The Washington herald., 1909-08-16

unrecognized secret service, and was the
only commissioned telegrapher In the
field. aside from the quartermasters who
were commissioned TO enable them 70
handle government property
The military operators were prevailed
upon TO serve as civilians by the tele-
graph companies as well as the govern
ment officials in the War Department on
the specious plea that It would give them
greater independence of action In the
field. They were discouraged from aspir-
ing for commissions on the stan, because
such commissions of low rank would
place them in subordinate positions un-
der absolute control Of officers under
whom they might be serving.
IL has been openly charged that Sec
rotary stanton desired the operators 20
remain civilians. in order to place con-
troll Of the telegraph communication un-
der himself and assistants in the War
Department. IL was not generally known
az the time, but is conceded now. that
during the war all telegraph wires cen
tering In Washington, both 20 the field
and to the country at large. were led
% the War Department office by loops or
on the side, as IL Us called Geographically
when branch Offices are attached 10
main lines. In other words. the tce-
grams passing from the generals In the
field 20 their political friends in the
North were liable 20 be tapped" in
this way private communications were
intercepted. and this fact may account for
some Of the true inwarduess. not 20 say
cussedness, that occurred between STAN
ton, or War Department. and the gen
erals IN the field. Perhaps some OF this
correspondence justified the censorship.
The three boys who remained on duty
day and night during all the war, known
as the sacred Three" D. Homer Bates,
Albert 3. Chandler. and Charles A. Tin
ker, became adopts IN deciphering not
only intercepted Confederate war dis
patches, but were able 10 interpret the
numerous incendiary letters and dis
patches that were captured in transit
20 friends In Canada, or perhaps not so
far distant
The boys who served faithfully through
the war. both IN the field and in the
War Department. IN later years unhap-
PLY discovered that the c. a. r. roll OF
honor did not include their names among
the officers and soldiers. or even teams
tiers and labOrers, because they were not
enlisted or commissioned An effort to
correct this anomalous condition by
special act Of Congress was delayed be-
cause Of the objection 70 thus establish
ing a precedent that would open the door
10 all sorts OF camp followers.
Finally through the persistent efforts
OF the officials of the corps. especially
Col w B. Wilson and Mr.. Bates an
act was passed granting 20 each one who
served three months as telegrapher a GER
tiicate from the War Department Of hon
I1aa.l nH
tached to the act specially declaring that
the pensions granted the soldier should
not De payable 20 the holders OF the GER
tihcates
Efforts for Pension.
Recently efforts have been made to
allow certificate holders the general serv-
ice pension granted 10 all deserving en-
listed men. This legislation was asked as
O matter Of justice and right, and not
as a charity of special favor Very few
OF the old comrades are IN need OF the
pensions, but upon the matter being
brought 20 the attention Of Mr.. Carnegie,
he generously authorized the officials Of
the society 20 pay at his expense the sum
Of Sl2 per month TO each member OF the
Military Telegraph Corps during life or
until such time as the government might
elect 20 include them in the general serv-
fee roll
This generous act Of Mr. Carnegie IS
highly appreciated by every member Of
the society whose character will permit
them 10 keep forever a record Of the
organizing by Mr.. Carnegie Of the corps
and its subsequent history for the benefit
Of the succeeding generations, who viii
unite with their fathers In kindly remem-
brauce Of the father OF the corps"
The meeting IN Pittsburg is both of
Military photographers and Old Time
Telegraphers. Naturally. the Military
Telegraphers are old-timers, whose claim
70 membership requires twenty-five years
Of service on the wires. But the old-tim-
ers are not all eligible 70 membership
unless they are the sons or grandsons Of
members Of the original society. There
viii be a large gathering of old-tim RS, /
the meetings being held at the same time
and place each year In a sense, the /
old-timers are the hosts and tho boys
OF the war the hOnored guests.
J. o, KERBEY.