Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1909-08-08

Stands Pat" You are plainly una
ware of the relations existing between
the adjutant generals office and the
governor of the state. The governor
Is the commander-in-chief of the Or
ganized militia, and the adjutant gen.
eral Is merely his ofhcial mouth2iece.
All orders mus. bear the governors
signature, and are issued with the
governors full consent and authority.
In my conduct of the affairs of the
adjutant generals office, I have al.
ways found the governor Of the state
in full accord with my efforts to pro-
mote the welfare of the organization,
and all matters concerning the ma
tional guard have been freely and
frankly discussed by the governor and
myself. No order has ever been is
sued from this ONCE without his full
consent and approval.
1t appears to me that you, the
Forum, have been attempting to Gre
ate trouble In the national guard by
your unwarranted and unauthorized
interference with its affairs.
The whole wish of both the COVER
nor and the aaiutant general has been
to select men who were eligible and
qualified for the positions as team
officers of the Camp Perry rifle
matches. General Order No. 50 of the
war department, section II, provides
that no officer shall be appointed as
a team officer to lake part In the
match who has not performed seventy
five per 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
21st, 1908, and under a subsequent
order issued through this office dur
ing my incumbency detailing him as
acting inspector of small arms praic-
tice for the year 1909, has been on
active service for The entire year and
is therefore eligible for the appoint
ment of team. coach.
h It is to be hoped that North Da-
kota will this year send a team to
Camp Perry which will lift it out OF
the position that It now occupies In
the third section, to one in the sec
ond. Every effort has been made by
the governor and myself to forward
that end. General Geary had the
work OF selecting the team by. an
open competition at the recent en-
caMpment at Devils Lake. This team
has been selected without fear or fav-
or ny; the actual figures given during
the competition. Three Of the come
petitors who would have been on the
team from the fact Of their standing;
to-wit. Sergt Louis Carufel Of Com
many AZ; Sergt John Brad Of Con-
pany CT, and Harst G. g. Kennedy 9t
COMPANY r.. being unable to leave
their business affairs resigned and
were replaced BY three having the
next lower scores. s25s:. si 81 &
Every loyal citizen should be anx-
ions to support the team and to lend
every effort towards tn making sue
cess I'll its work at Camp Perry, and
It ID to be hoped. ID the future, that
you. the Forum, and various other
papers III the state which seem TO-
take delight In creating trouble for
the national guard, will await the is
suance OF orders before you begin to
criticise the actions OF the command
er-in-chief or the adjudant generals
once. Il Ii not my habit to reply to
any newspaper comments, whether
favorable or otherwise, but I hesitate
to believe that even the Forum would
intentionally Interfere with the we'll
being Of the North Dakota national
guard.
Very respectfully, IS
ARdASA p. PEAKE,
Adjntant General.