The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-10-23
HITCH FINDING
STIRS UP TEMPEST
GOVERNOR CoRRECTS ORDER.
DISMISSAL OF OFFICER BRINGS
HIM FRIENDS.

Legislature VIII Probably be Asked
to Remove Disabilities of Com
victed OHicer-Acting-M Mayor Dixon
Voices Sentiment of Public in an
Observation-Disclosures of OgIe-
thOrpes is Now Feared-Capt.
Hitch Continues to Hold His Peace.
According to a dispatch received
yesterday from Atlanta, it was never
the intention of the court-martiaI, or
of Gov. Terrell, to disqualify Capt. r.
NJ Hitch from holding civil office by
the terms of the sentence imposed.
1t was further stated that when the
Governor found out by reading dis
patch from Savannah, what he had
done, that he Immediately held a con-
ference with the Adjutant General, and
that the precious words were added in
time to save the blunder from being
made in the official order.
When tine full effect of the findings
of the court-martial, which were ap-
proved by the Governor, were fully
explained by the Morning News, a
strong pro- Hitch sentiment set in, and
before night even those who had here
tofore criticised Capt. Hitch, entered
vigorous protests against the severity
of the findings.
kilograms, telephone messages and
frequent visitors were received by
Capt. Hitch yesterday, all expressing
their disapproval of what the court
martial had done. Instead of being
dishonored officer, it seemed more like
he was converted into a hero by the
action of the court-martial. Instead
of averted faces he was greeted warm
ly, and the visitors in every instance
expressed a desire to back up the dis
charged officer in any way they could.
OgIethOrpes Are Disrupted.
Ominous mutterings have been heard
in the ranks of the Oglethorpes since
the announcement of the findings of
the court-martial, and it is regarded
as practically assured that the men in
large numbers will ask for discharges.
Two weeks ago the movement to de-
sert the company was confined to per-
haps two dozen of the company. Yes
terday the findings of the court-mar-
tial served as fuel to the flame, and
now it is said that fully two-thirds
of the company stand ready to hand
in their designations.
Expressions of disapproval of the ac-
ton of the courtmartial yesterday
were couched in no soft phrases, and
many men who had heretofore taken
only a languid interest in the case
suddenly became ardent advocates of
the dismissed officer.
Acting-MayOr Dixon Talks.
Among those who did not hesitate
to speak out on the matter was Act
ing Mayor James NJ. Dixon. In speak
ing of the finding of the court-martial
in the Hitch case, Alderman Dixon
said:
From what / read of the evidence
before the court martial, as published
in the newspapers, I was hardly pre-
pared for such a verdict. Its severity
strikes me as unwarranted--that is,
from what I know of the case.
THE finding has certainly stirred up
a storm in this city, and will make a
host of warm friends for Capt. Hitch.
If the Legislature will remove his po-
litical disabilities. which it will no
doubt do, instead of submerging the
officer by it's action. it will have done
him only justice.
Nothing they could have done was
so calculated to arouse sympathy for
Capt. Hitch as the harshness of the
court-martial finding, which discharged
him from the military service, and dis
qualified him from holding office.
"I certainly feel like taking Capt.
Hitch's side in this fight on him, and
know that there are a lot of others
who feel just like I do about it.
Legislature to be Invoked.
1t is reasonably certain that Capt.
Hitch will ask the next Legislature to
remove the military disability impos-
ed.
While it is too early to predict full
Iy the outcome of the dismissal of Capt.
Hitch, there are signs that the storm
will break in the military establish
ment of the state which threatens
serious consequences.
1t will be a war to the knife be-
tween the friends of Capt. Hitch and
those who have taken part in his dis
missal.