The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-09-05
COLONEL POTT RESIGNS.
Hotel Accommodations at Ukiah
Were Not Assigned to
His Liking.
he Construed the Arrangements al
Personal Insult-His Record
in the National Guard.

Lieutenant Colonel F. S. Pott, who was
paymaster on the staff OF Major General
James, division commander of the Ma
tionaI Guard of California has severed his
connection with the guard. He rendered
his resignation to the commanding officer
and it was accepted without delay. The
commanding general declined to say any
thing about the matter beyond the fact
that the resignation had been presented
and that it had been accepted.
1t appears that after the First Regiment
of Infantry of the Second Brigade went
into camp at Ukiah Major-General James
decided to visit the camp and to take his
staff with HIM. The major also decided
to take his daughter with him. and. as she
is quite young, he asked Lieutenant-Co
mel Pott, the paymaster on his staff. if
Mrs. Pott would not accompany the party
and act as chaperone 10 the young lady.
The lady, at the request of the pay
master. agreed to be one of the party, end
another lady, the wife of one of the Off
GERS of the First Regiment, accompanied
the party. As on previous occasions, the
pavmaster was requested TO make all
arrange ments at the hotel, and when he
came 10 count the number in the party
and the number of rooms at the hotel
reserved for them he discovered that there
were but eight rooms, and consequently
there would have to be some doubling up.
He so reported to the ma or-general, who
said that that would be all right, and it
was agreed that the major-general and
the paymaster should occupy one room
and that Mrs. Pott and the majors gen.
erals daughter should occupy another.
After supper the paymaster had occasion
to go into the hotel office, and upon
looking over the register discovered that
not only had all his plans as to the rooms
been completely disturbed, but that in
the new deal every body had room but
Mrs. Pott.
He called upon the major-general for
ali explanation and was gwen to under
stand that the ma jor-general was arrang.
ing the rooms to suit him sell and that the
new arrangement was perfectly satisfac-
tory to him. The paymaster, who had for
a long time been very close to the division
commander and expected different treat
ment from him, looked upon the treat
ment OF Mrs. Pott as direct insult to her
and to himself, and lost no time in ex-
pressing himself about the division COM
mander. When an attempt was made TO
placate him he reused to be placated, and
told his superior officer that ali social in
tercourse between them was at an end, and
that as he would no longer meet him So
cia ly he cou, d no longer remain on his
staff, and added You have my resiSna-
ton
All attempts TO arrange matters between
the two proved futile and on the following
Monday, when Lientenant-Co Colonel Pott
reached this City, he wrote out his resig-
nation in due form, forwarded it to the
commanding officer and it was accepted.
Lieutenant Colonel Pott was mem Der OF
the old City Guard, has held several posi-
tons IN the National Guard, and when n
T. James was chosen major general Pott
was appointed majo and aid-de- camp on
the DIVISION staff. Shortly after the death
of Paymaster Fred +. Follis jor Pott
was promoted to fill the vacancy.
Colonel Frank w. Sumner, who was
called from the retired list to the position
of inspector on the staff Of Major-General
James. has asked to be placed on the re-
tired list again, on the ground that his
heaIth-he being sufferer from asthma
will not permit him to attend to the du-
ties OF the office Colonel Sumner had The
idea of retiring for some time, out decided
not to do SO un Ill after the close of the
enCamDments.