The Savannah morning news., 1904-01-01

administration of federal laws having
relation to state militia
Your acts, as l understand what is
contemplated, are largely controlled by
expediency that is, doing away with
something which may greatly decrease
the interest and enthusiasm in state
militia II continued, and if there were
really strong grounds for your fears
from that point of view, you might
be justified, but you are mistaken in
the supposition that under the Dick
bill there is greater grounds for APP
prehension on this score than before its
passage. On the contrary, the danger
of white men and officers becoming
subject to the control and command of
negro officers in the Southern states
has decreased since that measure. be-
came a law. If you will examine that
law carefully you will see that this is
true.
Under the Old Law.
Under the old militia law, in exist
ence for more than 100 years prior to
the passage of the Dick bill, every
able-bodied male citizen between the
ages of Is and As were subject to mil
itary duty, whether in organized bodies
or not, and it has been in the power
of every President who has held office
since the negro was freed to call into
service, without distinction of race or
color, every man qualified to serve and
form into regiments consisting of
blacks and white unfortunately
mixed. And although, during the
Spanish War this was still a law and
Republican President was in office,
no such trouble arose, nor would it be
policy if the government desired the
-. ~
Southern citizens to go counter to their
race prejudices. This is still the law
under the Dick bill with the marked
change that the militia is now divided
into organized and unorganized
branches, and the organized must be
first called. The organized militia is
the militia organized by the state, and
| is always under the control of its
chief, the Governor.
This is separated into white and col
ored troops, and it may never be fear
ed that they will be compelled to serve
together.
Relative to the encampments, where
| it was stated by one of the speakers
| the greatest danger lay, there was no
provision relative to this in the old
law and in the Dick bill there are two,
one of which provides for the encamp-
ment of state militia. One of these
provisions is simply that sum of
money, equal to the cost of each en-
campment be paid over to the state
quartermaster general, upon requisi-
ton made by the Governor, and for
such troops as the Governor may or
der into camp. The other provides
for the encampment of certain of state
militia, with regular troops, with the
| distinct provision that such encamp-
ment be had for such troops as the
Governor of the troops requests, so
that the whole matter is entirely under
the control of the Governor of the
state. where it has always been, so
far as the matter of placing them in
camp is concerned, and we have never
had cause in Georgia to apprehend
what you now fear might come about.
The AppOrtiOnment Problem.
eft is true that in another paragraph
of the Dick bill the apportionment of
the appropriation is based on the COM
pliance with certain requirements as
to state troops, including provision
that they shall participate in practice
marches or go into camp for at least
five consecutive days in each year.
In other words those troops, which
do not fulfill these requirements under
an order issued by the Governor are
not included in the enlisted strength
In determining the apportlonment Oh
the fund, which is divided among the
states in proportion of the number CT
men in service. and the Governor is
given the right in this section 10 eX-
cuse a given company, or companies
from participation in any OF the en-
campments or marches laid out so that
IN determining what should be done
relativ to the claiming of the states
ouota of the apportionment the Gov
ernor may get all by sending all OF
the troops into camp. but eIloaInp the
whites and colored separately. Ut ne
NAV exclude the colored troops from
nerforming this duty, and claim less
apportionment.
Col. William E. Wooten who presid-
ed at the meeting. said that ne spoke
representing the Fourth Georgia Regl-
ment. and that he believed he repre-
serted the sentiment of every man in
his command. when he said that he
was heartily in favor of the resolution
IN toto. and that there was perhaps no
regiment in the state that would ike
better to see the colored troops mus
tered out. 1--WE are located right In
the heart of the black belt OF THIS
state" said Col. Wooten, and you
cannot stamp out the race preJudlce
there, and so long as there are col
ored troops in service 1t VIII De nara
err and harder each year 10 get men
to enlist.
Not n New Problem.
"I have been on the State Military
Advisory Board for twelve years, and
ali during that time this matter has
been discussed, and each time 1t has
heen suggested to do away with the
colored troops in an easy manner as
handing them slowly so that too much
stir will not be caused. We nave seen
the result of this. There are more
nov than there were twelve years
ago. and each day they are peins
hToueht w nearer and nearer to the
niane Of the white men in the eyes OF
The government, and in its considera-
tion and vet we all know how fatally
defective they are as soldiers capable
of real duty to the state, no matter
how excellent they are in their inspec-
tions. | want to go on record as
heartily supporting a resolution seek
ing their immediate DISARMAMENT.
Tjeut. Col. A. ]. Scott. assistant adj
i,tant general. advised caution in the
matter 1T believe such a thing as
dishanding the coiored troops would
he a. hazardous undertaking" he SAID.
"It can work out its own solution. l
can promise that within two months
two colored commands of this state
will be mustered out of service. can
name you the time that white men
and officers will be under the cohtroi
~ colored officers-when the people or
Georgia elect a Republican Governor
or a negro chief executive, and not
until then. .,.i....