The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-07-02
OFFICERS AND BLEASE AGREE
EFFORTS TO BE MADE ,CO
SMOOTH OUT MILITARY
TROUBLE.
Gen. Willie Jones and COlonels of Na-
tional Guard Say they Believe Gov
ernor Acted as ne Thought for Best
Interest of Militia In Refusing To
Muster Out Companies.

Columbia, June 2S.-Followinc q
conference held here this morning be
tween Gen. Willie Jones and the com
manding officers of the three South
Naroilna regiments, relative to the sit
nation created as result of the wal
department withdrawing all SUPPORT
from the State militia, the officers is
sued a statement addressed to Cover
nor Blease, in which they take sides
with the governor in the controversy.
The officers held q conference with
Governor Blease this afternoon. and
following the meeting it was an
nounced that Gen. Jones and Col Ju-
Illus E. Cogswell would go to Wash
ington in regard to the military stu
alton. Governor Blease at the re-
quest of the officers mailed copies Of
their communication to the South
Carolina congressman i'm Washington.
The officers statement follows:
willie Jones, brigadier general.
commanding the brigade of the Ma
tional Guard of South Carolina; Will
liam w. Lewis, Charles II. Lipscomb,
julius Il. COgswell, colonels, COM
manding, respectively the three regi-
ments Of the brigade, do hereby ex-
press our views with regard to the
present situation concerning the ac-
ton of the war department and mat
ters leading up to the said action:
First. There are thirty-five COM
panies composing the three regiments,
and four other companies, comprising
the entire National Guard of the state
OF these companies twenty seven have
compiled I'm every respect with their
obligations as volunteer companies.
They have met all the requirements
of efficiency and Of attendance with
their necessary quota of inspections.
and every other requisite demanded by
the Military Code Of the State and OF
the war department. These companies
have done so at great personal incon-
Venience, and out of a loyal spirit of
performing their duty as citizen sol
diers. The action, therefore, of the
war department i'm withdrawing the
national appropriation and the neces-
sary support of the war department,
as to these companies, we respectfully
submit, is unfair and unjust, and we
think illegal, and we must believe,
made under misapprehension or
without full and fair consideration
of the rights of these companies and
what was due to them.
second. There are eleven COM
panies, constituting a part of the Ma
tional Guard of the State, which are
reported to have failed to meet the re-
quirements of the Military Code as TO
attendance at inspection and matters
of this kind. We do not understand
that these companies are chargeable
with inefficiency in the field not lack
ing in sOldierly elements, but it IS
because, from the circumstances which
have surrounded them, they have been
unable to attend the inspections in
sufficient number and otherwise COM
ply with the technical requirements of
the Code. Their loyalty and obedience
10 the commands of the superior Of
ficers, upon occasions Of emergency
which have arisen or might arise, is
no; questioned
In this connection attention is in
vitcd to reports of Capt. George IT.
McMaster, inspector instructor for
1912. Their willingness to respond to
duty when called into the service of
the National Government or in the na
tional defence is not questioned. These
companies, as is well known in the
State and throughout the country. are
composed OF young men who are en-
gagged in active pursuits for a lvcli-
hood. Their business duties at times
are such that they cannot attend
drills and inspections, even If they
were given the ample opportunity Of
knowing when the inspections were
to be held and the opportunity Of fix
ing these inspections at such times as
they might be able To attend. We
are, therefore, of the opinion, vita
great Difference to the war depart
mcnt, that these companies have not
been treated with due lcniency, or
with the consideration which their
coalition and environment would
reasonably demand. Again we crave
reference To reports of previous years
Inspections as to these companies.
Third. We think that under the
circumstances existing ana the CORE
SpondcnCc % far made known to us,
that the Governor. as Cummander-in-
Chief of the National Guard of South
carolina, acted i'm the best interests ot