Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-01-14
DEMOCRAT MAKES
SAVAGE ATTACK
ON CEN. MARCH
Resolution to investigate Be-
StoWaI of Distinguished Ser
vice Medals Adopted; Gen.
eral Wood Cited.

rey noEmHS JousNhL SPECIAL LEASED wisEl
Washington. Jan. 1S.---The move
ment for congressional Investigation
into awards of army war decorations
produced a stormy scene in the house
today, during which a resolution by
representative Gallivan, democrat,
Massachusetts, calling on Secretary
Baker for a report on the awards,
was adopted.
The fight centered largely about
Mr.. Gallivans attack on General
March, chief of staff, and other Of
ficers assigned to duty in Washington
during the war, The chief of staff
and other officers attacked were de-
Tended by other members.
THE house ought not to acquiesce
in the attack on General March and
, other officers of the army" declared
Representative Moore. democrat. Vir-
ginia, concluding the debate with an
appeal for rejection of the resolution,
which, on a roll call was adopted,
1873 to 1873. Most of the democrats
opposed it.
Representative Gallivan urged an
adoption of his measure as the start
Of a general congressional investiga-
ton into the awards of war honors,
declaring that proportionately more
officers in Washington received dis
tinguished service medals than those
in the front lines, The services of all
Lounge lizards of the Second army
Of the Potomac" were recognized with
decorations, Gallivan charged, includ-
ing former chiefs of staff. who, no
said were removed for inefficiency.
General March was referred to by
Galivan as "the high priest OF Prusr
sianism" and the imam for whom no
officer ever speaks a VOID except
contempt" adding that his citation
for the distinguished service medal
would have been written only under
orders"
Several other members lauded the
chief of staff for his fairness and ef-
ficiency, declaring he was entitled 10
any honors conferred on him.
Medal Much Cheapened.
"The distinguished service medal
has been cheapened and certainly rid
iculed by the bold and brazen manner
in which 1t has been passed out to
those who belong to the elect" said
Mr. Galllvan "It has even been
used to placate those who have been
removed to make way for some one
else.
THE reading of the citations in
award in the distinguished service
Iutuil 10 SbNeTdi CHHlT OF inc
general staff who never left Wash
ington during the war, if believed,
would certainly impress one that It's
war was fought with red ink at ma
hogany desks.
Surely the lounge lizards of the
Second army of the Potomac can
have no quarrel with their comrades,
the lobby laneiers' of the capitol as
to the number of p. S. MS these two
valiant units received for heroic serv-
ice in this war.
Rewards in France.
AS for France, wherever the COM
mander-in-chie sent u commissioned
messenger boy on an errand. the ID.
S, NJ. was sure to be the reward.
I'm Washington we had four differ
ent chiefs of staff during the war and
everyone who knows anything at oil
about the workings of our war de-
partment knows that the predecessors
of the present high priest OF Prussian-
ism, Gen. Peyton c. March. were
considered unequal to the task.
Through one pretense or another, they
were removed.
"Ordinarily when man has failed
in the performance of any specific
task he is removed without reward.
These men have, on the other haud.
been rewarded in the name of the
president of the. United states by the
bestowal upon them OF the d. S. M"
"The kaiser" continued Mr.. CALI
van, with some spark of appreciation
for consistency yet alive, paid; Me
und gott.' Not SO your chief of staff.
u. S. A. Peyton G. March, who sees
no reason for including 'gott,' 1t is
simply me- with him.
In France there was a board OF
awards of medals that sat in Chau-
mont and looked with easy favor on
giving awards to their friends and
with blind eyes and deaf ears to rec
of those without the
pale.
Case of General wood.
The failure to send Maj. Gen. Leon
ard Wood overseas in command Of
troops was case of international no.
toricty. Mr. Gallivan said. adding that
General wood was never given an i'm
portqnt active command during the
war. but to "placate public opinion
must be DONE"
"The bestowat of tho ID. S. M. on
General Wood" he continued, is
heartily approved by the entire mill
tary service, | am told. but the reason
for such bestowal looks like an inter-
rogatiUn point in the minds of every
one who has a knowledge OF General
Woods treatment
Inquiry also should be made into
cases of civilians who received medals,
declared Mr.. Gallivan, who charged
That Eisemann, of Cleveland, who was
mixed up in the clothing and shoddy
graft and also in the ag-picking
graft, appears to have got medal"
ut has been whispered that other
junk men have been so honored,"
said he.
Gallivan's reference to Mr. Else
man was interrupted by Representa-
i've Mooney, democrat, of Ohio, who
declared that the Cleveland man "was
sxonerated of every charge against
him." ~
Representative Kahn, republican.
Of California, said General Bliss was
not removed as chief of staff. but sent
abroad for important service,
Representative De Walt. democrat
Of Pennsylvania, accused Representa-
live Gallivan "of singing General
March out for attack" and praised the
chief Of staff for his work,