The Savannah morning news., 1903-05-10
DANGER IN DICK BILL
CAPT. w. B. STEPHENS GIVES HIS
VIEWS ON MILITIA MEASURE.
SOUNDS WARNING NOTE
IN REPLY TO COL. OBEAR'S Ex-
PRESSIoNS ANENT THE BILL.

Says-POints Out the Dangers in
the Measure-Says 1t Is Not a
Question of What Will Probably
Arise, But, Rather, of What Could
Arisc-A Cut and Dried Matter of
PrincipIe-DiscussiO of the Mat
ter Is Now General.
The coming of Maj. Francis H.
French, U. S. A, to inspect the Geor-
gia State Troops in Savannah has re-
suited in the awakening of interest
in the Dick militia bill, and discussion
and argument, pro and con, has been
rife among the officers and men of
the local commands. That the discus
sion is timely and necessary the officers
are nearly all agreed, and it is their
desire that every enlisted man become
thoroughly conversant with the pro-
visions of the new measure before sub
scribing to it's conditions.
At the present time a majority Of the
officers in the city are in favor Of the
adoption of the bill. 1t is probable
that the opinions of those who are IA
miliar with the provisions of the bill
will be generally expressed, with the
result that every man who remains in
the military under the new regime will
do so with a full realization of the I'm
port of the measure and the duties de-
volving upon him under it's admins
tration. Nearly all of the officers real
ize that there are some Objectionable
features to the new measure. though
many of them maintain that these are
outwelghed by the accruing advan-
tages.
Capt. stephens Views.
Capt. William B. Stephens of this
city, having his attention directed to
the interview with Col. w. C. Obear
as published in yesterdays issue of the
Morning News respecting the BILL and
being asked for an expression of his
views touching the measure, stated
that he had no authority and would
not undertake to speak for anyone
else, but that he knew of no reason
why he should conceal his personal
views with reference to a matter
which he considered of such vital i'm
portance to the Georgia State Troops,
in the ranks of which he had served
for more than thirteen years.
Unfortunately, there is much I'M
familiarity with the provisions of the
Dick bill. attributable mainly to the
elasticity thereof. as is clearly demon
strated by the interpretations placed
thereon by the War College Board. in
volving matters which could not be
anticipated or foreseen by a reading
of the bill ITSELF but doubtless there
are those who find it possible to rem
der themselves sufficiently familiar
with its provisions to reach a satisfae-
tory conclusion as to its merits" said
Capt. Stephens
'"The adoption or rejection of the
provisions of the Dick bill for the
Georgia State Troops is in my opin-
ion, question to be passed upon by
the General Assembly, and is not one
which can be determined by anyone
else or in any other way. 1t may be
that the General Assembly of Georgia
will consider it wise that it's troops
shall subscribe to the provisions of the
Dick bill or get out of business or it
may determine that it is the part of
wisdom to retain its troops for it's own
protection and keep them in business
rather than deliver them over to the
United States government for service
as quasi regulars. I cannot undertake
in advance to speak for. the General
Assembly of Georgia and to say what
direction will be given this all impor-
tant subject.
The Color Question.
Judging from a portion of the in
terview appearing in your paper of
yesterday, there would seem to be some
unfamiliarity in other quarters with
reference to some Matters he added
81 notice it is stated that the exigen-
cies you speak of chat OF having n
negro commander in charge of white
t"oops) is less apt to arise in it's (Dicx
bid administration than under present
conditions There are two classes OF
troops in Georgia, to wit: Georgia
State Troops and Georgia State
Troops. Colored' Section 2 of the Mill
tary Code: Whenever different or
genizAtions of the military forces are
Joined or do duty together the officer
of the line of the Georgia State Troops"
highest in rank, present and on duty,
with or without any portion of his own
organization, shall command the
whole Section "a. In other words, a
second lieutenant of the white troops
would command colonel of the col
ored troops. I do not see how the ex-
igency referred to can possibly occur
under existing laws of Georgia There
is no such protection under the Dick
bill 1t is true that the Savannah boys
gencies when they volunteered and en-
listed in the service of the United
States in the Spanish American War
but that was foreign war and the
boys were willing to assume any risk
and make any sacrifice for their coun-
try under those circumstances, and this
they voluntarily did. They would I'M
questionably do so again. AS l see it,
it is a very different matter for those
boys to be placed in that position for
the purpose of the ordinary police duty
which may be required of them by the
President.
1.-The other forces at his (Presi-
dents) command for service in any
particular district, certainly would hot
include regulars otherwise engaged,
for instance in the Philippines, Alas
ka, Porto Rico or other places, nor
would it include regulars inaccessible |
at the moment to the scene of the dis
turbance. In these events, the regu-
lars would not be at his command for |
the purpose of quelling the particular
trouble, and sympathy on the part of
would furnish good and sufficient cause
states.
1T is not so much a question as to |
what we think will occur, but what |
might occur under the varying and |
constantly changing conditions in this |
country and the consequent results"
said Capt. Stephens, with emphasis.
Ignores Our Governor.
ut is one thing to be subject to !
call by the President in case of war,
and even then / do not think that the |
~ go -