The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1895-02-03
Governor Budd on the State
Militia.
WANTS FIGHTING SOLDIERS.
Will Ask General Dimond to Remain
for a Time.
10 APPOINTMENTS CONSIDERED NOW.
He Will Confer With the Present Officers
About the Proposed Reorgan.
izatiOn.

One OF the principal missions of Gov
ernor Budd in his present visit to this city
is to confer with the present officers as to
the best way to reorganize the National
Guard so as to put it on a fighting basis
on the lines of the bill before the Legisla-
ture, which provides for a reduction in the
number of officers by decrease of the
number of brigades and companies and
consequent increase in the number of men
in each company and by the dropping OF
many of the useless general officers.
The Governor is an old guardsman and
takes a lively interest in making the mill
tiamen more than mere holiday soldiers.
Until bill has been passed by the Legis-
lature providing for the reorganization of
the National Guard he will not go into the
consideration OF any appointments in that
branch. He says that in case General Di-
mond has sent his resignation in he will
ask him to withdraw it and give him his
assistance and advice in bringing about
what changes may seem necessary. When
seen last evening at his hotel the Governor
said
"There is bill before the Legislature to
reorganlze the militia and put it on
fighting basis. 1t reduces the number of
the prgades and the number of companies,
increasing the number of men in each
company. 1t also reduces the number of
superf1uous officers, and in many respects
changes the existing system.
81 came down here partly in the expec-
tation of seeing the present officers and to
confer with General Dimond, who is per-
sonal friend of mine, as to the matter. |
haU hppn q
could, but have not fully made up my
mind as to the exact propriety of the bill
as it now stands.
81 hear that General Dimond has sent
his resignation to Sacramento so as to re-
lieve me of any embarrassment in the re
organization. If such be the case, shall
ask him to withdraw it and give me the
aid of his advice in the matter of this bill.
81 have been member of the National
Guard off and on for over twenty-five
years, and anything that tends to render
1t efficient will receive my support.
Several men have been mentioned for
the position of brigadier-general. There
are General Dickinson, Colonies Sullivan,
Geary, Barry and Bush, but / have
given no attention to this matter. The
first thing to consider is the reorgan-
ization of the guard before who shall be at
its head"
The changes in the high officers of the
National Guard is one of the important
parts in the coming reorganization of that
body. 1t has been rumored that Governor
Budd will ask for the resignation of some
of the officers who were prominent in the
proceedings at Sacramento on July last
1t is not generally believed among the
guardsmen that Governor Budd will take
any snap Judgment in the matter.
Engagements have been made by Gov
ernor Budd with General Dimond, Gen
eral Dickinson and other officers of the
guard in order that the Governor may OBJ
tain many points of information necessary
to guide him in his actions in regard to the
National Guard reorganization.
Major-General Dimond said yesterday:
81 have sent my resignation to Governor |
Budd, but | cannot at present make public |
the wording of it. | will say that no date
is set for my resignation to take effect. 1t |
is made subject to Governor Budd's con-
venience and pleasure. | have been in the |
service fifteen years and am entitled to |
go on the retired list Still, / do not desire
to leave the guard if my services are re-
quired or are of any value to the organiza-
ton. If another strike occurs or Governor |
Budd believes that no changes should be |
made in the guard until the reorganization |
| am ready to do all I can for the good of |
the service. / met Governor Budd yester- |
DAY and told him | had sent my resigna-
ton to him. He stated that 1 should |
not have done so and reiterated what |
he had said at the banquet of the National |
Guard officers. We made an agreement to |
meet again and talk over matters pertain
ing to the reorganization of the guard.
"On January 26 | completed fifteen |
years service in the National Guard and |
am entitled to retire with the silver medal, |
denoting so long a connection with the |
body. On April next my second COM |
mission as major-general expires. | have |
labored to the best of my ability for the |
welfare of the National Guard. l will be |
glad to retire, unless my services are re- |
quired in the face of the impending strike |
or the reorganization of the guard. In re-
gard to the rumors of other changes | |
know nothing, but / believe the Governor
will act with elaboration, and after care
full study, will determine on what changes |
to make under the plan of reorganization |
as laid out in the bill which is now in the |
Legislature, and which is likely to become
a law"
Brigadier-General John M. Dickinson
said yesterday: 81 have heard of no con-
templated changes in the National Guard. |
l do not think Governor Budd will act |
hastily In the matter. have an engage |
ment to talk over the matters pertaining to
Guard matters. The Governor
has also accepted an invitation of the Ma
tive Sons to participate at the laying of the
of their new hall on Washing
tons birthday and the officers of the guard
In this city have been ordered to tnrn out.
L do net think he will take snap judgment
on any of the officers"
Major-General Dinond announced sew
eral Weeksago that he would resign when
his term expired, SO his resignation hiss
created no establishment. 1t is doubted !
mat IN 1t Will be accepted, as the fact that