The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-10-02
New Problems
Presented.
A MIGHTY TASK
For Wise Heads in Its Re-
organization.


only rs days more during which they
will receive pay as soldiers without per-
forming soldiers duties. When the
men were furloughed at Montauk Point,
August q, they were informed that at
the expiration of 60 days, which will be
October 26, they will be mustered out
OF the United States service, and once
again become citizens of the common
wealth, 1t is possible, though, that all
arrangements for the mastering out
will nc be. completed at the time, and
The work may drag for few days. But,
at all events, the men are sure to be
mustered out by the first of November.
With the expiration of their furloughs
ana discharge from the United States
service the men will begin to think, if
they have not already considered the
question, Of the reorganization Of the
Massachusetts volunteer militia, and
their position in regard to the reorgan-
1zation When the nlilitiamen entered
the service of their country, their places
IN some Localities, were temporarily
f1lled by provisional companies but
these were organized amonable to the
law passed May 10. This law, so far as
1t refers to these companies, is, in eff
fect, that all enlistments shall continue
for period not longer than thirty days
after the declaration of peace.
OF course, If it becomes necessary,
these provisional companies may be dis
banded at a date earlier than thirty
days after the declaration of peace
and II the men of the I'd are to be dis
charged October %, il is likely that
such action will be taken in the cases
OF the companies organized to take the
places of some of the companies of the
regiment. This is probable because the
nA2CA commission will Ia ar1lx haxr an
ished its task before the 25th, and the
same law referring to the provisional
companies, in its opening sections, gives
the volunteers opportunity to apply for
their old places in the militia within
30 days after their discharge from the
service. Thirty days after their dis
charge and thirty days after the decla-
ration of peace are not likely to arrive
at the same time, and, priority being
given the volunteer, the life of the-pro-
visional companies viii naturally end
when the volunteers signify a desire
for their old places.
The full text of the Jaw, SO far as it
relates to the ress grafton of the volun-
teers to their old places is as follows:
Section All the officers Of the Mas
5achusetts volunteer militia entering
the military Or naval service of the
United States subsequently to the 10th
day of April, in the year eighteen hum
granted leave of absence until thirty
days after their discharge from the
army or navy, with reasonable time
for any such officer to reach his home
in this commonwealth, and upon receiv-
ing an honorable discharge such officers
shall be entitled to resume the rank and
position to which they were respective
ly entitled at the time Of entering the
service of the United States. Officers
desiring to remain In the service of the
commonwealth under the provisions of
this section shall SO advise the adjutant
general in writing Immediately upon
thm- discharge from the service of the
United States,
Section 2-All enlisted men Of the
Massachusetts volunteer militia enter
ing the military or naval service of the
United States subsequently to the goth
day of April, in the present year. shall
be furloughed until not later than 30
DAYS after their discharge from the
army or navy, with reasonable time for
any such man to reach his home in this
commonwealth.
Section 3. Enlisted men so entering
the United States service whose terms
expire while in the service and VINO re-
ceive an honorable discharge from the
United States army or navy, may il
they so desire, re-enIist in the Massa-
chusetts volunteer militia within thirty
days after their discharge by the United
States, with reasonable time in which
to reach their homes in this common
wealth; and the service Of all men so
re-enlisting shall be deemed for all pur-
poses continuous.
Section 4. The warrants Of all non
commissioned officers who remain in
the service of the commonwealth under
the provisions either Of section two OF.
of section three OF this act shall be con-
tinued as of the same grade respective
ly held by them at the time OF enter
ing the service of the United States.
The reorganization of the militia,
however, does not promise to be as easy
q matter as 1t appeared last May when
the law was enacted. Then 1t Gid not
look as though the men of the voIun-
teer regiments would be called upon for
active service to any great extent and
surely not as disease-bre and
death dealing service as they went
through later. a, large number of the
men who served through the Cuban
campaign. suffered from disease and
hunger, have had all the military ser
vice they want, whether 1t is as a part
of the United States service or as a
member OF the volunteer militia. Con-
sequently many of them will make no
application for their old places and in
consequence the companies win be sad
ly depleted in comparison with their
numbers at the time the call was
ISSUED.
This condition in itself will be almost
enough to cause general reorganiga-
ton of the militia, but there are other
reasons which it seems almost demand
q complete end thorough rebuilding up
of the Massachusetts militia. The prin-
cipal reason is that the law as enacted
cannot keep out of the new militia I'M
desirable people who may now conform
to all the requirements as named there
TTndo1t ba To- or an y 1,s
ceiVed an honorable discharge from the
United States service may apply for his
old place in the militia within thirty
days of receiving his discharge, and
there is nothing in the law to prevent
him occupying the old position even
though he be a most undesirable person
in the militia.
The most fragrant example of this is
found in Col. Charles r. Woodward of
Wakefield who went out with the 9Th
Massachusetts. The record of Col.
Woodward while in the United States
service is well known to everybody in
the state. The man who went out at the
head of the famous regiment proved
himself one of the poorest officers in the
Porto Rico expedition and when sum
moned before the board for examina-
ton resigned his commission rather
than stand trial. Col. Woodward was
ordered up for court martial but as
long as he preferred to leave the army
to standing trial, his request was
granted, as it saved the cost of organ
izing the court Not having been con-
victed og anything unsoldierly he was
grantedJ a discharge which was, Of
course, Honorary
The case Of the colonel was the sub