Evening journal., 1912-04-05
Wayfarer'S S Note Book
on THE MILITARY LADDER.

ON THE MILITARY LADDER.
Simon p. Doherty, lieutenant-col-
onel of the First Regiment, Organized
Militia of Delaware, is a. natural-born
soldier If he had gone TO West Point
when he was lad it is likely that by
this time he would have been
brigadier-general or a major-general
in the regular army. He possesses,
like Major-General Wood and Major
General Funston, the happy faculty of
displaying such military fitness that
every time there is vacancy higher
up in the official staff of the First
Regiment he is selected to fill it.
Many men who were privates when
Lieutenant-Colonel Doherty was in
the ranks, still merely are privates,
while he has climbed up the military
ladder until he is only one round from
the top. The Wayfarer ventures the
prediction that when next a colonel
Is needed for the. regiment, Doherty's
friends will rally to his support and
insist that he be the man.
Doherty enlisted in Company + in
the late 7O's. He served first as a pri-
yate and then as a sergeant. When
Governor Biggs formed his staff he
selected Doherty to be his quarter
master sergeant. The next military
honor conferred was when he was
elected first lieutenant of Company r..
In 1897 Doherty went with his regi-
ment into camp in Middietown and
subsequently in Highspar, Pa, await
ing a call for active duty in the Span
ish-American War His company sub
sequently elected him Captain. In 1903
Doherty became a major and the lat
ter part of last year the rank Of
lieutenant-colonel came TO him..
Doherty loves armory and camp life.
There are friends of his who do not
hesitate to say that although there
are good beds in plenty in his home
i'm the Twelfth Ward, he sleeps ON an
army cot and refuses to getlup In the
morning until some member of his
| family seizes a trumpet and sounds
the reveille with military precision.
| Then, II what those good friends OF
the lieutenant-colonel say be true, he
insists upon having rations Of hard
tack and bull-beef, disdaining the
more delicate viands Of civil life It
also has been said that he has taps
sounded prior to going to bed but the
Wayfarer does not believe II.
When the Wayfarer first became
acquainted with Doherty he was Sec
retary of the state Senate. The Way
farer was a legislative correspondent.
It may be said in passing that Do
herty was one of the best secretaries
the Senate ever had His journal is
one of the finest records of the upper
branch of the Legislature that ever
was written. In those days no one
thought of Doherty as a future lieu
tenant-colonel. II is true that when he
had messages to convey from the SEN
ate to the House he marched with
military precision. That might have
given a hint of what was coming, but
II didn't. There also was a command
ing note in his voice when he entered
the Hall Of Representatives. squared
himself in front Of the dias and said:
Mr. Speaker am directed by the
Senate to inform the House that the
Senate has passed Senate bill No. 246,
entitled, 'An Act to Authorize the
Widening and Deepening Of a Ditch in
| Little Creek Hundred, Sussex coun-
| ty, State Of Delaware. and asks for
concurrence In the same
! But those hints never were taken,
and Doherty never told anyone he OK
pcoted some day to be lieutenant-col-
onel of the First Delaware Regiment.
As secretary 10 Chief Of Police DOlan
he had taste OF semi-military life
that did him good, but il was not un-
| til he began TO make his way up in
the National Guard that il dawncd
upon his friends what his ambition
really was
Now he is esteemed as one Of the
best officers in the military organi-
zation. He also is popular That pop
ularty has not been won, however,
by currying favor with the men. He
is known 10 all guardsmen as a strict
disciplinarian. His efficiency as an
officer also has led 10 his selection
for duty in camps of instruction Be
ing a soldier and secret society man
! constitute. however, only part of
his activities Between drills, inspec-
tions, encampments. instruction de-
tails and other such duties he finds
time to put in eight or ten hours a
day as general outside agent for the
| b. II. Brennan estate. In fact, he has
( been associated with the Brennans
father aud sons, for twenty-siX years
He is such a favorite in the store that
every piece Of furniture calls him
Simon.