamson arrived at Washington Mon
day morning for the express purpose
of urging the appointment of certain
patriotic young Georgians who are
anxious to receive commissions in the
army. It was during their interview
with Secretary Root that the latter
made the announcement to the effect
that five new volunteer regiments are
to be organized at once.
After informing his Georgia visitors
that no more appointments can be
given to that state at present, Secre-
tary Root added that there might be
opportunity in the immediate future,
as a call for additional volunteers is
about to be ordered In reply to in
quiries concerning appointments in
the new volunteer regiments Secretary
Root respectfully informed Senator
Clay that political and social influence
will cut no figure in the selection Of
commissioned officers; in other words,
''rich mems sons" and "social pets
will not be rushed into army uniforms
regardless of their military qualifca-
tions as was the case in the early
stages of the war.
"We must commission men as Off
GERS" said Secretary Root, con ac-
count of their superior qualifications
for active service, and will not, be
governed by political or personal
influence. In few days a call will
probably be made for several addition
al regiments of volunteers. 1t is my
purpose to ask the governor of each
state to recommend competent and
suitable men to fill the offices in the
various regiments. These oppoint-
ments will be made only upon the re-
commentator of the governor.
Heretofore we have had much
trouble over appointments made from
civil life on account of political pres
sure, and we propose to avoid the diff
fculty by asking the governors to give
us men from their respective states
who had some military training or ex-
perience in the militia service and are
subject to discipline. Under the cir
cumstances, I do not see any prospects
for any new appointments going to
Georgia until the new call is made.
Secretary Root added that it is the
purpose CT the administration to end
the war in the Philippines as early as
practicable.
Senator Clay was somewhat disap-
pointed, as he visited Washington at
this time solely to secure some army
appointments for ambitious young
men in Savannah. Senator Clay tried
to impress upon Secretary Root that
Savannah had been. entirely over
looked in the military appointments
recently made and therefore requested
special consideration for the names he
proposed. It was in reply to this APP
peal that Secretary Root made the
statement above quoted.