The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-01-06
THE ALGER-MILES SQUABBLE.
AN OPINION THAT THE PUBLIC is
TIRED OF 1T.

The Real Hero of santiago-The Elk
Secretary of Wars EuIOgy of Gen.
Eagan COndemned--.SOme Remarks
About statues of Military Heroes.
References to n Number of Persons
Who Were Once Prominent i'm
MddIetOVvn, Connecticut - other
Matters of General Interest.
Pine Crest Villa, Maitland, Fla, Jan. 5.
i find myself overwhelmed with TWEEN
tieth century letters and contributions to
my collection of military relics and pub
lcations many of which come from Sa-
vannah readers of the Morning News.
Owing to my battle-scarred condition 1
cannot use a pen, and at times use
pencil only with great difficulty, so these
kind friends must wait patiently for re-
ply to their welcome and appreciated IA
Vors. One favor. the calendar of the
Daughters of the Confederacy, from "the
Georgia Rechabite with a hobby" is most
highly priced, as / had ordered a copy
only to have my money returned with
notice that the supply was exhausted ana
no more were to be had. This calendar,
like that of the Continental Insurance
company, has local interest, while the
New England Mutual Life Insurance
'ompany's calendar forcibly reminds us
OF the early Understanding patriots Of
Boston. How much better it is to teach
the rising generation through such cal
ehdars than to simply please the eye with
fancy pictures, oftentimes demoralizing in
their character. Patriotic scenes are al
ways full of noble inspiration.
o
And now comes a fresh example of the
reckless manner in which newspaper writ
ers deal with military records. The Tam
pa correspondent of the Times Union and
citizen reports the illness of Col. r. B.
Ihomas, clerk in the Custom House.
VINO he says, lis a historic figure, not
only In this state, but the entire coun-
uy. lie was a cassmate with Gems
snafter, Sherman and other distinguished
men, Now, the facts are, as official
records will show, that Gen. William r.
shatter was never at West Point and that
ne first saw service as first lieutenant
OF the Seventh Michigan Volunteer In
lahtry in August. 1861. while Gen. William
T. sherman graduated from West Point
IN 1910. One Robert b. Thomas, a Ken
lucky -Mississippian, and supposed to lie
the Col. Thomas referred to above did
u" enter West Point until 1913, gradual
LUZ IN 1862. He was a classmate OF Gen.
ION L. Casey, OF Gen. d. S. Stanley, CT
zen n. w. Slocum of Jerome Napoleon
bonaparte, U. S. A., and of Gen. G. b.
rosoy, Gen. John II. Forney, and Marsh
j. FOLK of the G. S. A, in which he
served, resigning as firt Lieutenant of the
second United States Artillery in 1856 and
locating in New Orleans.
II is not generally known that Asa Bird
gardiner, Cor Gardner, plain, as his broth
~ spells iD, removed by Gov. Roosevelt
rom the office of district attorney in New
ork city, is a retired officer Of the Uni
w. states Army, of the rank of major
1'p U.s. and has been for years, drawlnl
salary and pension from the national
Ieasury although an active public Off
VA wa, OF New York City. with a big salary
ms IS one OF the glaring defects in our
peHslon and retirement laws. Gardiner
seI!eo in the army as judge advocate. and
olessor OF law at the Military Acad-
10y, as we'll as IN the ordinary line OF
'.'Ce' and for years has been actively
c.s s1seu IN the courts as a retired Off.
ana pensioner. Now, his duties as
p'OIessor or judge advocate In. the
~ would be far less exacting and Ia.
~. and yet the government turns
bara1 .oose from It's employ and pays him
SAL soi tly' while he Is getting a good
rom mis- civil position.
q. seems strange that so good a paper
1bo,,is Troy Ala. Daily Messenger
8SO'ASa sensational matter Of a