The herald., 1898-05-12
REJECTED MEN RETURN
THE DISCHARGED MILITIAMEN
EXPECTED TODAY
Fifteen PER CENT DROPPED
The Seventh Regiment Did Not Make
the Showing That Was Expected
Of It-Various Reasons

The 155 rejected men OF the Seventh reg.-
ment left San Francisco yesterday and are
expected to arrive in this city some time
today. The Los Angeles unfortunates,
about forty in number, will get in with the
brigadier general of this division early this
afternoon. There will be no band to meet
them nor otherwise any display. Perhaps
dear ones will be there to greet them, but
the reunion will not be as inspiring as was
the parting.
Last Friday loOS young men left this Sec
ton, regular members of the national
guard companies, and all presumably
physically able, for they had passed the
thought that the physical inspection by
DR.. Choate was severe, or at least COM
mendably strict But it seems that in San
Francisco the examining surgeons were
even stricter, for they found blemishes
where the others did not.
A little calculation will show that very
nearly 16 per cent of the men were re-
jected, which admittedly is astonishing. 1t
is said that in the civil war the reflections
did not average more than 13 per cent.
In making this percentage, sc is subtracted
from the zoos to allow for that many COM
missioned officers, who come under a dif-
ferent subdivision. There are Al officers In
the regiment, and according to the dis
patches fourteen of these were dropped,
which Is about ~ per cent. Taking all the
way through, the Seventh doesn't seem to
have made good physical record to start
with.
Information regarding the movements
Of the rejected men Is very meager and in
definite, for in the rush of news in San
Francisco tn newspapers there are not
bothering with men of this kind. From q
local source 1t Is learned that only so OF
the men Will come In today, but a dis
patch yesterday said the 1855 would leave to
gether.
Secretly a great many of the boys re.
jected here by DR.. Choate or his assistants
have said unpleasant things about the way
the examination was conducted. They as
sert that partiality was shown in several
instances to their personal knowledge, and
as there are quite few young men who
make these charges the instances" must
have been unduly numerous, according to
what they say.
One strapping young fellow in particular,
who was rejected upon peculiar grounds,
said that many OF his comrades passed
whom he knew were afflicted with hernia.
And as he held a paper In his hand yester-
day evening and read that 155 of these
presumably perfect men had been dis
charged, he chuckled so that his entire
frame shook. Thought So" he commented
tersely.
In military circles all sorts of charges
are made and assertions and suggestions
advanced on the way matters are running
in San Francisco in connection with the
mastering In Of the men. 1t is charged that
the dispatches giving detailed accounts OF
the events there prove that politics is the
main feature of the work 50 far, and where
1t is not a matter of politics 1t Is influenc,
or the like. One company, according to the
dispatches, mutinied because favorite
lieutenant was displaced by one not liked.
About all the companies are reported to
have grievances against the actions OF
Colonel Berry, who but acts for others.
In the brigadier generals offices at the
armory, Major Owens was walking up and
down the heavily carpeted floor last night,
apparently in deep meditation. He was
thinking of the bad showing the Seventh
had made and how much better 1t mig ht
have been had they left behind great
many of their hollow-chested members.
The major Is still in hopes that the signal
best equipped and most perfectly drilled
In the west, will yet be called to the front
Their disappointment In being overlooked
thus far is keen.
Company f. had heard rumor to the ef-
feet that company known as a home
guard organization was to enter the ma
t,o.1x
displace them. They according held
a meeting last night, at which
all the members left behind were
present, and agreed to stay together and
fight for each other, and let no parvenus
steal march on them. The company
at present consists OF Al men, which in
cludes the r. who were rejected upon ex-
animation in San Francisco.
The Santa Ana company is reported as
having about SO per cent of its men re-
jected, Company & of this city per cent
and Company + IA per cent. The record
Company A made Is not yet definitely
known.
Men are being recruited for the various
companies of the national guard now, but
active work in all departments will not
begin until the brigadier general returns
and formulates and announces his plans
for the future. Care should be taken in en-
listing men now. There were any number
of young men and boys-mostly boys
around the armory last night who claimed
they had signed the recruiting rolls. Many
of these boys were not even adolescent and
certainly far from matured.
The property that the Seventh regiment
took away with it is expected back soon.
1t Is thought that the uniforms and guns
will arrive today. Those In charge seem
doubtful of the speedy arrival of the equip
ment. Pessimists around the armory, how
ever, thought that nothing taken away
would ever be returned.
Company Of Veterans
A number of veterans Of the civil war
held a meeting last night at the Silver Re-
publican club to organize company. Men
who had fought for the north and for the
south were present to the number Of about
25 though the captain claimed that 81 men
were already enlisted, most of them being
from the Soldiers Home. s. d. Dye was
chairman Of the meeting and George Van
Allen secretary. l. r. Dunkc!hecger was
elected captain and r. Il. king first lieu
tenant. They will offer their services to
the government.
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