The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-11-05
Civilians Without Military Expert.
ence Will Be Ineligible.
1t Will Not Be So Easy
To Make Colonies.
The Titles VIII Then Mean More
Than They Do Today.

One OF the matters which will be
brought before the military committee
OF the coming legislature viii be
measure TO regulate the appointments on
the Governors staff, In Maine any
one whether he knows anything about
military matters or not is eligible Tor
appoin tment on the staff OF the COVER
nor, There was time when COVER
nor of Maine could create more brigadier
generals and colonies in one term than
are made In the regular army OF the
United States In four years. There was
then no limit to the number OF appoint-
ments on the governors stall excepting
the limit which the governor himself
chose to make. A few years ago law
was passed limiting the number Of the
Governors statf, and the measure which
win be brought to the attention OF the
military committee of the next houss
win seek to do more than this. 1t Ia
proposed to make 1t obligatory for the
governor to select his staff, II he has a
staff, from those who have either served
an enlistment OF three years In the
National Guard of the state and been
honorably discharged, or from those
who have served in the army or navy
of the United States in times of peace or
war either as volunteer or regular
and been honorably discharged there
from.
The purpose OF this bill is apparent.
Men now receive staff appointments and
the rank of Northumberland or briga-
dier-general, who know nothing about
military matters and who though they
bear military titles, are oftentimes not
able to give the correct names for the
several articles Of uniform which they
wear. Men enlist In the National Guard
of the State OF Maine, work hard for
years, through al OF the grades and en-
deavor to build up the volunteer service
in this state handicapped by insufficient
appropriations and by lack OF public in
terest and in the end may become
colonel though few attain this honor.
On the other hand If they devoted their
spare time to politics and happen to be-
long to the right party and to back the
right candidate for governor they can be
made colonel at a jump.
The men who receive these appoint
ment are all right and usually are good
citizens and much respected in the COM
munity, but what is the effect on the
military system OF the stateP
Veterans who have honored their
state in battle, who have fought hard for
two OF three years and shed their blood
for the honor of their state and the glory
of their country, return home as pri'
Yates, and are welcomed back by man
who has been at home all this time, but
who is a colonel by title and by rank
and entitled to all OF the honors which
should be paid that rank. 1t is true
that 1t is easier to bs eolonsi In some
states than it is to become a sergeant
in the national guard. In a measure
this is true in Maine.
How much easier 1t would have been
for a young man who went to Chicka-
manga in 1898 to have remained at home,
become ward politician and obtain the
honor OF the title of colonel without cost
to himself through governor S appoint
ment.
AS it Is today few inducements are held
out to the young men of Maine to enlist
in the National Guard of the State. 1t
is true they can parade on Memorial Day
and on Fourth of July, drill hard for
one night each week and spend week
in camp in Augusta. There they may
have a good time, but 1t is mostly hard
work now. They have to study and put
in lot of time to gain honors of titles
a. a. Ia
they keep out of the National Guard,
devote their time to business and politics
and get a good pull they have fair
chance of gaining a title without much
trouble to themselves. Tho proposed
measure which VIII undoubtedly receive
the support of every national guards
man in T. ltate and OF every man who
has bsen in the National Guard will
restrict the Governor somewhat In the