The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-12
FIRST REGIMENT OF FLORIDA.
STERILIZATION OF THE TROOPS TO
BEGIN TO-DAY.

Twenty Companies of Infantry to Go
Into Camp and n Regiment of 80
Men to BE Selected From Their
Mcmbership-Capt.W woodruff of the
Regular Army and Judge Cnn the
Candidates for the ColoneIcy of
abe Regiment.
Tampa. Fla, May 1.-THE mobilization
of the citizen soldiers of Florida will be-
gin in this city and by tomorrow morn
ing it is expected that the fun quota OF
infantry, twenty companies, win be camp
ed on the garrison reservation, the camp
site selected by Col. ]. B. Anderson in.
spector general Of Flor, da state troops
The call of the President was for one
regiment of infantry of $50 men from Flor
ida. The twenty companies are composed
of about LOCO, but as the headquarters
of the companies are widely separated. it
was deemed best TO order all of the in
fantry companies into camp. so that Sc
lection could be made by Capt T. NJ
Woodruff, assistant adjutant general of
the state
When the camp is established to-mor-
row. 1t will be under the command of Mai
Williams of Pensacola, commander of the
Third Battalion of the state troops.
Capt Woodruff, commander of Com
panv d, Fifth United States Infantry, the
assistant adjutant general of Florida, has
been detailed as recruiting officer of the
Florida state troops, and he will at once
begin selecting the commands that are 10
form the First Florida Regiment A
large number of the men in each of the
companies are willing and anxious to en-
list, but there is little doubt that a great
many viii be rejected, for the examina ton
that recruits for the United States army
have to go through is far more severe
than tdat of the state troops.
Maj. Connolly, commander of the Fifth
Battalion of state troops and the officers
Of the Tampa Rifles, win welcome the va
rious commands upon their arrival and
detachments from the Rifles will escort
the companies TO the camp site.
AS soon as the companies which are TO
compose the First Florida Regiment are
selected, and the other companies ordered
to return TO their respective headquarters.
the regiment will be organized.
1t is said that the Governor will allow
the members of the regiment to decide by
ballot upon the selection of a colonel of
the regiment This plan will not conflict
with the approval of the men, but il is
not approved by the officers of the regu-
lar army now stationed In Tampa. They
believe that the Governors of each state
should name the commanding officer of
the regiments, as he can more readily and
properly judge the qualifications of the
officers than can the men. If the men are
allowed 10 select their commander favor
itism will prevail in preference to capa-
bility.
The officers that have been most prom
inently mentioned for the command of the
regiment are Capt Woodruff and Judge
r. NJ. Call. The latter Is now circuit
judge but was formerly major of the First
Battalion of Florida state troops and is
believed to be thoroughly competent.
Capt. Woodruff is an officer OF the regu-
lar army, and has the hearty endorsement
of the officers and the men Of the state
troops. If he is made colonel, which lie
likely, then Judge Cali will no doubt be
made lieutenant colonel
1t is almost a certainty that A. G. Hart
ridge of Jacksonville, states attorney for
the Fourth judicial circuit, will be made
adjutant
The coming of the state troops will liven
tnlDBS up almost as Hlucn as the ADVENT OF
the regulars, for a large number of the
officers and men have friends In Tampa.
Social functions are already being arrang-
ed In honor of the First Florida Regiment.
The negro soldiers are still trying to run
the town, but they find that the people of
Tampa will not make any exception on ac-
count of the negroes being dressed in the
uniforms of the United States army The
basis of the trouble is the refusal Of the
saloon men Of Tampa 10 sell the negroes
drinks at the bars reserved for white peo-
pie. If the negroes continue TO act as
they have done, there Is bound TO be
clash and mo- one can blame the private
citizens for protecting their property and
resenting insults.
The officers of the negro regiments GER
tainly know how the negroes act, and they.
must know that there is no law to compel
a man to sell goods to a person whom he
desires not TO. Tn saloon men know that
II they begun selling drinks TO negroes at
the bars reserved for white people, they
would soon lose all of their best custom
ers.
CAPTIVES IN A BAD PLIGHT.