The Sunday morning news., 1891-12-20
MILITARY JHALOUSIES.
Troopers and Militia Do
Not Speak as They
Pass By.
sEEMi TO 8: A N MISUNDERSTANDING
General Plume Credited With an
Order That He SAYS He Did
Not Issue.
Special to the Jersey city Ne,os.


NEWARK, Dec. 10. l6yl.-Miitary circles
affront whicn it is alleged the State
National Guard put upon the Essex
Troop at the ball given at Grafton Hall,
which event WAS reported in The NEWS
yesi erday.
But the principal feature OF the ball. as
it now appears, was rather one OF omis-
sion than one of commission, and that
was the absence of the National Guard.
To the uninitiated there was no special
significance in this incident. but to cue
mem bers of the troop, to the visiting
military guests, to all those familiar with
military etiquette, not to mention social
usDages. the Incident was one which
aroused the Indignation and re-
sentiment OF every one OF the
troopers. They were informed that
the staff of the Governor and of
ajor. General Plume, commanding the
State National Guard, had been expressly y
ordered not tosappear ut the reception n
their official capacity or in official uui-
form. Ii they choose, they might attend
in civilian dress. but on no account should
they give to the troop the countenance
and sanction OF the State militia.
Governor Aubett will ihree of his staff,
BrIgader- General John D. McGill, Col
onel Michael I. Barrett aud Colonel Rob-
ert Adrain, w,s present last evening, but
all were in ordinary evening dress.
AN INFORMAL RECEPTION.
The reception to the Governor and his
staff was purely informal. Captain James
| e Fleming. First-Lieutenant Frederick
| Frelinghuysen and Second Lieutenant H.
| Wayne Parker. stood on the das with he
| Governor aud his staff members. ana In
| formally received the guests. The city
| was represented by Mayor Haynes
\ There were present also many of the as
sociate membe OF the Troop. and Cort-
landt Parker, one of the few honorary
| members, was present..
| The staff of Major General Plume. of
the Stata militia. was represented by a
| single f11cer, who was in ordinary CIV
| illan dress, circumstance which caused
much unfavorable comment. He init
| mated to a friend thPt the Major General
had good aud sufficient reasons for tae
| order lie had issued that no National
| Guardsmen would appear at the ball in
uniform, but he did not explain what they
| were.
There were several military visitors
present from New York aud also dele
CATION from General Grubb's famous
| Philadelphia City Troop, aud when they
heard of the order they did not hesitate
! to express themselves in strong terms.
| They had never heard of such Il thing be-
Ing done before, and they considered ii
most uncalled for and i'm Dolite.
The members of the Troop explain tnat
there is no provision whatever in the laws
of the State for the organization of cav
airy company, aud even hau they the adj
| vantage OF such enabling acts, the State
/ could not now afford to equip the Troop.
As it is, the Essex Troop is pei feclly organ
ized, aud is virtually part OF The States
military reserve. The company rendered its
/ GO rvipp1 n the frOVprnnr Snma Tin n
he accepted them, and in case OF war the
| Troop would be called to the field and
would respond us quickly as the National
Guard. Moreover, the Troop is adj
| mi tedly one of the best, il not the best,
| drilled company in the State. For these
seasons the Troopers and their friends say
that the attempt to discrimie against
| them Is absurd.
General Plume said to reporter, this
| afternoon, that he had never issued any
| such order rs above referred to, aud knew
| nothing Whatever abont one.