Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1889-11-05
FIRST REGIMENT ImBRoeLIo.

|
Comment In Hartford over the Case
what was Said by Governor Bulke.
ley and General Graham Yesterday-
In Hartford.
HARTFORD, Nov. 4.-To. day twsnty.four
were forwarded to General
Graham. The designations, as announced
yesterday, include all the officers of tho city |
battalion except Lieutenant Colonel Charles
E. Thompson, now in Europe, Quartermas-
ter Theron g. Swan and Paymister Alfred
w. Green, the two latter holding positions
as clerks in the Office of the adjutant general.
The designations all state the reason of
resignation in the following terms: "Recent
decisions by superior officers affecting the
rights and privileges of the National Guard
occupying armories owned and provided by
the State for military purposes, make 1t i'm
possible for me to comply with existing
orders"
There was evidently a uniform, concerted
action, as the designations are all type-writ-
ten, with the officers names filed In with q
pen.
The reason for this action, as is we'll
known, is the general order regulating the
renting of Statelarmories. The exception taken
by the city battalion officers is to the renting
of the First regiment armory on Wednesday
and Saturday evenings for the playing Of
polo.
The first professional polo at the armory
was under the management of Clough and
Rogers, who three years ago sold the fran
chise to the Hartford Amusement associa-
ton. The same year the building was pur-
chased by the State As an srmory for the
L.
owned by the State 1t has been rented not
only for polo, but for receptions, masquer-
AIDES, concerts, political meetings, dog and
horse shows.
After the building became the property of
the State, the board of officers protested
against its use for polo purposes, and with
the understanding that no further request
for its use be made. consented to the renting
for the season of 1878. The year following
the application was finally granted by the
quartermsster-general,a although the officers
refused their consent to the use of the baild-
ing. This year Colonel Gone issued orders
for drills which would occupy the armory
every evening during the week. This order
he refused to modify, even at the request of
Quartermaster- General Rudd, who endeavor-
ed to amicably arrange for the renting of the
building to the Amusement association, and
to accommodate the militia on Wednesday
and Saturday evenings, if they desired te use
1t. Then came the general order In relation
to the renting of armories, followed by the
designations, as mentioned above. These
must take the usual course, first going to the
brigadier-general, and by him forwarded to
the adjutsnt general for action by the Cover.
nor.
The action of the resigning officers in pub
fishing their designations is criticised in mill
tary circles. Under the regulations, the
designations should have been forwarded
without publicity, and the meetings of the
First regiment to arrange for their general
resignation were unmilitary.
The Hartford armory has cost the people
of the State $46,0O0.
The Amusement association offered for the
rental this season, Wednesday and Saturday
evenings, two or three hours each evening,
81 500 and the cost of the electric lights.
The armory in New Britain, erected at the
cost of the State, was recently rented for the
season for polo.
Gov. Buckley said this afternoon: ct have
no comment whatever to make at present,
for the reason that have no official infOrma-
ton of the designations. The adjutant gen.
erals Office will advise me in proper time,
and whatever action Is taken will be through
that Office"
General Graham was interviewed by
Hartford Times reporter at Middletown this
afternoon, but politely declined to say any
thing regarding the resignation for publica.
ton, saying it was contrary to military dis
cipline to do so.
The Times this evening sgsa,ns up the affair
editorially. sz,5a litter reviewing the history
I IL The case, adds:
'sNow, what have these officers donel They
met on Saturday evening, not to bow to the
decision of their superior officers, as it is the
| duty of soldiers to do, but to resign in
body, to force their own views, or to resent
| ~wIn ne 49, Sc I<N H.
| nsubordination-a step to confuse and de.
| moralize the militia organization. Most cer-
tainly Its practical effect would be hundred
| fold more dangerous to the public safety in
case of mob violence at this time than polo
game would be. To deprive the regiment
| suddenly of it's officers, or principal officers
to deprive 1t of these heads of the companies
| at single blow, as arranged in Colonel
Cones Office some Saturday nights some
thing unusual, If 1t is not unmilitary, and
hostile to the spirit of State laws aud
efficiency of the militia.
This idea appears at once, in view of the
steps taken by these officers, in combination.
We do not say it is . conspiracy to enforce
the views of subordinate against those of su-
rental that has been continued for a dozen
years, and which applies to every State armo-
| ry in Connecticut. But we do say 1t IL hasty,
| and precedent quite dangerous to the eff
cheney and proper organization of the militia.
What would Bismarck or Won Moltke say to
such movement, evolved out of Saturday
night meeting of the officers of a German
regiments We simply ask this question to
illustrate principle of efficiency and safety
in military organizations, where the army is
an important factor.
Joseph L. Barbour said concerning the
mess: It's none of my funeral. Do think
the Governor will sticks Those who know
him don't think anything else. If the COM
panies renominste their old officers the NOM
nations may be returned disspproved by the
Governor. After the second disspproval he
may appoint officers.
BRIpaEPoRr, Nov. 4.-The members of the
Fourth regiment take comparatively little
interest in the resignation Of Colonel Cone
and the officers of the First regiment. This
morning hardly any of them knew of the
fact. Colonel Watson was not in Bridgeport
and could not be seen.
Adjutant Van Keuren in an interview said
that he did not feel like criticising superior
officer, though he thought Colonel Cone had
taken very decisive step, perhaps more
than was necessary. He did not see what
harm could come of, renting the armory for
polo IL the renting did not interfere with the
military. The talk of court martial, he
thought, was nonsense.