New-York tribune., 1901-02-18
ATTACKS y. G. y. Y. OFFICERS.
cAswELL A MAYo SAYS EFFORT TO HAVE PHAR-
MAcIsTs REDUCED TO RANKS Is DUE
To CLASS PREJUDICE.

I To the Editor of The Tribune.
/ Sir: The interview with Maior-GeneraI Roe. pub
lished IN your issue OF February - regarding the
rank OF the military pharm 4cist makes him say
that the law IS not mandatory uoon him 10 make
4 the appointment. He need not do so" II Gen
eral Roe IS correctly reported he IS either guilty
1 OF Grass Ignorance OF OF a disregard for facts
either Of which IS equally reprehenslbe IN one
occupying his official position. According To Gen
eral Roes Interpretation the entire existence OF
hospital corps IS dependent solely upon the pleas
ure OF the commanding officer OF :he regiment. for
/ the amendment 70 the military code creating the
rank OF military pharmacist IS portion OF that
section of the law prescribing the number and rank
OF the members OF he Hospital Corps. General
/ Orders No :. issued May 2s by the Adjutant-
General. conveys intlmation that the law IS not
! understood be mandatory. but promulgates the
law and instructs the officers Of the guard 10 con-
I duct themselves In accordance herewith. which
l apparently acting upon the same belief General
4 Roe-and possibly upon his advice-they have dis
regarded. General Roe asks why the pharmacists
did lay their claims before and ask for
hearing before urging the Legislature TO force them
upon us?" II is fair 10 presume by us is meant
the officers Of the National Guard and General
Roe appears to resent very much indeed the idea
that the Legislature Of the State Of New-York
should force upon the gentlemen constituting the
( officers OF the National Guard an unwelcome in
truder. without first consulting them.
II IS precisely this attitude upon the part Of
General Roe General Butt and other officers OF the
National Guard. that they a superior class OF
persons not amenabe 10 ordinary legislative direc
\ ton which has done much TO create a prejudice
against the National Guard in the popular mind
a plaything OF the wealthy and aristocratic element
OF the State. rather than bulwark for the protec
tion OF citizens and their property against possi
bic mob violence and training school for officers
for our volunteer armies The bill creating the rank
OF military pharmacist laid before the Ad-
jutant-GeneraI Of the State. received his approval
passed by the Legislature without dissent
ing vote and signed by Governor Roosevelt. whose
own military experience I'm the field no doubt led
him appreciate the necessity for giving the
military pharmacist the improved rank. In all the
armies of Continental Europe military pharmacists
/ pharmacist in the French army having the rank OF
enlargement. in the Italian army OF colonel and
men charged with the duties OF making SAM,
tary examinations, and the failure OF the United
States and England TO profit by the experience of
the Continental armies. which are always prac-
tically upon war footing, has led 70 great deal
OF suffering. both in the English army and in the
The effort on the part of the officers of the Ma
tional Guard OF the State OF New-York TO have the
Eihy based upon any considerations OF the welfare
OF the service but solely upon htHE Wholly selfish
them look upon pharmacists as men beneath them
made on the conduct OF the British troops in
South Africa have been traceable 10 the tendency
on The part OF British officers 20 make the mess
hall an exclusive social club. Fortunately for US.
the methods Of 70 ts deopn 70 70
/ that idea in our Army. In the NauonaI Guard OF
tendency in this direction. which nnds Its latest
development in the objection raised by the officers
10 having a pharmacist forced upon" them with
out their consent. II is reported that General Nc
. Cos.<ry Butt said that he would as soon have a
bsrber upon his staff pharmacist. Major
General Roe in his interview, tntimates that the
rharracsts are in the same intellectual and social
class as farriers and arrnorerss thus showing very
clearly the anfrnus which dictates the opposition
10 the pharmacist the part OF the officers OF the
Guard
officers OF the Guard, either as 10 Intelligence
breeding OF pharmacist. and we should like. IN
for hem make the requirements for mill
tary pharmacists so high that none but the
tnteIligent and well educated could pass the
animation. but we do dist nctly and strenuously
object 10 supercilious assumed by the
officers toward pharmacists a class. and do
protest vigorously against allowing the officers