Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-11-23
THE MORTON CADETS
Serious Split in the Champion Mill
tary Company.
4 FIGHT FOR THE n 4 M E
Seceders File Articles of lncorpora-
ton and Seize Property.
LONG PENDING TROUB E
4 FIGHT FOR THE n A M E
LONG PENDING TROUBLE

fact, it may truthfully be said that vol
cano of considerable dimensions is actively
raging within the organization AS is well
known, both here and elsewhere, the cham
pion company is the Morton Cadets, and
the name has been before the eyes Of the
public constantly for a fortnight past for
the reason that the boys have been holding
fair and bazaar on a rather elaborate
scale in National Rifles Armory. Because
of the prominence of the company. and its
record of harmony, the announcement that
a rebellion has been started by certain of
the leading members, several of whom are
ncn-commissioned officers, against the COM
manding officer, will be a surprise, to put
1t mildly. The effect was very like that of
a thunderbolt when the majority of the
company learned yesterday that their
handsome quarters III the National Guard
Armory had been ravaged as though by a
swarm OF human locuStS that several of
their comrades had banded together against
tnem, and that very disagreelpie turn of
a1alrs mad occurred. Then there tloated to
the ears of the faithful rumors of fraud
ard deception, and had not cooler heaus in
terposed there is every indication that the
Sabbath would have been desecrateI by
bloodshed. perhaps. for the Mortons who
rallied to the support of their captain were
plainly incensed, and they vowed Ven
geance against the boilers in no llnmistak-
able terms
The First RumOr.
The first hint of the insurrection leaked
out in the fair room Saturday night when
Capt. Edgar A. Shilling heard whisper
from some one in the throng, the import
of which was to the effect that articles IN
cooperating THE Morton Cadets" had been
drawn up by a number of the young SOL
diers, who, it seems, were Determined to
affairs NJ fha .pi1
their own hands without the fCrmality of
official sanction.
1T has been demonstrated on more than
one occasion that energy is a Character
istic of Capt. Shilling. He has led his COM
pany 10 victory several times in cOmDett-
tion with the flower of the militia of the
country, and he was not to be caught nap
ping in the threatening emergency. Bright
and early yesterday morning Capt Shilling
touched button. SO to speak, and there
followed such a RAPID assembly of militia
men as was credit to the National Guard
AT this assembly the situation was made
plain, and ii was there reported that the
other side had removed the greater por-
ton of the property from the armory, and
that all goods that remained on hand after
the close of the fair had also more or less
mysteriously disappeared. Allegiance was
pledged by about forty MortonS to the COM
pany and the captain, and war to the bit
ter end against the boiling twelve was re-
solved on.
AS result of the split it is quite likely
that criminal prosecution Will be institut-
ed against those of the boilers who have
handled the funds Dishonorable discharges
from the National Guard will be the reward
of every enlisted man among the insIr-
rectionists. while the intention il to revoke
the commission of the second lieutenant.
Personal Feeling.
Investigation shows that the blot oc-
Cured as the result of personal feeling
against the captain on the part of certain
members of the company. This The affect
ed ones openly admit. The state Of affairs
can be fully realized from the remark of
one of the boilers made to Star reporter
today: Did we lose money on the fair?
You can just bet we did, and we worked
with that end in view. If Shilling hadn't
been so smart we would have come out
way ahead" The boilers have drawn first
blood by placing their articles of incorpora-
ton in the hands of the recorder of deeds
first. This action was taken late Saturday
afternoon. This morning, however, addi-
tional articles were filed by Capt. Shilling
and his followers. The next move must
,eceSsarily be made in court of equity.
The trouble which eliminated yesterday
Rad its inception from the visit of the Nor
ton Cadets to Savannah in May last A
dozen of the cadets banded together as a
secret organization, styling itself the "a
.. +. r.. They made lavish prepara tions
for the trip to Georgia, contracting among
tulHSS IOr a special white uniform,
This acton met with emphatic objection
on the part of the company, which voted
that no one of its members should appear
at savannah in other than the recognized
uniform OF the Morton Cadets and the
National Guard This throwing of cold
water on thsir carefully laid plans en-
gendered the first bitter feeling, 1t is said,
against Capt. Shilling and the remainder
OF the company in the hearts of the select
few.
The morning after the arrival of the
company at Savannah Capt Shilling ex-
acted promise from every cadet in the
drill team not to touch drop of intoxicat-
ing liquor of any sort during the stay in
the south, and 1t is claimed that this order
Was violated.
The Fair.
The cls i'm is made that the boilers have
been Systematically endeavorins to conduct
the affairs of the company to satisfy their
personal ends since the return from Sa-
vannah. In spite of opposition on the part
of Capt. Shilling, they secured a majority
vote, and distributed over $500 of the Sa-
vannah prize money paying over $40 to
each member of the drill team The boilers
also originated the idea of holding the re-
cent fair, and they carried the day al
though Capt. Shilling argued for hours to
cCLvince the company that the scheme was
unwise. The executive committee consisted
entirely OF boilers, and all funds in the
treasury OF tie company were turned over
to the con- mittee. The oStensible object Of
the fair was to raise funds with which to
purchase full dress uniforms but it is said
that the promoters have openly admitted
that the enterprise was attempted solely
for their personal gain. 1t is understood
that the expenses of the fair amounted to
$1,000. while less than 900 was realized
and runors of queer doings are in active
circulation.
Recent Events.
The bursting Of the bubble of trouble
however. hinged on the alleged conduct Of
certain members of the CLIQUE" as thew
have been termed. Ever since the memoir
able Savannah trip, according to the
charges, these young men have been drift.
ing from bad to worse.
Realizing the situation. CAPTAIN Sb;1,fn,,
determined that such conduct should ceass
or the offending members would have to
leave the company, and 1t was his in+ano
tion to announce his ultimatum az soon -,
the business of the fair could be wound m
Several days ago the father of one of tiia
boilers broached the. subject to Csntain
Shilling and was Informed by the jattar
concerning the matter in all the details
The father called his son to account anG
right there the trouble assumed a threat
ening aspect. Every member of the an.
called clique was assured by their fellow
member that Captain Shilling intended to