Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1905-12-14
POPULAR NEW OFFICER.
Interesting Incidents in the Career
Of Major General John
F. Weston.

" NlAN-+s
There is rejoicing and regret around
the war department over The promo.
ton OF Cen John f. Weston. formerly
eommissary of subsistence. to be a
major general of the line Everybody
rejoiees. reports the Posi-, that he has
been promoted. but everybody equally
regrets that he is to leave the depart
ment. There is not a better story
teller IN the army than Gen. Weston
he is the most popular man holding a
commission. He is known not only
for his stories, but for his apt quota,
tions. Gen. Weston can quote from
the classics and from the best liter
ature Of the ages, ancient and modern
He is highly educated man, but edu.
cation never spoiled him A keen
sense Of humor enables him to see the
ridiculous side of nearly every ques-
ton that is subject 10 ridicule, and
naturally he has punctured many wind
bags, TO the edifcation of those who
listened to him. Weston has had a
MOAAAfiA III AGAEFls IlE was a AlHI AlEu~I
tenant in the Fourth Kentucky cavalry
during the civil war, at 16; a medal OF
honor man and captain al 10, a major
al 10, and commander of a regiment
before he was 20. After the civil war
he decided to enter the army, and be-
came a student Of military affairs He
served with Custer and is as familiar
with the plains over which Clusters
army drove the Indians as any man in
the army Seeing very little chance
of promotion he became commits
sary, and in this department he fitted
himself thoroughly by a course oil
technical instruction. He is one Of the
best chemists in the country. and
knows everything about the commits
sary department If he had not been
made a commissary officer in 1875, he
would have been resting on the hill
side overlooking the Little Big Horn,
where Clusters brave men were slaugh-
tered by Sitting Bulls braves IN 1876.
Weston was a favorite with Custer,
and would have been near him in that
terrible battle.
Gen. Weston, when he was a sub
ordinate officer, was sent to look after
the flood sufferers on the Lower Mis-
sissippi, during the administration of
President Harrison. He was supposed
TO distribute the commissary supplies
among those who were destitute. He
did furnish some Of the very needy
with supplies. and there was a demand
for many more rations. The mayor
of one Of the largest cities in Missis-
sippi frantically telegraphed to the
war department that Capt. Weston was
failing to comply with the orders of
the department and refused to dis
tribute the commissary stores which
were sent him for destitute people.
Weston in a terse telegram, informed
the department that he had seen the
mayor Of the city and the governor of
the state. The governor had informed
him that the free distribution of gov
eminent supplies would. mean the loss
of the cotton crop of the state, as la
borers could not be obtained to harvest
the cotton if they were fed by the gov.
eminent.
Instead Of distributing 100000 more
rations. as was requested by some OF
the people, Weston cared for only
those who were actually destitute and
could not at once obtain food. After
the matter had been thoroughly in
ysstigated. Weston's course was APP
proved by Secretary Proctor and high
~ commended by Others who had any
knowledge of the affair Gen. Weston
was chief commissary of Skaters
army in Cuba. and for the excellent
service that he performed there was
made a brigadier general of volun-
teers. Secretary Taft. speaking Of the,
proposed promotion of Gen. Weston,
said he was against H. because he did
not want to lose him as commissary
general. Weston has made an efficient
officer as chief commissary, has re-
duced the cost Of supplies to theI
army. and under his careful admin
istration the losses in eommissary sup
niles have been reduced TO less than
one per cent, condition that is con-
sidered wonderful in view of the enor-
nous amounts Of provisions that are
purchased and the perishable nature
OF a large proportion Of them