Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1906-07-27
USE AND ABUSE OF
TITLE GENERAL"
Some of Absurd Uses to Which
Honorable AppelIation
Us Submitted.
MANY AMUSING INCIDENTS
Nearly Every Assistant in the Various
Departments at Washington 10
Burdened With the
Title.
From the washington star.

From the Washington Star.
"The American habit OF afiixing mill
ftary. judicial and honorary titles to
mems names has often been facetiously
commented upon" remarked a mem
Der of congress from a northern state
60 a Star man. but / think we a
some OF the best samples OF the in
~congruity that / know OF outside of
Kentucky right here In Washington.
I'll tell you OF an amusing incident
that Is, Ii seemed amusing to the
lookers-on, IL ii was not TO the particle
pants. 1t was at a reception the other
night, at which were present many rep
~resentatiyes of the diplomatic, official,
army and navy circles. In a corner
OF the room were half a dozen of my
fellow workers in the house n some
army officers discussing army appro-
~priations. Two gentlemen Joined us,
and the usual introductions followed.
One OF the army officers happened to be
a major general. He Is slightly deaf.
The man who was doing the introduce
ing turned TO the general and said:
Genuine Meets Bogus.
General -, allow me to intro
duce to o General --"
The major general, whom we will
rail- General Blank to distinguish him
from the other man. whom we will des-
tgnate as General Dash, shook hands
with the other chap, and, placing his
hand TO his ear, said, Inquiringly:
81 didn't catch your name, general
General Dash, reiterated the
friendly interlocutor.
"tDash-Dash?' repeated the major
general, with a puzzled expression up
IN his face, Dash? | don't recall such
a name In the army-Dash, did you
say? May i ask what army corps you
have or had the honor OF serving in,
y~eneral?'
EVERY man in the crowd wanted to
laugh, and Ii was with difficulty that
we restrained our smiles. Some one
pushed a glass of pungent punch UNI
der the old generals nose, and at the
Familiar and welcome odor the real
warrior Immediately forgot the titular
commander, for General Dash hap
pened TO be one of the assistant sec
Tetaries In N OF the departments in
this city whose reads are designated
with the official title Of general And
since his appearance indicated an age
Of under middle life in the thirties, the
a~ncongruity was made the more evil
dent
1T Is the height of absurdity TO be-
stow or to claim the title of general
In the instances OF assistant post
masters general, assistant solicitors
general, assistant attorneys general, or
ANY other of the many assistant gen
W. sNAnF AAAAt tlci OG AOutlu SCdllCIGo T
around in the official departments in
Washington held down by men doing
official work in the civil branch of the
government. Yet. strange TO say, not
only are these assistants addressed by
their clerical subordinates as general
but they are insistent upon being thus
addressed by those who may have off,
~cial business with them.
Many Lady Generals"
In fact, ] think II Is far fetched for
the heads OF these departments TO be
addressed by the military title of the
commander of an army corps, and
while II may be conceded by some for
the sake OF argument that such a title
Is proper in the instance of the head
sDf the department, II Is unq~uestionably
poor taste TO bestow II upon a sub
ordinate official assistant. Members
OF the house could with equal propriety
aub themselves judges because we
make the laws.
They say that every man Is de-
ssirous OF fame in one manner or an
other. Here is a chance for some n
man to become famous. Let him. up
on receiving the appointment OF an
assistant general stick to plain Mr.
and his name will go down to poster
ity; not n of them has yet done so.
The absurdity OF the situation of
these department generals is matched
ny the president generals that the fair
members OF some of the lady organizaN
lions which hold their annual nven
tons here turn loose upon US every
year. The single title OF either general
or president ought to be enough to
satisfy the craving OF the most exact
Ing seeker OF titular fame, but when
AZ comes to combining these titles the
limit Is reached, particularly In apply
Ing the title OF general 10 a woman.
president Is more appropriate, OF
course, but general Is the maximum
OF incongrulty to my congressional
mind."