The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-01-13
Govern or-Elect Picks
Them From Regiments
and Battalions.
FORMAL ORDERS
TO COM e l. ATER
Active Militia Officers Desig.
mated to Serve With Regular
Staff of Colonels-Appoint-
ments to Be Made Through
Proper Channels After
Inauguration.

Governor elect Henry c. Stuart who
Will bo inaugurated on February 2.
has detailed Ave active officers OF the
militia to serve with hi. stan of TWEEN
ty-fve colonels. While the names have
not been made public. II is known that
formal orders will DO Issued immedi-
ately after Mr. Stuart takes Office.
Tho suggestion was made some
months ago to Mr.. Stuart that he ap-
point detail from the militia. and
he has given the matter very favorable
consideration To carry out this plan
he has selected an officer from each OF
the three regiments. one from the
Blues Battalion and one from the ar
tillery branch of the service They
have already been notified by letter.
and will. OF course accept
Commended by the Militia.
Tho new arrangement has created n
great deal OF interest and gratiiication
In military circles. and there has been
u general desire to ind out what oili-
GERS were detailed. In this. as In
other matters. Mr.. Stuart's fricnds have
finally reached the conclusion that he
VIII not announce any appointments
Until February. and while there WAS
no stipulation as to silence in the let
tors sent out during the past few days.
the officers 10 whom he wrote nntu-
comment on 1t in any way. They will
serve somewhat In the nature OF an
adjunct stan. retaining the titles they
now hold In the militia. and in no way
affecting the Governors stafT. Of TWEEN
ty-hve colonels which was created by
AN act OF the General Assembly.
In some quarters the appointment OF
officers from the service was accepted
~ mean that tho new Governor might
not turn loose another crop OF Virginia
colone's. There Is nothing. however.
to indicate that this will be done.
Stan Increased In 1910.
During Governor Swanson's admins
tration. the law limited the stan to
eighteen. but three days before Gov
crnor Mann was inaugurated the Lcgis-
leturc passed an emergency act raising
the number to twenty-five, and that
law still stands. 1t is as follows:
BE II enacted by the General Assem-
bly, OF Virginia. thar an act entitled an
act to regulate the Governors staff.
approved January II, 1898. be amended
and enacted so a. 10 read as fol-
lows:
That the stan OF Governor and COM
tnand In chief shall consist OF TWEEN
tyfve aides-de camp TO be appointed
Ivy the Governor with the rank of coll
onels, providing that no expense aris-
ing under and by reason OF the pas
sage of this act, and in connection with
the appointments made hereunder, shall
he paid out OF any state. military or
contingent funds.
IAN emergency existing. ;his act shall
bc in force from its passage"
According to this law, the Governors
staff must consist of twenty-five. In
view of the popular demand in most
States to abolish n big personal de
:achment OF men in uniform. ii would
he a very easy matter to have the Leg
,slature amend or abolish the act, and
ihere would not be any tears-not even
from the Governor elect or prospective
Governors.
No Expense Stntc.
When no took office, or rather just
before he WAS sworn in. Governor Mann
Jobs to give them, hence an increase In
the number.
Tho Virginia colonel however. is not
quito so famous as the Georgia col
oncl a new crop or whom is turned out
upon the public every year or two, and
tho modern tendency has been to get
away from 1t. The title sticks after
the uniform has been discarded. MIR.
Stuart's idea has been warmly com
mcnded by officers and others who havo
heard of It, and if he should ask tho
Legislature to cut the number in half,
1t was said yesterday that his wishes
would bo met instantly. A big staff
means nothing to the state, of course.
as each member must buy his equip
ment and pay his way, but when the
organized militia has reached the point
Of highest efficiency in many States.
there is q growing demand for real
staff composed OF real officers.