The San Francisco call., 1896-03-31
COLONEL MCDONALD
WAS OUTW|TTED,
How His Officers Ousted
an Armorer in Spite
of Him.
RETALIATORY THREATS.
Result of the Fight for the
Command of the First
Regiment.
THAT INNOCENT RESOLUTION
Officers of the Old First and Third
Put Their Man in the Gov.
eted Position.
THAT INNOCENT RESOLUTION

The knowing ones in the National Guard
who predicted friction and possibly schism
in the. organization as result of the re-
cent election for colonel of Ethe con-
soildated FIRST Regiment are seeing the
matter in a fair way TO turn out as they
thought it would, and Colonel Mcdonald
Is even now wondering just how he failed
to see certain moves of the men who op-
pose his wishes and freque ntly checkmate
them.
AS a matter of fact the colonel was out
witted regarding the patronage of the reg
iment and is not feeling very comfortable
over the matter.
The struggle for the command of San
Francisco's new and only regiment was
q long and bitter fight, and the trading and
political manipulating that were resorted
to by the workers Of both candidates
ranked in the breasts of both factions and
particularly in those of the losers, who
openly predicted that Colonel Mcdonald
would not have things so much his own
q way as he hoped.
One OF Colonel McDonald's first official
acts was to ordert the companies of the Guard
stationed in the armories at Market and
Tenth streets and on Golden Gate avenue
out Of their quarters and distribute them
between the Ellis street and Page and
Cough street armories. In doing this he
unwittingly played into the hands OF his
opponents-the officers of the Qld FIRST and
Third regiments.
The same strength that insured his cleo
ton as colonel in the face of determined
opposition would have enabled him to ar
range the patronage to suit himself had he
kept that strength together, but this he
failed TO do. Naturally, having been long
associated with the old Second Regiment,
ne knew and favored the veteran armorer
of that.organiZation and desired him 10
retain the position and also his assistant
at the eGough-street armory, which became
the headquarters OF. the consolidated First.
This he was enabled to do while the
board of officers from both armOries voted
together. Recently the old officers of the
First and Third, who are in command OF
the companies at the Gough-street armory,
put up little job on Colonel Mcdonald
that worked like a charm and has placed
them in virtual control of the establish
ment. AT the last meeting of the board of
officers an lnnocent-appearlng little reso-
luton to the effect that the separate sets Of
officers of the two armories should have
control of the establishments in which
they are stationed was offered and ac-
cepted without murmer by all present.
It's significance did not appear until the
next NEE ting OF the officers of the Cough
street armory.
Out there are eight companies, only
two of which came from the old Second;
and the officers of the cons0lidated-o -out
First and Third have decided majority.
Shortly after the meeting of the Regi-
mental Board the Gough-street militia
men held meeting, and resolution was
quietly introd uced declaring the positions
of Armorer Woodall and Assistant Fords-
ham vacant.
-.-l,o 49,
opposed the resolution on the ground that
the armorer had been in his place for
years, was tried man and acceptable to
sthe commanding officer. They talked
strongly OF retaliatorv measures if Wood
all were removed. but they stormed and ex-
postulated in vain. The majority pointed
calmly to the resolution passed by the
board of officers giving the Gough-street
people absolute control of their own arm
CRY, and passed the resolution in spite of
the opposition.
When the officers of the old First and
Third proceeded TO elect Armorer Shell
don, who had presided over their estab-
lishment at Tenth and Market streets,
with Assistant Sullivan to aid him, the
rage of the defeated ones broke out anew.
They attempted TO stave off the action
by postponement, but did not succeed,
and Sheedon is now In possession. Colonel
Mcdonald is not expected to take the
matter easily and the officers who effected
the change are waiting anxiously for his
next move, which will probably be made
at the next meeting of the board of
officers.
They say. however that they had per-
feet right to take the action they did, as
they are respons sbie for the bills and
arId be allowed to dictate who is to be
rye of their establishment, particu-
as their choice is veteran of the
ID a remarkably capable man.