The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1907-09-03
Adjutant General
Should Be Sustained.

It has remained for the military
Journal. Arms and the Man, published
In New York City to take up discus
sion of the controversy between Ad-
futant General Clifford r. Foster and
Major Dapray, the officer detailed by
the war department to assist in the
instruction of the Florida State
Troops. Major DaPray has, it ap-
pears, been encouraged in his OpPost
ton to General Foster by no less an
official than Governor BFoward him.
self, and the governor is being very
Justly criticized for an interference
that he should have been the last
man in the world to make. The mill
tary journal referred to takes the fol-
lowing view of the situation:
AS our news columns have shown,
there appears to be SOME considerable
amount OF misunderstanding and frtc-
ton between the retired officer of the
United States army detailed for duty
with the state of Florida and the
adjutant general of that state.
From the information in our pos
session, it seems to US a wholly I'M
warranted case of a governor not
properly backing up his adjutant gen.
CTal
The administration of the military
affairs of d state is a difficult task
under ne best of circumstances. 1t
becomes impossible if the governor,
the commander-in-chief of the state
forces. who, as a general and al
most universal rule, is not a military
man, undertakes to interfere with, or
does not honestly, earnestly, and
wholly stand behind the adjutant gen
eral in all of his acts.
OF course that involves having a
good adjutant general. That is up to
the governor. If his adjutant general
IS not a good man. let him discharge
him and secure one who is satisfac-
tory. But once he has decided the
adjutant general to be the right man
Tor the place, then ne should hold him
responsible and give him authority
20 do every necessary thing.
In Florida, upon the testimony of
every principal officer of the Florida
State Troops, the retired officer de-
tailed by the War Department, was in
compent to properly perform his
duties. He apparently did not I'M
derstand the first principles of the
spirit and purpose which underly the
act of Congress, according to the
terms Of which he secured the detail
and the return to full pay
1t was intended by those whO franz
ed the measure that these officers of
the retired list should, upon applica-
ton of a governor of a state be de-
tailed for duty with the state, there TO
perform such tasks as might be set for
lfcm By the governor or his properly
Htaf fttt nj
hanely, the adjutant general
It would appear from the reports of
the Florida matter which have reach
ed us, that the retired officer detailed
there considered himself as sort of a
special advisor to the governor, some
thing above and beyond the adiu-
tant general, Il position absolutely in
consistent with the proper administra-
ton of the military affairs of the state.
1t was intended that these officers
should be used as instructors; that
they sh0uld be practically under the
control of the state authorities; that
they should be detailed at the re-
quest of the governor and relieved
from such detail upon his request
General Foster, adiutant general of
Florida, needs no defense from men
who know him. He is undoubtedly
zone of the most able adjutant gen
erals in the United States. If he
and his officers represent to the gov
ernor that the retired officer detailed
with them is incompetent, or unfit, or
unsatisfactory, or uncongenial, there
is nothing left the governor but TO
request the War Department to recall
the mau.
The attitude of the War Department
toward this question is a fair and
tight one. They have done. and will
continue TO do, the correct thing. The
mistake is that of the governor of
Florida.
We agree entirely with Arms and
the Man, and for the good of the
state troops We trust that Governor
Broward will see the matter in the
same light The adjutant general
should by all means be sustained.