Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-11-30
Washington, Nov. 30.

TJNHE exodus of uniforms from Washing
l. ton has been a marked result of the
cessation Of activities on the other side
Of the water. From many points of view
this is a good thing. 1t relieves the pres.
sure at hotels and apartment houses 1t
enables the departments to get down to
work with less interruption, and 1t sends
back to other occupations a good many
men who probably should not have re-
ceived commissions. Say what one Will,
there has been some justification for COM
plaints of influence and favoritism in the
making of appointments. Hundreds OF
young men who would have gone into the
service through the draft and who could
have gotten over to France IN that way
were given comparatively easy berths here
with rank from lieutenant colonel down,
to perform work of nonfighting char
acter that could Just as well have been
performed by civilians. At the same time
a good many older men who had seen
service were showed aside when offering
themselves for service in the field. The
experience of many of the National Guard
officers who endured the hardships Of the
seven months campaign in Mexico before
we entered lUe rulOpcoi NSi 40 Al poiii'
GENERAL WENDELL p. BOWMAN,
" long the commander of the First Penn
sylyania Regiment, which performed so
admirably at Chateau-Thierry, and after
wards head of the National Guard Of the
State was of the type who might have
been called He was trained soldier or
wide experience, and in excellent health,
but when he called upon the Washington
authorities he found there was mo place
for retired major generals" Colonel j..
Warner Hutchins, who sought to bring his
PENNSYLVANIA National Guard knowledge
into play in the ordnance or quartermas-
ter's departments, met with a similar ex-
perience. So it was with Charles j. Har-
rah. former president of the Midvale Steel
Works. and Assistant Director Hasskarl,
of the Department of Wharves, Docks and
Ferries. Harrah's old friend and associ-
ate. Vice President w. p. Barba, OF the
Midyale was taken in as a major and ad.
vanced to lieutenant colonel, but the
| millionaire ex.president was left out. Hass-
karl wanted to be a major of engineers,
and his long experience on Delaware River
WORK QuaHIlSO nm, put SeS'i P'iSSo "S'it
| to younger and sometimes to less expert
| enced men. One of the most persistent
efforts to get "over there" for real serv.
ice was made by Murdoch Kendrick, un'
| til recently president Of the Five O'Clock
Club. He took private lessons in French
for several months. attended drills and
setting-up exercises, made arrangements
for the transfer of his law business, and
on receipt of word from General Crowder
that a captains commission would be ten
dered him, prepared to take leave of his
family. To properly qualify he was in
Quoted into the service as private and
under orders proceeded to Washington
While there news Of the armistice was
| proclaimed "Priyate" Kendrick was ther
ordered to remain in Washington, which
he did for several days until sent hom'
on furlough. Another Philadelphia whit
was all ready to go was Colonel Lewis
Better. who expected TO be attached to tn
military police in France under command
Of Colonel John G. Groorne, the forme
head Of our PenRsyiyania eonssepuIary