The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-04-19
THE PHILADELPHIA
GUARDSMEN MAD
Dissatisfaction Because More Cannot
Take Part In the Grant Parade.
THE SELECTIONS ARE CRITICISED
The First Regiment the Only One
That viii Represent Philadelphia.
What Some of the Officers say.
Members of other Regiments Are
Indignant.

Philadelphia, April 1S.-According to
che Press Of today the National Guard
circles IN this city are very much
aroused over the action of the authori-
ties In detailing only one regiment to
represent the First brigade-the Phlla-
delphla troops-in the Grant mauso-
leum parade In New York on April o.
The enlisted men outside of the First
regiment are practically unanimous In
declaring that they have been shabbily
treated in not having been sent either
to McKinley's Inauguration or to New
York. and the great disappointment
caused by their failure to go to Wash
ington is still further augmented by the
orders In regard to the New York pa
rade.
After it was decided that the entire
division would be sent to Philadelphia
II was planned to send a provisional
brigade, made up of regiments from all
three of the regular brigades, to repre-
sent the state in New York. Instead,
however, of choosing an equal repre-
sentation from each brigade, there VIII
be sent three regiments and a light bat
terry Of the Second brigade; two regi-
ments and a troop of cavalry from the
Third brigade, but only one regiment
TO represent the crack Philadelphia
troops, together with the fact that the
First regiment was the one chosen to
leave Philadelphia two years ago, when
Governor Hastings was inaugurated.
MUCH DISSATISFACTION.
Visits to local armories have brought
out the fact that scarcely anything
else is being talked OF, and that all
the comment Is of an unfavorable ma
ture. A sergeant in the Third regi-
ment stated that most OF the men in
his company felt very badly about be-
ing deprived of the two trips, which
are the only reward offered by the
state for the hard winters work in
the armories. "It is bad enough" he
said, that only one regiment of Phil
adelphians should go, but 1t is particu-
larly vexing to us that the first should
be the one chosen, as it seems to get
all the good things. Those upstate
troops will all get one trip away from
home and half of them Will get two
trips as they will all come to Phila-
delphia on May Is, while only one
regiment OF this brigade will leave the
city once"
Other soldiers agreed with these
views as did representatives of the
Second and Sixth regiments and STATE
Fencies Captain Packer. of the lat
ter organization, stated that there was,
to his knowledge, a great deal of bad
feeling about the matter among the
Fencibles.
1t is in the Sixth regiment, however
that the disappointment is greatest,
as the regiment had fully expected to
so, so much so that one officer who
has had to leave town took his uni
form with him so that he could join
the regiment in New York.
One officer of high rank, stated yes
terday; The men are so dsappoint-
ed that fear very serious results will
follow IN the matter Of recruiting and
discipline. 1t is hard enough to get
men to enlist as it is, but IL such re-
wards are to be withheld, 1t viii be
more than arduous I am afraid that
the attendance of the regiment on May
Is will be very Slim
MAJOR GROOME'S VIEWS.
Major Harry G. Groome, assistant
adjutant general of the First brigade,
+'tated officially yesterday that the
First regiment was detailed to go to
New York IN pursuance of the custom
of sending the organization having the
senior colonel and because there were
no reasons why 1t should not fifty rep
resent the First brigade. No other
Seasons entered into the selection, eX-
cept the fact that IL was known that
the First was very eager to go. Major
Groome would not state why only one
regiment was sent from this brigade.
Major General Snowden would not
talk about the matter, but it is known
that he had nothing to do with select
Ing the First regiment, and that the
makeup Of the provisional brigade was
decided at Harrisburg.
Colonel Ralston, of the Third, would
not talk for publication, but admitted
that he thought the selection very hard
on his regiment, and the Philadelphia
troops. The sergeant OF the Third reg
iment quoted above stated that he and
number of his friends would not pa
rade on May Is.