The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-02-27
Admiral Sampson a Snob.
MORGAN'S APPLICATION
TO BE EXAMINED
For Ensign Vetoed BY the
Rear Admiral Who Alleges
Social inequality.

pls," lsssr Admiral Sampson has
vetoed the application Of Charles Nor
gao. gallant .gransr on the ora'ser
New York, Cor the position of easigo 10
the navy. The remarkable oorrespon-
dense 10 whioh sbis attitude Of che rear
admiral SIS unnissakably sos forth is
herewith appended.
Tbis is che applieasiou CT Grnosr
Mosgsn :
o. s Torpedo Station.
Newport, R /. Feb Is. 1901
Admiral William T. Sampson. United
States Navy:
Dear sir-The uev bill whereby sis
gunners are TO be commissioned eoeig0s
tsnp,s me 60 write you, trusting you
will pardon she liberty I sake 10 SO
doing
AS served 90 the flagship New
York during your command OF the aeet,
yoa will knov whether my abilities
vheteves they may be, ars Of such
merit as 90 warren: me 10 GiIiog she
posisioD of eosign. I would say here
shat oayer use tobacco or liouor In
any form
II. 10 your estimation. I an vorthg
of this position, | should be most CRATE
fui to you if you will recommend ne to
she department.
| an very respectfully yours,
Charles Morsao, Gunner. u N.
These are saupson's Endorsements,
respecting the appliosnon
Navy Yard. Boston. Mass, Feb Il.
IOdorseneO, l-R.ypecsfally fos-
varded TO she navy depsrtaous for It's
consideration
2-Mr. Morgan hes good profes
sional ability he also has, which
distinguishes him from most other
warrant officers. gentIemanly bear
ing II be were to be commissioned
as an ensign be would probably com
pare Savorably, both professionally
and 10 personal conduct and bearing,
With other officers Of that grade, as
fer as his technical education would
permit.
3-Ie is earnestly 10 be hoped.
however, that the Secretary of the
Navy viii not and il necessary 20
take advaDtsge Of the authority which
/ understand is 20 Ee granted him 20
appoint certain number Of warrant
officers 20 the grade of ensigns.
While il is true that these men are
selected from large class of men OF
very unusual ability, which distiu
gusshes them as perhaps .he profss
sional equals Of their officers as far
as their technical education stands, it
is also true shas they are recruited
from class of men who have not
had the social advantages that are
requisite of the commissioned officer.
II is submitted that in time of
peace the nsvy's function consists TO
q certain extent, of representing the
country abroad, and it is important
that the navy's representatives
should be meD of at least refinement
While there are perhaps 8 certain
few among the warrant officers who
could fulfil this requirement, am of
the opinion that the vast majority Of
them could not.
Once they are commissioned they
will have she same social standing as
other officers. and no distinction
properly could be made in extending
general invitations The conse
quences that would arise from their
acceptance nigh: not rebound to the
credit of the navy or the country
which the navy represents
do not mean to detract from the
sterling worth of the warrant officers
of the navy; merely mean to sug
gest to the department that, unforiu
nately for them, they have been &c
prived of certain natural advantages,
and in consequence iheir proper
place is that of leading men among
the crew, and not as representatives