The sun. (Jacksonville, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1906-05-12
Third Page

maintaining the organizations in condition ap
preaching standard efficiency. The reason appears
plain The men have little or incentive to attend
drills other than their innate patriotism, for which
it is only too plainly apparent, practically no appre
citation is given by the average citizen in whose in
terest he is devoting his time and service. Uni
FORMS rs well equipment, are now supplied by the
general Government, and there is no pressing neces
sity for entertainments to raise funds for the pur
chase of such supplies, without which the organza
lions could not be maintained; consequently these
opportunities of interesting the general public in
military affairs and of commingng with the other
members of the social world is not afforded them
Here in Jacksonville there is opportunity at pres
emit to introduce the club features of the former
CARNATIONS, for the reason that the quarters af
forded in the present armory inadequate for the
proper storing of the military equipment alone The
officers find it necessary to share among them all
one small room in the tower for Office purposes and
n place to keep their company records. And here
let me say for the officers: Good officers as a rule
are found only among men of affairs. Under the
law much more is expected of them than for.
merly. While this may not appear to be much to
the regular officer, who Ia accustomed to perform
such duties matter Of routine day in and day
out Il ia much for the officer of the citizen soldiery
His hours of leisure needed for relaxation from
mental and bodily strain occasioned by his daily
occupation. When he has to devote, say only part
of his leisure to the study Of the Drill Regulations
Organization and Tactics and Security and Defense,
to say nothing of the Army Regulations, and further
to concentrate his mind on the company affairs and
records taking up the broken threads where he left
off time before, fill out forms and prepare his
reports, he has tasks that are very trying to the
average man, and for which he generally has occa.
sion to feel are far from being appreciated even II
he executes such tasks faithfully and uncompain-
ingy. Notwithstanding all this, am satisfied our
officers would willingly undertake and perform oil
that Is expected of them II they assured the CO.
operation OF the business man, the citizens in gen.
era and last but far from being the least, the
ladies OF the home circles Of the members of their
organizations.
The business man should be sufficiently alive to
his personal interests and exhibit sufficient patriot
ism to encourage the military spirit among his en-
poyees and in his family, and not placate his con-
science with the idea that there plenty of others
who can do this without interfering with his own
business or financial arrangements. It Is recog-
nzed as fact that the most valuable employees
make the best military men. Instead of deducting
from the usually meager vacation allowed his en-
ployees the time required for military service, he
should willingly accord this time in addition. He
should carefully avoid connivance with an employee
who wishes to shrk his military duty and solicits
his aid in this respect requesting permission TO say
that his employer will not permit him to be absent
from his work for such purpose.
new and commodious armory, centrally located,
with sufficient vacant space surrounding IL and 30
arranged that 1t could readily be defended, should
be provided in the city OF Jacksonville at the earliest
day practicable.
With such cooperation and increased facilities.
the writer feels certain that within short time the
troops would attain a standard of efficiency which
would at least compare favorably with, II not excel
the best to be found elsewhere. Very respectfully
J. w. sACKETT,
BTiQader General al; n