New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-08
NATIONAL GUARD AFFAIRS.
THE sIXTY-NINTH REGIMENT IN THE SHERMAN
PARADE-ABOUT ELECTIONS.


Exsergeant P. NJ Drew, Of Company Of the 69th
Regiment, has written O letter TO The Tribune, in
which he asserts positively that the regiment did nos
reverse arms on the occasion Of the funeral OK
General Sherman Ii is pleasure to stand corrected
I'm this respect. There Is satisfaction in knowing
that the regiment had the Of its convictions
end followed the tactics the officers understood
Them This is case where the regiment must be pro-
tectcd from its friends, for many OF the regiments
admirers proudly asserted that the members OF the
Goth Regiment knew what they about and carried
their arms reverse OF course there Is only
one man in regiment who is responsible for the way
n which the rifles carried, but any organization as
a whole is always applauded or harshy criticised by
the crowd accordingly as it meets with the crowds
approval or disapproval.
Ex-Sergeant Drew has something to say about tho
internal affairs Of the regiment also and this Is Tho
most interesting part OF his letter.
"While | say this in justice 10 the G0th,' he con-
tlnues the fact that the election OF officers is unfair
and carried with total disregard Of propriey ad-
mits of much criticism. The recent election in Conf
pany l., when the lieutenans contested for the cap
tancy. is an instance Lieutenant Leonard, being In
command, enlisted twenty men Just before the cleo
tion and by threats and intimidation started in 10
secure his election. lie received majority VOTE bu7
the election was thrown out being Illegal The
ballong was disgaccul. The ballots differed in size
Lieutenant Lconards being much larger than Lieu
tenant Moriary's. Leonad's ballots were written
while Mcrlarty's printed. Captain Mccarthy,
who presided, insisted upon each member opening
his balo; and handing il 10 him Ia deposit in the box
Lieutenant Leonard sat near him and carefully
watched every member vote-in fact knew who voted
for and who against him. The second election differed
uttlo from the first, the twenty recruits
being sworn prove their identity. ],
rs well as several Others, insisted on voting Win
folded ballots and deposited ballots without Their
being handled by the presiding officer. This was
called INSTRUMENTATION and l. who had been sergeant
for several years, was reduced to the ranks. Bat
would rather be private ard assert my rights tAan
be a colonel and give up whit of my principle or
manhood Nv record Is good | enlisted January 10,
IsS5 was promoted corporal November g, 1850, SER
geant June %, 1856 honorably discharged February
20 1890 re enlisted Immediately for five years and
rcapp9ntcd sergeant
From all the reports which have been received con-
corning the two affairs OF which ex Sergeant Drew
writes t IL a melancholy fact that his statements arc
tro in every particular Ii ought not TO be dicut
matter TO hold an election In company where nos
more than 100 men can legally vote under any con-
sideratlon True sharp rivalry will sometimes cause
trouble but it ought certainly To be the exception
rather than the rule. 1t appears to be in the 6oth
Regiment The election is always presided over by
an officer outside the company and the law and the
by laws OF the company usually specific enough
To prevent such unseemly contests from causing IN
erna strife in the regiment.
The second competition for the Rlker Trophy was
shot at the rifle gallery OF the 18th Regiment on
March 4 and Of the best competitions yet
held in the armOrv. The conditions were teams Of
five men from each company, five shots man, ut
300 and 300 yards, reduced targets. The contest
ended in "A lie between the teams from the ;. ;. and
" c. \ and Company b. these teams each scoring
an aggregate OF 2lo points, out of possible $50.
The team from Company was close second, with
ao5 points. The scores of these teams in detail
follows