The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1909-08-09
Trains Going West.
ADJuTANT GENERAL PEAKE.

The Forum is in receipt Of the fol-
lowing communication from Adjutant
General PealSe-Amassa P. Peake of
Valley City when he is not on official
duty:
Bismarck, N. D., Aug. 6.-To The
Forum: You have taken occasion sew
eral times Of late to comment upon the
conduct of the Adjutant Generals Of
fee, and in the issue Of Aug. 8, you
print an item headed ''Peake Stands
Pat" You are plainly unaware of the
relations existing between the adult
ant generals office and the governor
OF the state. The governor is the COM
mander-in- chief Of the organized mill
tia, and the adjutant general is merely
his official mouthpiece. All orders
must bear the governors signature and
are issued with the governors full con-
sent and authority.
In my conduct of the affairs of the
adjutant generals office, have always
found the governor Of the state in full
accord with my efforts to promote rhe
welfare OF the organization, and all
matters concerning the national guard
have been freely and frankly discussed
by the governor and myself. No order
has ever been issued from this office
without his fuH consent and approval.
1t appears to me that you, The For
um, have been attempting to create
trouble in the national guard by your
unwarranted and unauthorized inter-
ference with it's affairs.
ThesHWbOfe wish, Of both the governor
4Fa N4yVI
select men who were eligible and
qualified for the positions as team
officers for the Camp Perry rife
matches. General Order No. SO of the
war department, Section IL, provides
that no officer shall DE appointed as a
msofffcer or take part in the match
who has not performed 75 Der
cent Of military duty during the
twelve months prior to the date of the
match. Brig. Gen. e. C.. Geary, retired
having been on active duty under
General Order No. 4, dated May 21,
1908, and under a subsequent order is
sued through this office during my en-
cumbency detailed him as acting in
spector Of small arms practice for the
year 1903. has been on active service
for the entire year and is therefore
eligible for the appointment of team
coach.
1t is to be hoped that North Dakota
will this year send a team to Camr
Perry which will lift 1t out of the posi-
tion that it now occupies in the third
section to one in the second. Every
effort has been made by the governor
and myself to forward that end. Cen
eral Gearey had the work of selecting
the team by an open competition at the
recent encampment at Devils Lake
This team has been selected without
fear or favor by the actual figures given
during the competition. Three Of the
competitors who would have been or
the team from the fact of their stand.
ing, to-wit: Sergeant Louis Carufel Of
Co. A, Sergeant John Bried of Co G
and Sergeant G. @. Kennedy of Co. f
being unable to leave their business af.
fairs, resigned, and were replaced by
three having the next lower scores.
Every loyal citizen should be anxious
TO support the team and to lend every
effort towards its making success in
its work as Camp Perry, and it is tc
be hoped, in the future that you, The
Forum. and various other papers in the
state which seem to take delight In
creating trouble for the national guard
will await the issuance of orders before
you begin to criticise the actions of the
commander chief or the ad1utant
generals office. 1t is not my habit to
reply to any newspaper comments
whether favorable or otherwise, but ]
hesitate to believe that even so unre-
liable d sheet as The Forum would in
tentionalIy interfere with the well-be-
ing OF the North Dakota National
guard. Very respectfully,
Amaxa p. PealKe Adjutant General
The ethics Of the ex-colonel are ap-