The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1907-09-22

| lined soldier; but when 1 last saw him
! in the camp of instruction, he was
neatly dressed, or as neatly dressed
as his limited uniform allowance per-
mitted; he was orderly and never
| boisterous or even unduly hilarious
always respectful when approached or
spoken to or passed by superior Of
ficers, and, as a rule, ready and alert
to give military salute whenever Oc-
casiOn required that act of official
courtesy"
Major Dapray is not so compliment
| tary to some of the general staff Of
f1cers and assistant adjutant generals,
of whom he says: Il am compelled
| to make note of the fact that some of
those officials have never to my
knowledge in tie nineteen months |
have been on duty In Florida and in
position to observe the conduct of mill
tary affairs, performed any military
duty whatever pertaining ID their re-
spective Offices, while others have
rendered only nominal service by
being present in camp for a few da5s
in the year. There should be no E1ili-
tary figure-heads in Florida or any
other state in these days of progress
sive military Instruction and preDa>
ration. There is no doubt
that the present conditions tend 20
make the adjutant general self-depend-
ent and self-reliant to an extent that
renders him uncOnSciouSly, perhaps
TO an unusual and impoIitic degree the
very malnStay and sole basic founda-
ton of the whole structure of the
states military affairs, which but for
him might fall. This is not a desir-
able condition of public affairs. >
= No matter how willing and capable
anyone here might be, like the present
adjutant general of the state. to do
more than his share of public duty,
the best interests of the state demand
that no branch of public administra-
ton shall, under any circumstances,
become a OLe-man institution, especial
ly when the system of governmental
organization, in theory at least, dis
tinctly provides for proper succession
in office, and such divided responsible
ity as would never leave an office
without legitimate and proper head.
The adjUtant general of this
state, with rather too poorly paid
clerks, is undertaking to do all that
duty which at any one of the United
States department headquarters today
would be distributed among a coterie
of proper staff officers, each aided by
one or more clerks"
Major Dapray reports that some OF
the members of the state troops treat
official orders with contumely and in
difference, obeying them when it is
convenient or agreeable to do so.
Il have known he says, "of at
least two instances in the past year
when officers have grievoUsly embar-
raised militia headquarters by mani
festatfOns of the accutest forms of in
subOrdination and official disrespect,
and other instances, when officers
have utterly ignored official orders
and instructions, and yet although
some enlisted men have been court
martialed for minor infractions or alb
sences from camp, no courtmartial
since my tour of duty began in Flor
Ida has yet-been convened for the trial
of an officer. l think it would
be conducive to good discipline and
increased contentment among the en-.
listed men if they could be shown
that not even the officer of high rank
nor the man of highest social or DO
litical pertige can escape deserved
punishment, for any personal or politi-
cal reason Whatsoever
1t is easy 70 understand that there
should be disposition on the part of
officers thus sharply criticised to get
rid OF so honest member, and II is
greatly to the credit of the governor
of Florida, Napoleon B. Broward. that
he should refuse to listen TO their
walls and criticisms, to support the
of an officer who is so hon
estly and fearlessly doing his duty.