New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-02-14

SHALL NoN-COMMIsSIoNED OFFICERS
BE APPOINTED or ELEcTEDY
Company d of the 22d Regiment. Of which
Franklin Bartlett is the captain. passed through
the throes of serious internal strife few nights
aao No bones were broken. but one man, at
least was considerably bruised, and three non
commissioned officers have since been reduced to
the ranks
The trouble all arose over Captain Bartlett's
action in doing away with the old-established
bactice Of electing non-commissioned officers
For long time the "non-coms" have been
elected by the members of each company
year or so ago, however the part Of the Military
Code providing for the election of non-commis-
stoned officers was changed so that as the law
now stands the captain has the right to appoint
his non-coms." But the practice in nearly all
the city regiments is to allow the members of the
different companies to select the "non-comS" by
an election, notwithstanding the change in the
Military Code
Captain Bartlett. it seems, decided. as he had
perfect right to do that he would exercise the
privilege given to him by the Military Code, and
would appoint his non-commissoned officers here
after Before the dril-call had sounded on last
Tuesday evening. Captain Bartlett told one of
his men, whose name has not vet been disclosed,
that he would be appointed sergeant. The man
in question was already corporal, and he told
the captain that he did not wish 10 take the
higher place unless the company elected him TO
H. He did not take decided stand
about the matter, however, at that time. Ihe
drill went on as usual, and after it was over the
corporal consulted with number Of his COM
rades about the advsablity Of accepting the
appointment. Some Of them advised him TO DO
SO, and fully as many told him not TO accept the
appointment from the captain. After these
consultations the corporal decided not 10 accept
the place and he told Captain Bartlett
that he absolutely refused to become sergeant
unless he was elected to the place by the men,
bers Of the company.
A meeting was held by the company after the
drill. In tie meantime Captain Bartlett had
found private who willing 10 be appointed
a corporal, no matter what the members OF the
company might think about ii. This was Prl-
vate J. Kennedy, and Captain Bartlett appointed
him corporal early in the evening.
Kennedy is stanoh supporter Of Captain Bart
lett, and when, at the meeting, the men pro-
tested that Captain Bartlett was acting in an
autocratic manner in not allowing the company
TO elect the non-coms," Kennedy declared that
the captain was If the night and that the men
were in the wrong 70 protest against his action
Private Wiel got into a hot discussion with Ken
nedy on this subject and some harsh language
passed between the two men. Finally Kennedy
struck out and Wiel measured his length on the
aTmory floor.
All this happened so quickly that those stand
ing around scarcely knew what happening
until it was all over Then the friends of the
two men interfered and they were not allowed TO
continue the fight By this time there was con-
siderable excitement in the armOry.
Just then fuel was added 10 the fire by
Sergeant Richardson, Corporal Banta and Corporal
Van Hoaten They came into the room % c,red tore cd
defantly that they would not serve under such
an autocratic captain. Just what happened after
this is not made plain by the dlnerent witnesses ,e
OF the affair. Things looked for while. how
ever as though there would he a free hght IN the
company room. But the better sense OF tne men
prevailed, and the excitement cooled doWn.
Captain Barelett was not TO be lntinldateo
by the foolish action of the men. ana ne ,ap-
pointed Give non-commisaoned ioficers that
evening, notwithstanding the vigorous protests OF
the men Those who accepted these app9innt,nen Il
were Sergeant J. J. Mara, Corporal K. u Bqtfr,
Corporal D. Campbell, Corporal George Lahr
and Corporal J Kennedy The men VINO dncsd so oe ,o
the ranks forthwith. OF course the men han
signifed their wish TO return TO me lanks uS
removing the insignia of rank from thelr uillorms
but they could not be reduced TO the ranks "i'h-
out the captains consent: go .,-u
Tribune reporter talked with several officers
about the affair last night and all of them up
held Captain Bartlett'S action. so far as MS
authority went. lie had perfect right, they
declared 10 appoint the non-commlssloned oihCers
IL he chose 10 do 50. Tie law gave him that
privilege. About the question OF whether Or
not such an action was the best policy they they
thought Captain Bartlett was the best Judge
The lawmakers they said undoubtedly thought
that 1r 81 Such % i authority should be exercised by
captain, or such law would not have been
enacted. On the other hand several enis'eI
men thought that. considering the semi-s0cla
nature Of National Guard organizations in tins
city, the men ought TO be allowed 10 choose
their own non-commissiored officers, Just as they
had done for a long time. The affair has caused
considerable feeling in the regiment, and I'M
doubtedly more will be heard Of il before long.