Arizona republican., 1916-03-29

l circles. It has never been brought {! into use before and was originated in 1 this instance to get rid of the officers. l When asked a few days ago why he had removed these officers, Harris
 stated it was because they were not 1 competent; their companies had fallen off in attendance, and some one was l to blame, presumably the officers. When one of the officers was asked l why he had been removed. he en- phatically stated that it was bcause he | opposed the political ambitions of | Hunt and Harris. This officer also ! admitted that he had criticised the 1 conduct of the camp of the militia at 1 Clifton during the strike trouble there. l Captain Cromwell Stacey inspector 1 instructor, assigned to the National Guard of Arizona by the war depart 1 ment at the request of Governor Hunt, l emphatically stated yesterday that the deposed officers were competent and 1 capable of taking care of their com
 panies in case they were not bothered by the adjutant general. Captain
 Stacey considered that he was capa
 ble of judging their efficiency, having
 had twenty-five years experience in army military matters.
 Another Phase
 | Captain Stacey was sent here to
 take charge of the guard at the earn
 est insistence of Governor Hunt. Prior
 to Captain Staceys advent on the scene. it had been the custom to de-
 tail lieutenant of infantry to act as
 inspector instructor. When the guard
 reached such state that things were
 black indeed, Governor Hunt made the novel suggestion to the war depart
 ment that captain be sent here to
 take full charge of the guard. The war department was somewhat sur Eprjsed at the request, but nevertheless acceded and detailed Captain Stacey. Upon his arrival here Captain Stacey was confronted with a stupendOuS task, but nevertheless, as Governor
 Hunts letter to the war department on December Is attested, the captain won out over everything. He brought the guard ur to the highest state of effi-
 ciencv i. had ever known in it's history. , A year ago the command was turned i, back to Colonel Harris. and trouble
 again started
 When time for the yearly inspection this month drew near and it became
 evident that the guard would not get
 by. Governor Hunt again became wor- f ried and wrote to the war department i. asking that Stacey be put in charge again In his letter the governor : stated that Stacey had obtained won- derful results and it was imperative that he again be put in charge. As sistant Secretary of War Brecken 1 ridge replied that Captain Stacey could not be detailed for the work The letter of the governor asking tha ;, the captain be put back in charge i: , directly contradictory to a letter sen
 on Monday asking that Captain Stace, be removed Why he did that can bes be judged when it is known that Cap T tain Stacey is thought to have SC
 verely criticised Colonel Harris in hi: : annual report to the war department : Governor Hunt is quoted as having q said when the subject of removing . Harris or losing federal aid wa t Drought up, that he would retain liar : ris, whether federal aid is granted O
 }rot
 Il An example of the results obtaine' n under Captain Staceys regime a y compared with Colonel Harris perio' q of command, may be obtained from tn : following figures: A year ago. whel '- Captain Stacey was in command, a
 the annual insepction 39 men of Company turned out to inspection s This year there were eight. At { U Companys inspection. under Captai 'i Stacey's control. 30 men turned ou - for inspection. whereas this year tber V were only P. Similar figures obtai !. with all the other companies.
 = What the Officers Say
 While the officers who have bee
 placed on the unassigned list' do no I. care to talk. for fear it will be though . they are crying over spilled milk. Cap -- tain Gulley. of A Company was in n clincd to make certain statements l. an interview last night he went bac
 10 the camp at Clifton Ee said tha es he and his brother officers were on tn l. way to Jacksonville Fla to partici IS pate in the national rifle shoot whe
 the trouble started The governor
 first order was to send four picke e- men from each company. Without an 1r considera tion or thought of the bon