The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-05-01

The officers of the national guard are
considerably torn up over the action
of Gov. Clough yesterday morning in
authorizing the formation of new
state guard to take the places of the
three regiments who have Joined the
volunteer army.
After a conference with Adjt. Gen.
Nuremberg, Gov. Clough decided to au-
thorize the following towns to organize
state guard companies to be known as
the First and Second regiment of the
Minnesota national guard:
Morrs-One company.
Wilmar-One company.
Litchfield-One company. ~
Winthrop-One company.
Worthington-One company.
LuVerne-One company.
Owatonna-0ne company.
West Duluth-One company.
st. Paul-Two companies.
Madison-One company
Fergus Falls-One company.
Park Rapids-0ne company.
Browns Valley-One company.
Mankato-One company.
Pipestone-One company.
Albert Lea-One company.
Winona-One company.
Benson-One company.
Mnneapolis-Two companies.
Despite the vigorous protest of near
ly every commissioned officer of the
national guard, who called upon him
in a body headed by the three colonies
OF the new volunteer regiments, Gov.
Clough refused to accede to the re-
quests of the officers in his command.
The militia men holding commissions
do not relish the idea of stepping aside
when they return to make room for
some one who is appointed in their
stead while they are away fighting for
the honor of the nation.
Most of the men who have been COM
missioned as field and line officers in
the volunteer army have spent years
in the state guard and feel that they
are being unjustly treated by having
their places usurped while away on
duty.
The officers all held that they were
still members of the national guard
and should be granted a leave of alb
sence while away.
Gov. Clough looked at the matter IN
another light. He thought the state
should have a national guard at all
times, as there was no telling how long
the volunteer army might be gone. Be
sides, in recognizing the guard he in
tended to give the districts a better
representation than they had enjoyed
heretofore. The two largest cities of
the state would be given two companies
each.
The delegation met with Gov. Clough
shortly after o'clock. After the usual
greetings had been gone through with,
Col. Bobleter made known the object
of their visit. He suggested that addi-
tional regiments might be organized
to the satisfaction of all concerned if
they could be called the Fourth and
Fifth Minnesota regiments of the N.
G. S. NJ.
Owing to the state laws, which pro-
vided for only three regiments of the
national guard, this would be impossi-
BILE, Gov. Clough said.
Maj. Mead thought it possible that
number of men who had been fired out
OF the guard on account of incompetent
cy and INSTRUMENTATION would jump IN
while they were gone and greatly de-
tract from the efficiency and discipline
OF the guard.
Gov. Clough did not see how this
could be possible, as Gen. Muehlberg
would not reinstate any man with
bad record.
The governor thought that the state
had plenty of good men who would at
once take hold of the guard and MAIN
tain its present high standard. Any
way, he did not think that all the vol
unteerS would want to enlist upon their
return from Cuba.
Maj. Bean took a bright side Of the
question, and said that he thought all
officers of the guard expected to Sc
cure their old positions back upon
their return. Whatever was done, they
would go to the front and take their
chances upon their return.
Col. Reeve suggested that future leg
islatures might increase the state
guard, in view of the Cuban difficulty.
so as to be able TO meet any emer-
gency. Many states which were small
er in size and population than Mime
sofa had five and six regiments, and
he thought they could safely take their
chances upon getting back into the
guard on their return, as old men,
bers would undoubtedly be given a
preference.
The other officers present were thor
oughly out Of accord with the action
and views of Gov. Clough, and, al
though everything was lovely on the
surface, 1t was plain to see that the
governors position in the matter was
q decidedly unpopular one, at least
with the officers Of the guard
Gov. Clough told the officers in SO