The National tribune., 1910-12-08

feIlow-citizen who was loud in hi
praise of Mr.. Taft:
TAFT said this man to the Deacon
lis a bully fellow. He's a fine man
and I like him very much"
would you vote for him il he were
nominated again." asked the Deacon
"Pll see him = - first" was the
quick and ejaculative answer.
In the Senate there is a mild sort OF
scramble for the minority leadership
Senator Money, of Mississippi, who is
now the leader, will retire March IL
He is Chairman of the Democratic eau
Gus, which, of course, carries with it a
minority leadership. There is some
talk that Senator Bacon. of Georgia.
will succeed him as the Democratic
leader. Senator Shively, of Indiana, has
also been suggested. He is Vice Chair
man of the caucus, and it is clear that
he will step into the vacancy for awhile
at least. Mr.. Bailey, of Texas, would
be the natural successor, but Mr.. Bailey
says he does not want it. 1t might be
possible that John Sharp Williams who
succeeds Senator Money, would be the
leader.
Retirement and Honors.
Maj.-Gen. George F. Elliott, Com
mandant of the Marine Corps. was re-
tired for age last week, and the very
last act of his administration was to
obtain a medal of honor for a Spanish
War Veteran.
Private John Fitzgerald was an en-
listed man in the Marine Corps during
the Spanish War, but is now an en-
ploye of the New York Custom House.
The conspicuous act of heroism for
which Gen. Elliot recommended him
took place at Coco. Cuba. July IA.
1898, and the report of Fitzgerald's act
of gallantry for which he gets a medal
and 500 in money is as follows:
During the early part of the war a
party of marines was landed on the
southern coast of Cuba in command of
Gen. Elliott, who was then a Captain.
The detachment was ordered to capture
and destroy a well which was located
on the ridge Of hill held by the Span
iards. A detachment of about 100 men
under Capt. Elliott undertook the task.
While the attack on the house was in
progress Capt. Elliott called for a sig
mailman to send wigwag message to
the Dolphin, asking her to open fire
and shell the hill. There was no regu-
lar signalman with the detachment
however.
Private Fitzgerald volunteered for
the duty. but could find no regulation
blue polka-dot necKerchief on the end
of rifle. At first he endeavored to at
tract the attention of the Dolphin from
a protected position in the Valley. He
could not be seen. however. because
his flag was SO small that it could not
be distinguished against the dark back
ground of the Valley. Fitzgerald, how
ever, ran up to the top of a ridge where
the officers on board the Dolphin could
distinguish his form and small flag
against the sky line.
He was under a hot fire from the
Spaniards all the time he was sending
the message. 1t was necessary to turn
his back to the Spanish. who were fir
ing at him. He was cool and deliber-
ate thru the ordeal, and finally COM
pleted the sending of the message to
the Dolphin. A few minutes later the
Dolphin opened fire and drove the
Spaniards from their position.
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Win
throp has approved the award to Fitz-
gerald.
Three four-year-old babies in
o., will each receive a
handsome gold medal from President
Taft. The way of this is that these
kidlets were promised a medal by FORM
er President Roosevelt when he was in
the White House, and he seems to have
forgotten all about it. The parents Of