New-York tribune., 1916-07-26
Likely to Eat Holiday
Dinner on Border.
Says Organ.
MEN FEAR LOSS
OF THEIR JOBS
Wonder if President Will
Dare to Keep Them
There So Long.
BY ROBERT II. ROHDE.

Headquarters Sixth Field Division,
U. S. A., McAllen, Tex. July 25.-lf
Henry Ford really has relinquished his
designs on the Presidency and wants to
turn professional pacifst again these
New York camps offer an excellent OPP
portunity to revive the old peace ship
slogan:
"Out of the trenches by Christmas!"
Ever since Major General John F.
O'Ryan arrived here one Of the ques-
tions has predominated all those asked
him. That question has concerned the
length of time of tae guard troops stay
on the border. o-day for the first
time a direct anstS r was given.
"werl probablyl eat our Christmas
dinner here" said the general.
Before that, General Organ, who
only within the last day or two has
b.en meeting the newspapermen in
rerson. had replied TO another ques-
ton:
"You ask me how long We are to
st.y. It doesn't seem that such a
query is in order. We've only just
got here"
.. Adds Nothing to Gayety.
To-day's news isn't likely to add
much more to the gsyety OF the camps
than this afternoons dust storm. Not
that the men are letting down in the
matter Of patriotism and willingness
to fight if there is real fighting to do,
but they are beginning to feel some
thing like those Mexican invaders OF
an earlier day behind whom Elsenor
Cortez sank the transports. Instead
Of ships it is employers with the
guardsmen; it is not hulls but jobs
that are being scuttled.
The men brought over by Cortez,
quite a few years before there was
such a city as Washington or such
policy as watchful Waiting, were
different sort of adventurers than
those who are lying on their arms.
These men are neither free agents
nor freebooters. Behind most Of them
are families and business. profession
al practices and positions on which
they and their families are dependent
Exact information concerning the
attitude Of specific employers is hard
20 get General Organ has started
N compile il. So have commanders,
but they are, perhaps. over-anxious
to have their cases complete before
they are presented to the public
leaving each to long-distance corre-
spondence to bring corroboration.
However, it would seem from the talk
which drifts through the camps and
from the worriment that daily is be-
coming more manifest among the men
who have others than themselves to
worry about that a great number OF
those who heard the eagle screaming
a few weeks ago, listened intently and
promised all sorts of favor through
their cashiers, are now turned deaf.
"Will the President Dare"
When the word from General Organ
spread through the camp streets here
and to Mission and Pharr on the fanks
the first word that has had the
weight of even qussi-authenticity-the
euardsmen from New York echoed, Of
ficers and men alike:
will he dare to do it?'
The "he" they meant was the Presi-
dent. Regardless of what elements Of
diplomacy may enter into the situa-
ton, the holding OF the guardsmen on
the border is looked on here as a seri-
Gus political blunder. as serious a blum
der as might be charged against Mr..
Wilson in his whole Administration.
Democrats are in the minority among
the guardsmen as it is, but even their
votes are likely to be sacrificed to the
watchful waiting policy.
In anticipation, perhaps, Of the criti-
cism Of the camps which DR.. Darlington
is expected to register, this statement
was issued to-day by General O'Ryan:
"The camps of the New York Di-
vision, and the facilities thereat, are
satisfactory to the officers and men
of the division. know from extracts
which appear in the New York newspa-
pers just received here that the con-
ditions are also satisfactory TO Major
General Tasker H. Bliss, assistant chief
of staff of the army, who recently visit
ed the camps in company with staff off,
GERS and made an exhaustive study Of
the conditions"
The body of Clark J. Martin, mounted
orderly with the 69th Infantry, who
succumbed to a combination Of sun
stroke and pneumonia, was put aboard
a westbound train in the afternoon.
A detachment Of his company acted as
pallbesrers, and stood at salute as the
train pulled out.