Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-07-04
The Military MuddIe.

We do not care to try TO review the
military muddle at length because we
are lacking in knowledge Of some OF
the facts, and we are unable to fur
nish proof of some Of the things we
strongly suspect; but we would say
that while in our judgment some i'm
polite and unwise things have been
said and done. there has really been
very little harm, and there will not be
great deal.
In the first place, while South Caro-
lina's military establishment is prob
ably as good, comparatively speaking,
as most other states, it is nothing to
brag on, and there Is lots Of room for
improvement.
General Moore has been really and
truly doing his best to improve the
condition Of the military for some
time past, and his administration Of
the adjutant generals Office has prob.
ably been up to higher standard than
the state has previously known. Be-
cause, however, Of dissensions In the
militia itself. and because the adju-
tant generals office has not been work.
ing in proper harmony with the gov
ernor's office, almost any little unto
ward circumstance has been very we'll
calculated to make big trouble, and
this very likely accounts for most Of
the rumpus that has extended over the
past ten days. ..... '.
Although there may have been a
good many things leading up to the
final action of the adjutant and in
spector general in asking for the mus
tering out of eastern companies, the
immediate basis of that action was the
failure of the companies in question to
come up to the plain requirements OF
law at inspections.
Inasmuch as the governor Is COM
mander-in chief, and as such has to
take full responsibility, notwithstand-
ing recommendations Of the adjutant
and inspector general, 1t Is not at all
surprising that the governor should
have refused to act upon the adjutant
and inspector generals recommenda-
tions in this case.
OF course the law Is the law, and
the law should be obeyed; but those
who understand the facts involved, un-
derstand that while the eleven COM
panies in question may be at the pres
ent time most f1agrantly inefficient, 1t
is very doubtful as to whether there is
a company in the state which could
not be mustered out with equal sane
ton Of the law.
It is a fact that there Is no more
violation of the law in what Governor
Blease has done than there has been
continuously all along, not only since
the enactment Of the Dick law; but
since the establishment of the militia
system in the state.
We are not inclined to criticise the
adjutant and inspector general in this
with his mastering out recommenda-
ton. The statutory regulations are
mainly for the purpose Of enforcing
discipline, and If he could not secure
desired standard in any other way, 1t
would seem to us that he was fully
justified in resorting to extreme meas
ures.
OF course as to how much politics
underlies the whole matter we do not
know, nor do we know the extent to
which intrigue, conspiracy and trick
cry may have been used to bring about
bad feeling, and distort and misdirect
otherwise sound judgment. We do
know, however, that all Of these things
have had more or less influence in the
military affairs of the state.
1t is easy enough to understand, too,
that if the governor had sanctioned the
adjutant generals recommendatic",
there would have been a very consider
able amount Of political capital built
on the incident later on.
AS the outcome of the whole affair,
it would seem that the governor is on
top. If Secretary Garrison was deceiv-
ed or mislead. it appears that he has
recovered his balance and gotten back
to a basis Of reason and right, and as
the result of the whole affair the mill
tia has probably gotten shakeup that
will contribute to its future efficiency.