The San Francisco call., 1896-02-05
Officers Assert That Colonel Mac.
donald Will Enforce
Discipline.
LINE OFFICERS YET sULKING.
They Will Be Brought to Sense of
Their Duty as Company
Commanders.

When AdJutant-GeneraI Barrett was IN
the City last Saturday, the day after the
election of lieutenant-colonel and three
majors of the First Infantry n. 6. c.. he
expressed the greatest satisfaction over the
result Commenting on the scheme of re-
organization he said: 1.-THE work of bring
ing order out of confusion is progressing
The officers of the reorganiZed First Regi-
ment are, in my Judgment. able and
efficient. Colonel Macdonald is an officer
of experience and judgment. There is no
good reason why the First Infantry, a
regimental organization of twelve Com
panies and three battalions, should not be
one of the best regiments in the National
Guard of the United States. San Fran
cisco is large city and contains the ma
terial for regiment of the highest order
Adjoining the City is an important post
of the regular army, where troops of all
arms of the service are constantly on duty
Everything is favorable to the instruction
of National Guardsmen, and if officers and
men perform their duties diligently the
regiment should reflect the highest credit
on the National Guard of the State"
The acknowledgement was aware that
some twelve or fifteen officers of the regi-
ment had 'ssulked in their tents" after the
Friday nights election. and refused to
meet at the refreshment table the officers
elect, but he did not regard the sulking as
serious.
Otker officers of the National Guard who
had heard som mething of the tone and knew
something of the temper of the companies
commanded by Captains Conley, Fitzpat-
rick and Warren predicted insubordina-
ton. These companies were recently trans
ferred from the old Third Regiment armory
II, Golden Cate ia fhe. IF
the First Infantry on Page street.
Since the transfer there has been loud
talking, with occasional explosions of pro-
family, but nothing like scene occurred
until yesterday morning, when Ethe panels
of a company door were battered in. The
uproar attending the assault on the door
was great and the language used concern
ing officers was anything but decent.
Tidings OF the disorderly demonstration
few quickly to other companies in the
building and to other armories in the City.
Some of the officers recently retired or
mustered out helped to circulate the news
and perhaps embellished the story as it
went the rounds. for it is known that sew
eral of the retired warriors have been pre-
dieting all kinds of decentralization and
disaster. 1t is said that some of the dis
granted officers on the retired list would
like nothing better than to see the reor-
ganized First Regiment broken up by dis
cord and insubordination.
At late hour yesterday afternoon
Colonel William Macdonald OF the First
Infantry had not been officially advised of
the door smashing and disorderly conduct
at the Page street armory, but unofficial
reports had reached him. He seemed
vexed and angry at the thought of the
newspapers taking up the subject, saying
that the disorderly conduct of drunken
soldier in a regular army regiment would
not be noticed by the press. He said:
1.-THE press in giving undue publicity to
scenes of this kind discourage good men
from enlisting in the National Guard.
Now, as far as | know, only one man is re-
sponsible for the battering of the door at
the armory, and / assure you that he will
be dealt with as he deserves. | am going
out there tonight and will ascertain all
the facts. If any property has been de-
stroyed the amount OF damage done viii
be held out of the camping allowance"
The fact was mentioned to the colonel
that officers of the National Guard were
generally OF the opinion that he was able
to handle the regiment and bring the dis
orderly elements 10 account, but he did
not relish the -ailusion. He regarded it as
next to an insult that any one should ex-
press by indirection doubt of his ability
to enforce order and punish disorderly
guardsmen.
THE guard" he said, "should not be
accused of disorderly conduct because one
man gets drunk and makes an uproar.
will master this regiment and enforce dis
cipline If l live and no mistake. Await
results and see. | know that Governor
Budd is with me, and / do not propose to
have any companies mustered out. The
company officers must do their Duty
The question was asked if the company
officers would preserve order by coaxing
the men TO be good
"There will be no coaxing about it., re-
f1liad he an1ana1 ipdionanflu fGMot, will
be ordered to obey, and if they don't obey
they will get out to make room for good
men who are awaiting an opportunity to
enlist"
An officer who served for many wears
with Colonel Macdonald in the Second
Artillery and who was recently retired
with honors said yesterday. in speaking of
the incipieDt revolt: "Colonel Macdonald
is all right. When he gets his Scotch up
he will bring the ringleaders to punish
ment. He may be little slow at first, but
will never allow rowdy and inspbordinate
element to get the upper hand of him."
When it was suggested that Governor
Budd, General Wartield and Adiutant-
General Barrett we're not going to inter-
fere, but intended to keep hands off and
allow Macdonald a fair opportunity to
bring the regiment around in good form
he remarked:
"The Governor will not be disappointed.
over Macdonald, as they have over other
men. He will fire them out, if they have
to go by whole companies. 1t is Just as
well that the test should come now as
later on. es, Macdonald will bring these
sulking company officers to sense of duty
and proper respect for superior authority.
/ know that officers as well as men are to
be blamed for melting characterization in
the First Regiment. When officers kick
and talk openly about impeaching the
Governor and going to the Legislature for
redress, men in the ranks follow their
example and treat their officers with dis
respect.
'Dut at the armory, on Page street. the
companies from the old Third Regiment
threaten to carry on they did at their
armory on Golden Gate avenue. When a
remonstrance was made the other evening
about so much noise guardsman replied:
THAT isnothing. Waituntil we ''rush the
growler.'' Being told that rushing the
growler' was not allowed in that armory
he replied: we will rush it fast enough,
as you will .see.
Colonel Macdonald visited the regi-
mental armory on Page street last night
and found on inquiry that the turbulent