The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-07
NO COLORED OFFICERS
COL. HIGGINS, OF LOUISVILLE. up
SETS THE GOVERNORS PLANS.
He Has the Recruiting for This Terri
tory-WilI Accept but Two
Companies.

AS intimated yesterday morning, the de-
velopments with reference 10 the formation
of colored battalion, with it's own officers,
are disappointing TO Governor Mount When
Colonel w. T. Durbn returned from Wash
ington Sunday the information he brought
to Military Secretary Wilson indicated that
the matter was entirely i'm the hands of
Colonel Eli L. Higgins, who has been APP
pointed by the War Department to organize
the Eighth United States Volunteer Infan-
try. Considering the size of the territory
from which the regiment is to be recruited
1t includes Kentucky part of Tennessee and
the Ohio valley-it was apparent that In
diana could hardly hope to furnish a full
battalion. Colonel Wilson teIegraphed to
Colonel Higgins for Information as to what
was to be given Indiana in the allotment for
the regiment A letter was received from
Colonel Higgins yesterday in reply to the
telegram, which went to show that bat
TALON with coored officers could not be ac-
cepted. Governor Mount wired Colonel mug
gins asking IL this decision could not be mod
flied, Colonel Higgins telegraphed back
saying: Il can accept but two companies
with white captains only
After this condition developed a long con-
sultation was held in the executive office
an urgent appeal to a higher authority, in
the hope of securing a full battalion of col
ored volunteers, differed by coored men, in
accordance with the original plan. While the
conference was being held a telegram was
received from Senator Fairbanks saying
that he had made an earnest appeal for two
more companies and that he hoped he would
be successful in the effort to secure them.
The Governor last night gave out the fol-
lowing authorized statement:
This appeal was predicated on the argu-
ment that the colored men had for years
rendered efficient service in the Indiana Ma
tlonal Guard under officers of their own
color; that they had seen active service in
1894, when they acquitted themselves with
credit and reflected honor upon THE State,
ana that any effort at this time to accept
lnese colored men and deprive them of the
right OF being officered with men of their
own race would be an unjust discrimination.
II might be stated in this connection that
Senator Fairbanks had the positive assur-
ance of the War Department officials that
indiana would be allotted battalion of col
ored lmmunes, and 1t was upon this asSur-
ance, conveyed to the Governors office by
q telegram from Senator Fairbanks that
captain Porter was informally rendered the
ma1orship of the proposed organization. 1t
subsequently transpired that for some I'M
known reason the plans of the War Depart
ment were changed and the organization of
the immune regiments was turned over to
colonies chosen from the regular army for
that purpose. This accounts for the DELAY
That has occurred and the multiplicity of
complications that have arisen
While at Washington Colonel Durbin at
the Governors direction, visited Adjutant
General Corbin to make a personal appeal
for the organization of an Indiana battalion
of colored men for the immune regiments.
The adjutant general informed Colonel Dur
bin that the matter had passed out of his
hands, inasmuch as the authority for or
ganlzing the regiment had been vested in
Colonel Higgins, who has his headquarters
at Louisville
Colonel Durbin informed the Governor of
MS conversation with the adjutant general.
published yesterday morning. in which he
was was II informed that the second call is solely
LOT the purpose of recruiting the regiments
not for the purpose of making lip new regi,
Inehts. A condition of stagnation appears n
prevail in War Department circles MANY
tSiegrams nave been sent to Washington
the last few days for informa ton concerning
the formation of signal and engineering
corps, but the return advices received have
acter as TO be of little practical value and
TO leave the question in the dark The Gov
ernor Is anxious to perfect the organiza tions
or these companies and will continue To do
what he can. " ~
Captain Black has received instructins for
the enlistment of men in the hospital corps.
All who enlist will be accepted only as nri-
captain Black is The regular army recruit
ing oEncer here. After men enlist for the
hospital corps they will be assigned To such
service as the War Department may direct