Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1916-07-22


tirely in the way Of abuseanG scorn
Many of the officers have given both
time and money for periods ranging
from ten years upward to the up
building Of the states troops, and il
is generally TO be expected when
the time for service comes these men
feel deeply any attempt that may be
made to take from them the oppor
tunity for service which they may
have earned through the long years
Remembering this there should be
no surprise expressed over the action
OF the three majors OF the regiment
in appealing TO the courts to cure The
injustice worked by the act OF the
Governor in jumping the adutani
general over their heads and those
OF other worthy officers by the ap
pointment OF that Individual TO the
lieutenant colonelcy. Their action
was evidently unWise because OF its
fatilty, but it certainly was not poll
tica The men themselves are not
politicians, cand dates for civil office
nor We're any OF them applicants fol
appointment. They were resting on
their rights, guaranteed under the
law which the Governor sought and
succeeded in circumVentng. In this
futile effort TO secure their nights
under the law uhey will have the SYN
pathy of any one no. hldebound il
regard to PARTISAN political machlna
tons. That their effort failed does
not indicate that it was void of merit
but goes TO show the lack of coordi.
nation that sometimes exists between
department OF government.
There is no purpose in discussion
of the action OF these disconnected
officers. They are now on their way
to the front In the event OF con
flict amy or all Of them may at ANY
time find Immortality and nepenthe
on the field OF battle or the bed OF
disease For Them the immediate
future holds the greatest duty OF all
the giving of self that their fellows
may enjoy the blessings otIIberty and
the pursuit oil happiness.
That they have been the victims OIL
unfaiFness and injustice at the head
of the government and the comman
der in chief OF the stae troops, must
rest between that individual and
his Maker. For them there is ne
redress, nor is any effort being made
to set them right.
But it may be well enough to point
out to the responsible head of the
state and of the guard that nothing
is ever accomplished through this
means 1t may be possible, indeed
1t can be taken Tor granted that the
relations between Governor Alexan
der and former Adjutant Genera
Crow were those OF a political debt
Or. But the Governor has been giyeI
20 license " the people OF I've
STATE to pay Ids political debts al
he expens> Of individual citizens
Not much complaint viii b. learC
when the Governor pays those debt.
in money and taxes taken from The
taxpayers, where the bills fail on al
of US, and where consequently ht
individual burden is li5ht, but this
was a different case. The Governor
filched the favor he was giving his
layorite iron the pocket, the Game
/ aud the opportunity for service o
practically enc man. And to do thii
he violated his oath OF office anC
the laws OF the state. 1t was an in
justice so grave, aWrong so cruel
| that the mans conscience must ant
should ride him hike a nightmare.
Other Governors have taken mel
occupying the position of adjutan
general and have advanced them t
positions of minor command, a cal
taincy or first lieutenancy. But T.
take some tyro, whose fitness to con
mand from all indications consists
in bending the pregnant hinges o
the knee, that favor follow fawning
and boost him above the hardworb
ing and thoroughly competent Oft
GERS OF the national guard who hay
given their best in he service OF tn
state lis so vile that any favor h
may secure through pandering I
Crows ambition will be more tina
made up by those who are drive
away through an outraged sense @
justice. No one would have given
Thought to such an act by the Gov
nor as to the appointment Of Cro'
to one of the vacant first or SEE
ond lieutenantcys, or even to a cal
taincy such as that given Generf
! Patch or Major Jeffreys. The,s