Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-01-14
.FLAYs ARMCHAIR HEROES
CONGRESSMAN GALLlvAN IS
IRONICAL OVER AWARDS
Calls March High Priest OF Prussian-
ism-Snys Service Medals Wcro
DlsErnceful1y Chcnpened.
lBy Associated Presy.l

WASHINGTON, Jan. 13.--Urrng con :
grcssional investigation of the award
Of army decorations for services dur
ing tho war, Representative Gallivan,
Democrat, Massachusetts, declared in
the House today THAT moro dlstin-
gulshcd service medals in proportion
were awarded to Urmy officers who
never got nearer tho front than Wash
inSton than to those who saw service
81; IL common talk in the army" said
Mr.. Galiivan. that our present chief
Of stan and one of his assistants, Il
and dino foreign missions hero Ia
Washington. have no space left, be-
tween their belts and their collars to
display the medals that have been
given them as result OF this ser
vice"
Urges General Investigation.
Congress should investigate all
awards Of medals and CROSSES. Mr..
Gallivan said. so ms TO determine why
some recommendations wore acted
upon favorab!y and others disregarded.
"Thc distinguished service medal
has been cheapened, and certainly ridi-
culcd. by the bold and braZen manner
IN which ii has been passed out to
those who belong TO tho elect" said
Mr.. Gallivaa. 1T has been used as u
reward for friendship, it has even been
used 10 placutc those who have boon
else.
Inc reading or the sum total Of tho
citations in award in the distinguished
service medal 10 several chair officers
OF tho general STAFF who never left
Washington during tho war. e be-
lived. would certainly impress one
shat the war was, fought with red ink
at mahogany desks. near the shadows
OF the Washington monument.
Speaker Wakes Ironical.
Surely. the lounge lizards OF the
second army of the Potomac can have
rr ~ uf flair 81,
lobby lanc!ors' of the Capitol as to the
number or d. S. Ms these two valient
units received for heroic service in this
war.
AS for France wherever the com
messenger boy on an errand. the d. S.
NJ. was sure to be the reward.
In Washington we had four differ
ent chiefs OF staff during tho war
and every ono who knows anything at
al about tho workings OF the War De-
OF the present high priest Of Prusslan-
ism. General Pcyton c. March, were
considered UNEQUAL 20 tho task;
lhroush ono pretenso Or another. ;hev
were removed.
Says Failure Brought Reward.
Ordinarily when man has failed
IN thS performance of any specific
These Il" men s name en- W bs rewa sd
been rewarded in the name OF the
President OF the United states by the
otslVWdL upon tn"m or the II. :. NJ
The Kaiser" continued Mr.. Calf
van, with some spark OF appreciation
Tor consistency, set alive, said: Me
und Gott: Not 80 your chief OF star.
l. >. ~. Pcyton &. March, who sees no
reason for including Cot. /. IS sim
ply me- with him.
In France there was a board Of
awards OF medals that sat in C.hau-
mont and looked with easy favor on
living awards TO their friends and With
blind eyes and deaf cars TO recon-
mendations of those without the pale"
Looks Like Interrogation Point.
nc failure TO send Majo. General
leonard Wood overseas in command
OF troops was case OF International
notoTiety. Mr.. GIll!van said adding
that General Wood "waa never given
IN important active command during
ION something must be done
The Dcstowal of the ~. & NJ on Cen
eral Wood. he continued. .'is heartily
approved by the entire military SCR
vice. ] am told. but the reason for such
ocstowal looks like an Interrogation
point In the minds OF everyone who
mas know!edgc OF General Woods
Inquiry also should be made into
cases OF civilians who received medals
dee!ared Mr. Gaiiivan.. who charged
mat Eisenmann, OF Cleveland. Who
was mixed up in, the clothing and
Shoddy graft and also in the raE-p!ck-
ing graft appears TO have got medal"
II has been Whispered that other
junS men have been so honored." said