The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-08-29

The citizens of Montrose are ur in
al ms against what they allege is an
effort of the officers of the Thirteenth
regiment to have the command kept in
service against the general wishes of
the rank and file. The people of that
town have gone so far as to have one
or their number go to Harrisburg and
file protest with the state authorities.
This gentleman, NJ. II. Van Scotch,
stopped in Scranton enroute home and
furnished a Tribune reporter with an
interesting story Of the matter, fire.
Quently expressing the hope that
Scranton people. especially the parents
of minor boys, would become interest
ed.
Mr.. Van Scoten is a pension agent
and a Civil War veteran. His son Is a
member of Company G. To a Tribune
reporter Mr.. Van Scoten said:
1--WE learned that Captain McCaus-
land had telegraphed Judge d. w.
Searle, S. S. Wright, register and re-
corder, and Hon. f. II. True, ex-repre-
sentative, to wire or write Governor
Hastings not to designate the Thir-
teenth as one of the Pennsylvania regi-
ments to be mustered out. Mr.. True
under impulse complied with the re-
quest but not advisedly. Judge Searle
and Mr.. Wright made inquiries among
the parents of minor boys and ascer-
tained that they were unanimous
against such a move. 1t was also
learned that the enlisted men, while
anxious for active duty while the war
was on. wanted to come home. Con-
sequently, the two gentlemen I have
named will not interfere.
HAD A PETITION.
II took with me to Harrisburg
a petition signed by the par
ents of all the minors in Com
pany Gall who reside in Montrose or
who could be reached before / left. In
Harrisburg l found that Governor
Hastings was visiting the camps and
that Adjutant General Stewart was
not in the city. / saw. however, Cap
tain Kelly, of the interior department.
He handles all the military correspond
ence.
Captain Kelly showed me a letter
from Major F. w. Stilwell, of the
Thirteenth in which Major Stillwell
wrote that he was credibly inform
ed that the rank and file wanted to
remain in service and asked Governor
Hastings to use his best endeavors to
that end.
Nov. we think a great injustice is
being done the men, who, according
to very recent press dispatches are
not now permitted to get petitions be-
yond regimental headquarters. In re-
gard to this I obtained personal con-
firmation while on my way from Har-
risburg here. A sick private named
Greaves. from the Twelfth Pennsylva- =
MIA, rode with me as far as Sunbury
where he was to enter the hospital.
He was suffering from the first stages
of fever. He told me his regiment
had signed a petition, almost to a
man, to be mustered out and had ad-
dressed it to the governor. The men
were told by Colonel Coryell, COM
manding the regiment, that the petit
ton could not pass his headquarters.
OFFICERS ARE ALONE.
LAS a veteran myself and from per-
sonal observation q have been in close
touch with the Thirteenth) the officers
are almost alone in their desire to con
tinue in service. Probably each one
of them is drawing more pay pei
month than he would earn in his civil
profession or business. l believe it car
be Safely asserted, most or them are
receiving 80 per cent. more. There is
a vast difference between their pay
and the paltry $3.50 per month the
boys are getting.
When there was work at the from
they wanted to be in the thick o
it and so petitioned the war de
partment. l don't know nor care wha
part the officers had in that peti
ton, though / understand their names
were not signed to it. Now, however
the boys want to get home. Some Ol
them have families who are being sup,
ported by charitable people; Others
want to resume their studies or bust
ness that are being neglected.
II promise you Governor Hasting:
who is to designate the regiments tC
be mustered out, will be flooded will
letters from Montrose. We hope tht
Scranton and Honesdale people vii
follow our example. They would do 81
if they knew of the intrigue Of the Off
GERS whose personal activity withou
substantial endorsement by the enlist
ed mer is most remarkable"