The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-10-02
NOTHING BUT TROUBLE
Atter ded the Encampment of the
Kansas National Guard Here.

All during the encampment of the K.
N. G.. there has been trouble. The first
trouble arose from the fact that the
different companies failed to obey the
orders issued.
Each company was ordered to bring
ratiOns enough to last until Monday af-
ternoOn, as, they would receive no ra
tions from the camp quartermaster,
Maj. Seers, until time for supper Mon
day.
Many of the companies failed to bring
enough to last until they were issued
supplies, and the different companies
that went hungry blamed the officers in
charge of the camp for the neglect.
All during the week the line officers
and men complained of the food. In
common camp parlances they kicked
on the grub
They complained that they did not
have enough meat. A ration of meat
for each man and for a day is a pound.
While on the march from FIT Riley
here, the regulars were put on march
ing rations and received 10 2-3 ounces
of meat and two meals a day.
After the furry of the food question,
the militia undertook to run. the fair
grounds, and thought that the civil Of
ficers had no right to arrest them for
violating any law. They were mistak-
en-, and quite a number have slept in
the city Jail There have been two or
three riots. The civil officers were sup
ported by the commissioned officers OF
the guard. and serious trouble was
avoided The staff officers of the guard
are very much annoyed over the state
of affairs and are not at all in favor of
holding another state encampment un-
der such conditions.
Gen. Charles McCrum said:
We have been placed under very try
ing circumstances and we have had
great deal to contend with. Right in
the midst of our camp is a large SlZed
beer Joint. It has been pulled several
times, but it has been kept running and
it is impossible to keep our boys out OF
it. We are not in camp under pay, as
we should be, and we cannot command
the boys or place the restriction around
them that we should. There was not
enough money appropriated for the en-
campment. and it was by the aid of
good donation from the Committee of
Fifteen that we were brought here, but
we came to make a show, and not for
real work, and with all this excitement
going on on the grounds, discipline and
order is unavoidabIy free and easy. l
am not at all in favor of another en-
campment under such circumstances" :"
Col. HOisingtOn said:
If we were in camp by ourselves and
not where the men could come in con-
tact with the bad Influences that they
are subject to here all the time, we
would show the people well behaved
and orderly set of men. The stand-men
and fakirs still remember an episode
of II years ago, when the militia was
encamped here and raided some fake
shows The prOprietOrs of such places
are afraid of trouble and bitterly de-
nounce the men without cause. We have
never had any such trouble before since
my connection with the guard.
The militia may be well behaved set
when they are away from civilization,
but they are not here by any means.
Yesterday afternoon a crowd of 100
gathered in front of the fair grounds
gate hollOing and yelling right this
wav for an escort. Ladies escorted in
to the grounds free Of charge. Here's
your uniformed escorts" Every uni
formed man was allowed to take lady
in free. but the gatekeepers soon put a
stop to this.