The Savannah morning news., 1904-10-26
" FOOL WITH TORCH
CAN DESTROY LAW"
DUTIES OF ENLISTED MEN.
COL. G. A. GORDON ADDRESSED
HIS MEN ON RIOT DUTY.

Col. Gordon Promising TO Recon-
mend Applications to Adjutant
GeneraI-"LawIessn Is Spread
ing in This Country He said.
In an address. which occupied Just
fourteen minutes in its delivery, Col.
G. A. Gordon of the First Regiment
last night made clear statement to
his command Of the duties Of a SOL
der in times of disturbance, and
drew line by which the enlisted
men might know whether they were
in the proper frame of mind to be in
the service Of the state.
An opportunity was also given ev-
cry soldier who felt that he did not
measure up to the standard, to ten
der his resignation, which Col. Cor
don promised to send TO the adjutant
generals Office with a recommended
ton that it be accepted.
The talk was inspired by the States
boro affair. though the incident was
not referred to by name.
At the conclusion of Col. Gordon's
talk he was literally applauded The
men were drawn up in the regimen
tai yard, the formality of a uniform
having been waived. Col. Gordon
stood in front of the men, in full un-
form.
The commands attention" and "be
at ease" were given. and while deep
silence prevailed Col. Gordon spoke
as follows:
vital Subject.
You have been specially summoned
tonight to listen to some remarks
from me upon a subject which is of
the utmost importance to the future
welfare, to the efficiency and to the
very existence of this organization as
a military body.
Since my return to Savannah, after
an absence which illness prolonged be-
yond the date originally intended, re-
ports have reached me that certain
officers and certain enlisted men now
members of this regiment hold views
which, in my opinion, conflict with the
very foundation principles of a SOL
dier's duty. I am told that an Off
GER has stated that he considered state
troops were justified in surrendering
prisoners to a mob.
Il am told that enlisted men have
excused a failure to protect prisoners
on the ground that resistance would
have caused the shedding of the blood
of both the soldiers and the members
of a mob.
A Matter of Duty.
Il do not know. and do not want
to know, the names of either the Off
GERS or men who have expressed such
opinions. 1 hope and believe that very
few in this regiment indorse these
views, but in order that no one may
| misunderstood my conception of my
duty, l propose to state it to you, as
clearly as / know how, tonight.
What I. as an individual citizen,
may think. is a matter of small mo-
| ment, but what I. as commander of
this regiment believe to be my duty, is
matter of vital Importance to you,
| as well as to myself, and to every man,
white or black, in Savannah, or else
where, who is likely to come into con-
| fict with Georgia State Troops while
| under my command.
NO man in this regiment shall have
1t in his power to say that he misun-
derstood his duties. or that he would
not have remained in the military, had
he known the kind of orders he was
ceive.
Averting Serious Trouble.
'If it becomes our duty to maintain
law and order, serious trouble can, in
most instances, be averted without
bloodshed.
In protecting property or dealing
with rioters, a firm, resolute demean-
or on the part of troops, in command
Of cool, skillful leaders, will often re-
store order without resort to extreme
measures.
II hope the following situation may
never arise but. in order to make my
position the more unmistakable, I
will suppose an extreme case. and say
this:
Would Command NFire."
"If am in command of troops or
dered out to protect criminals charg-
ed with the most atrocious of crimes,
and If mob, (even one which includes
my friends and relatives) undertakes
to capture these prisoners, and il the
members of this mob. after being or
dered to disperse, and after being warn
ed that they will disobey that COM
mand at their deadly peril, still per-
sist in trying to overpower the guard
fans of law and order, I shall most
certainly give the command to fire.
and shoot to kill.
III OTQeT 10 pTOIeCI those pTlSOn6ES,
l viii, IL necessary, risk the lives of
the soldiers under. my command and
take the lives of members of the mob.
IF there is any member of this regi-
ment, officer or enlisted man, who feels
that he might fail. in an emergency
of this sort, to carry out such COM
mands, he owes 1t to himself and the
state he serves to send in his resig-
nation, or ask for his discharge. at
once.
eff men, with families dependent on
them for support, honestly feel that
they ought not to jeopardize their lives
IN opposing a ritous mob, they, too,
ought to ask for their discharges. All
such applications will be promptly for
warded to the Adjutant General, in
dorsed, approved.
willing to Resign.
IF large majority of the members
Of this regiment hold different views
from mine on these subjects. OF are
unwilling to trust my judgment in
| emergencies, they have only to so no.
tify me, and will promptly and cheer
fully tender my resignation.
But l wish you all TO understand
that II remain in command, and II
trouble comes, and IL orders involving
| risk of death are given, no hesitation
or trihing on the part OF those to
whom such commands are given will
he tolerated for moment. Should that
time come (and / hope It will never
GOMEZ, you have no more responsibility
than your rife. You have only to obey
orders. The officer in command is the
responsible party