Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-12-28
SOLDIERS, NOT
SNOW SHOvELERS
Arsenal Men Object to Being
Classed as Men
ials.
SAY ARE IMPOSED UPON
Declare Such Treatment Is Response
BILE for Desertions-Claim Work
Belongs to Ordnance Corps.

Rock Island Arsenal, Dec. 27.-Edi-
which appeared in your paper Dec. 27,
In regard to soldiers at the arsenal on
sick report, will say: That the mem
bers of the saddlers' and mechanics
class are men detailed from their or
CARNATIONS by the commanding Off
GERS to attend the school of instruc
ton at Rock Island to be instructed in
the saddlers' and mechanics trade, and
not as snow shovelers on Christmas
day. These men were picked from
conduct, and all came to Rock Island
with excellent characters.
1t is the opinion Of the men that
they are in danger of leaving here with
out an excellent character ON account
of the so-called discipline which we do
mot believe is called for in our orders.
Only IA Sick.
Major Hof not being in immediate
command Of the school. would there
fore not be in a position to know of
any dissension which does exist among
the members of the school. In regard
TO the number of men on sick report
on Christmas day. will say that the
number was greatly exaggerated. as
the actual number was 14-nOt 80
SGr;e OF TIE men were actually sick
and disable "a shovel snow. but owing
to1nfl1onces exerted by the school com
mandcT, the doctor took no pains in
his examination of the patients. but
simply passed them all and said that
they were able to be out of doors One
of the number in particular went to the
hospital with a fever of 101. and be
cause the thermometer registered 101,
the doctor said he had put it over the
radiator. When the second test was
taken it registered the same. and, al
though he hated TO do it. the doctor
had to send him TO the hospital. None
of the men on sick report that day i
conscious of having taken any castor
oil, as only fresh air was prescribed.
Ordnance Corps Work.
Having worked six working days
in the week and being compelled by
existing orders to be in bed at IL
p. m. each evening. the members Of
the saddlers' school feel that they
are entitled 20 their Sundays and hol-
days. The ordnance CORES of the ar
senal numbers % men and they are
stationed here permanently TO do the
work of the arsenal. They are al
lowed passes, which the schools are
not allowed, and they want the
schools to do their share of the work
Before the saddlers' school was in
force three years ago the ordnance
corps did the work alone and the
work has not increased nor has the
corps been diminished.
The school men do not object to
doing their own work if they are al
lowed the same privileges as the
others enjoy. The army officials
have been Investigating the cause of
assertions in the army. 1t is Just
such cases as came up last Saturday
and Sunday at the arsenal that
cause the men to desert the service.
Suppress True Feeling.
We cannot publish our true feel
ings in regard to this matter on ac-
count of subjecting ourselves to
court martial, but if you should hap
pen to meet any of the soldiers from
the schools you can find out by asR-
ing them. The men in the school
are men that want to be soldiers, but
believe they are being imposed upon,
for it is something that they are not
required to do in their own regi-
mentS.
Trusting this will suffice as an
answer to the article which appeared
in your paper, we beg to remain,
Yours respectfully,
THE SADDLERS' AND MECHAN
ICS' SCHOOL ROCK ISI AND