The record-union., 1894-08-22
SAN FRANCISCO CITIZEN SOLDIERS.
Several of Them Thrown Out of the
Ranks.
They Did Not Respond When Called to
This City-Their Excuses Did
Not Save Them.

The San Francisco Chronicle yesterday
stated that seven members of Company
and five members of Company G., First
Regiment Infantry, National Guard of
California, have been expelled by two
thirds vote of their fellow-guardsmen for
failing to report at Sacramento during the
late railroad strike.
The men expelled from Company G
were Charles a. Dom, James II. Doyle,
C. L. Eldridge, Nicholas Friedrich, Peter
E. Robertson, Z. V. II. Lundberg and
Finley Cummings.
Those expelled from Company G were
Robert Auld, George L. Hunt. L. F..
Hampton, c. l.. Markle and C.. f. E.
Steidle.
Among the men expelled are several Of
the crack shots OF Company C. which has
the reputation of being the best shooting
company in the National Guard, as the
trophies it has won amply prove. There
is also an eX-Lieutenant of old Company
before it was divided into Companies
and G. An old Union veteran, who
has been for years in the company, and
several privates who have heretofore held
eviable records in their company, are
among the men bounced out of the
service by the two-thirds vote.
The officers of the companies say that
the only reason for the action taken was
that the privates of the company de-
manded that an example be made OF the
men who failed to do their duty. The
privates say, but say 1t quietly. that the
reason they voted TO eXpel their COM
rades was TO save them from being court
martialed and forever thrown out of the
service. The latter is probably the true
reason.
Soon after the strike General Dickinson
issued an order to the Captains of the
companies in his command, directing
them to send him the name of every
soldier who had failed to report for duty
during the strike, with the exception of
the men who had sent legal excuse-i.
g., a physicians certificate to the effect
that they were physically unable to do
duty These names were promptly fur
nished, and it was understood that
court-martial was to he formed to try the
men. Ii found guilty and dismissed by
court-marLial the men could never again
enter the service OF the State. and would
besides be dismissed in disgrace.
The boys of Companies q and G knew
that many Of their comrades who were
on Dickinson's list had really good ex-
cuses for their absence, but excuses
which no military court would for mo-
ment consider. For instance, one pri-
vate, with an enviable record as soldier,
was told that if he went TO Sacramento
the position he had filled for nine years
would be given to another and in conse-
uuence he stayed at home. The mother
of another private was dangerously i'll
and he stayed at her bedside, and 50 on,
there being only three or four who really
had no excuse of any kind.
knowing this the privates began look
ing up the law to try and help their
friends out of the scrape. They found
that any company in the National Guard
has a right to expel any of its members
by a two-t thirds vote, but the member SO
expellei can If he desires, join any other
company that will take him. This was
the way out of the difficulty, and the men
who were absent from Sacramento gladly
availed themselves of it.
At the meeting the cases OF nineteen
men were taken up one at a time and
their excuses heard. Seven men were
retained by the companies and twelve
dismissed. The seven retained will now
have to take their chances at court
martial, il one is called and may yet be
dismissed from the service under cloud.
1t was admitted by the privates OF Com
panies g and @ that there were three or
four men whom they were not sorry to
see go and who were not included in the
llSG OF COlilIdQSS tAt1 WtI0 uSAplhS outs
The officers say that the expulsions have
had a good effect upon the men and deny
that they knew anything about any other
reasons Tor the action of the companies
than that of punlshing the derelict
guardsmen.
But there is another phase to the affair.
1t is said General Dickinson does not pro-
pose to recognize the action taken by
Companies G and G and will courtmartial
the men expelled anyhow. Tacticians
are divided as to the Generals power in
the matter. Some say he is helpless and
cannot go back OF the action taken by the
companies, while others hold that in
sending tor the names. which he did be-
fore the men were tried by their fellows.
the General had announced that the
absentees would be tried by courtmartial,
and with this knowledge in their posses
sion the officers and men of the conf
panies named had no right to forestall
the action of their commander.
Whether the poor fellows expelled will
be doubly dismissed from the States
militia or not is question which will be
decided in day or two, and the decision
may lead to fresh complications.