The Washington times., 1905-06-03
PO|NDEXTER RAPS
COUNTRY EDITOR
Question of Entering Army
in Dispute.
IT TOOK PLACE IN KANSAS
Recruiting Officer Defends Character
and Morale OF Uncle Sans Troops
Against AspeTsion.

a lively controversy between an army
recruiting officer and the editor of a
country newspaper In Kansas regard
ing the merits of the army as place
for young men has indirectly been
brought TO the attention of the War
Department officials here
The recruiting officer, who is Second
Lieutenant Fielding Lewis Poindexter.
q former Washington newspaper man.
became indignant at a bitter attack on
the personnel of the enlisted force OF
the army which a newspaper in Cofey-
Vile. Kan, printed. ana he sent hot
reply to the editor, brining forth an
apology.
Basis of Attack.
The basis of the attack was that in
time OF peace only the 'rif-ran' and
ne er do wells enlist in the army. for
which reason the country editor
strongly advised the youth OF his town
TO refrain from joining Uncle Sans
fighting force, concluding with the
statement: IN times of peace the best
men stay at home and plow and build.
fence and break rock. sell goods and
teach school.
THE regular army has no charms for
the young fellow who has had good
home training and is ambitious TO be-
and a slave. BE 1t spoken to the ever
lasting credit of the youth of our land
that the enlistnents Of last year lacked
5000 of the necessary number. These
5.0Da that didn't go stayed at home with
their jobs
10 this Lieutenant Poindexter replies
in part follows:
..frhere is scarce a community in this
entire country where there are not some
young men Of good standing-aye.
scions OF respectable families IL you
wiIi-who would not be benefited by
spending three years in the regular ser
vice of their country I once knew Of
gentleman pecunlarily We'll OFF, Who IN
sisted upon each of his five sons enlist
ing in the United States cavalry.
Boys Were Improved.
when they finally returned home he
called the attention OF his neighhors
10 how they had been changed from IN
developed. irresponsible boys each into
fine specimen OF a man. There's no
better start in life.' he said, I can
give a son of mine than to see that ne
enllsts in the cavalry. ! only wish that
i had thirteen boys instead OF five TO
give such start. It's where acquired
the three best years schooling L ever
had. and an insight into human nature
that has stood me in good stead
throughout my life.
The influences In the army are for
good. Men who go to the bad IN the
army would soon land in the penitep- p1,e
itentiary ii civil life. The discipline
wholesome food and systematic health
Iul exercise necessarily produce sooo
results AS evidence OF this compare
any company OF recruits WITH the Saint
company three years hence
Training Is Good.
seThe military training afforded in the
regular service is equal, if not superior
10 that al West Point. There is 70 be
had also in each branch OF the service
coast artillery, field artillery. cavalry.
infantry, the engineer, signal and hos
pital corps-abundant opportunity for
improvement mentally. Every enlisted
man has access to the post libraries and
post schools
."Fhe pay is little, as everyone knows
But whose fault is itT There IS scarcely
g person in authority connected with
the army who has not in some way or
other used his influence 10 have the
pay OF the enlisted man increased.
Whose fault is it that II Is stia only 4S
cents per day2 It Is the fault or just
such citizens as the author OF this aFti-
Gle taken from the Ash Grove Common
wealth.
Can Make Money.
'.As low as the pay is, however. with
his surplus clothing allowance, travel
pay and the interest on his deposits
with the payrnaster, many COLDER at
the end of his first term has $500 to his
credit This is certainly better than he
could do at home breaking rock. A man
with normal pride should not remain at
home, If breaking rock is his only
means OF a livelihood lis fit occupation
for chain gang composed OF desert
ers 'coId-footed coffec-cooiers and mar
row-1ninded, unpatriotic country edi-
tors