The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-05-09
HARD ROAD FOR VOLUNTEERS.
DIFFICULT TO PASS THE REGULAR
ARMY EXAMINATIONS.


Fever Strikes the Capital and All
Glasses of Society Take Flyers
One Sedate Minister of the Gospel
Cleans I'D $4,000 and VIII Take a
Trip to EurOpc-Young Blaine
Plays in Luck.
Washington May S.-Many of the vol
unteer officers, who were recently desig-
mated for appointment in the regular
army. have failed in their examinations
for qualification. Reports received al the
War Department from the various exam
snations thus far held. show that the per
centage OF failures is far in excess OF
the number who come up to the mental
and physical standard laid down by the
examining board. While these reports arc
regarded as confidential, il may be stated
as a fact. that at recent examination
held in san Francisco a group of twenty
one officers appeared before an examining
board. out of that number there were
nineteen failures, and but two candidates
who reached the required standard.
War Department officials are extreme
ly reticent in discussing this subject, and
st is understood 20 be the policy OF the
Secretary of War to withhold a formal
announcement of the failures as they oc-
cur 1t is claimed that it is Notifying
enough for the aspiring candidates for
military honors TO fail in an examination,
and it is but an additional in1icton 20
proclaim their non-success to the world.
Examinations are now supposed to be in
progress in the Philippines and also in
China, where American troops are sta
toned. Returns from those far off re-
gions are not expected at the department
for long time to come.
Among the appointments announced by
the President before he started on his
Western trip, there are many young men
who were formerly in the volunteer ser
vice, but who are now In private life. The
Secretary of War is now considering the
question of the most convenient plan for
conducting the examinations of the latter
class of appointees. 1t was at first sug-
sested to assemble a general examining
board in Washington and invite the va
rious candidates from Georgia South Car
oline Alabama, and, in fact, from all of
the states this side of the Rocky noun
tains to dome TO Washington at their
own expense to undergo examination. In
view of the Unexpectedly large percentage
of failures it Is probable that the exam
liners will be sent to various points where
the examinations may be held with great
er convenience and not too much personal
expense to the candidates. An old official
of abe War Department, in commenting
upon this subject, remarked:
1T may be quite easy to secure a desig-
nation for appointment to the regular
army, but it is hard sedging for the av-
erage militiaman to pass the required eX-
animation and obtain a much coveted
commission for life. There are hundreds
of young men in the volunteer service who
are well up in military tactics and discip-
line who are utter failures in the mental
and physical requirements of the service
when they appear before the Board of
Examiners. 1t is astonishing how many
bright and intelligent well developed
young men fail down when confronted
with an ordinary military examination.
Thus far the examinations held have been
confined with few exceptions to men now
in the volunteer service, and the eXamina-
tion conducted at the post TO which they
are attached. Under these conditions the
candidates have not been subjected to
any additional expense in attempting to
qualify. In dealing with the candidates
not now in the service, the endeavor will
be made to give them an examination as
near their present place of residence as
possible and thus save them a long and
perhaps expensive trip
Speculative Fever.
Washington is just now experiencing an
epidemic of speculative fever. The recent
boom in the stock markets has induced
many of the most conservative and ordi-
narily saow-going people in this communi-
~ to plunge in the stock market. One of
the most successful operators during the
past two weeks is James G.. Blaine, the
son of the late James G. Blaine of Maine.
Young Blaine appears 70 have been born
under a sensational star, for no sooner
does one sensation in which he is the con-
spicuous figure fade before another incl
dent of a more or less spectacular nature
hobs up in his career 1t will be recalled
that when the Spanish war broke out,
young Blaine was appointed a major In
the volunteer service. He was ordered
20 duty in the Philippines. I'm route to
his station, he stopped over at Honolulu,
and there became involved in a sensation
al incident which reflected no credit upon
him, and was notifying to his friends
and relatives at home. 1t is said that he
got in with some fast company in the
tropics, and under the influence of con-
violated the ordinary rules of hospitality
and introduced some Objectionable COM
panions into the home circle of personal
friends, who were temporarily sojournng
in Hawaii. Recently he has become en-
gagged 40 the reigning belle of Washing
ton, Miss Martha Hitchborne, only daugh-
ter of Rear Admiral Hitchborne of the
navy. His attention to Miss Hitchborne
were strongly opposed by the Hitchborne
IA mil h1lf
brooked no paternal interference until
finally the old folks reluctantly consent
ed to stand for the engagement. In the
meantime young Blaine has been playing
the stock market with great success, and
his winnings are estimated al 100000 net.
A Preachers Rake-oH.
Speculation in stocks is not confined to
financial centers The craze to obtain
easy money" appears to have invaded
every grade of society-fnancial CONNER
oial religious and social. In the old days
When the Louisiana lottery was permit
ted by law to do business, II was consid-
cred by many families here a part of the
monthly expenses to invest in a lottery
ticket Now the stock market offers at
fractions which in measure takes the
place of the lottery company. A we'll
known minister Of the gospel in this city
who is noted for his eloquent sermons and
his vigorous appeals to his congregation
10 avoid temptation, and the small vices
OF life, is said to have cleaned up more
la, 81 L