The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-08
TO MUSTER ON SATURDAY
THE BUNDY MATTER Is STILL An
MOVING THE GOVERNOR.
A Major Must he Chosen Then-Abseut
Mans Father still Urges the
appointment.


Statehouse, the matter of appointing the
second major of the Observation-Disclosures sixty
first Regiment is occupying the attention of
the executive and worrying every one con-
cerned in the regiment Capt. Omar Bum
dy's acknowledgment of his appointment is
several days overdue, but as yet no step has
been taken in the mater beyond telephone
conversation between Governor Mount and
Judge Bundy. Yesterday, however, develop
ments took place tending to show that
something is to be done, and at once. The
primary reason for the sudden stir is due to
a desire to muster the men in Saturday aft
ernoon. Lieut.. Waterman, in whose hands
rests the entire matter of swearing the men
into the federal service, has fixed that time,
and the State is in duty bound to have it's
organization ready for the muster at that
time. The army regulations, however, ex-
plicitly state it to be the duty of the mus
tering officer to swear in officers and men
together, and, in the words of Lieut. Water
man, unless the entire regiment is ready
for muster, including all the officers he has
no right to accept it. The complication in
the matter, however, arises from the fact of
the subsistence for the troops being fur
nished by the government, and, such being
the case, the mastering officer is in a posi-
ton to conduct the matter according to his
own plans.
Sc far as Lieutenant Waterman is con-
cerned. the individuality of the man who
fills the place Is matter of no concern, but
his duty demands, before the regiment is
mustered, some man must have been ap-
pointed major. There is no reason why,
from the government standpoint, the muster
should not be made according to the plans
OF the officer in charge, and, as he has
named Saturday as the day, the State must
accommodate itself to the circumstances
There is a method by which the regiment
may be accepted without it's full compile
ment of officers. and this is by application
or the Governor to the War Department
asking permission to tender the regiment
short of officers pending appointments. The
delay is. however, pleasing to nobody, least
of all the regimental officers.
Colonel Durbin, before going home to An
derson last night, called on Governor Mount
concerning the appointment of the second
major and stated his position in no unmis-
taxable terms. He expressed the hope that
If he is to be given a regular army officer to
serve with him the appointment will be
made at once. He believes he needs such
an officer now more than he will in the
course of few months. This conversation
made a strong impression on Governor
Mount, who is himself worried as to the
proper course to pursue in the matter. He
expressed himself yesterday afternoon as OF
the opinion the regimental officers should
be consulted in the matter of filing the ap-
pointment, and Colonel Durbin's visit was
in answer to a summons from the Governor
asking him to talk the matter over.
1t is understood, however, that the Gov
ernor and his war department have taken
time by the forelock, and, being aware of
the regulation making it necessary to have
a full complement of officers, have sent
Chairman Hernly, Of the Republican state
committee. to Washington to ask the War
Department to accept the regiment and al
low the State to defer the appointment of a
major for the present. Ex-Representative
James Watson, who was in the city yester-
day, said he had, at the request of Judge
Bundy, written an Endorsement for the ap-
pointment of Captain Omar Bundy, but did
so with the understanding the officer was
available. Now that he knew the facts
In the case, and saw he had taken the ac-
ton under misrepresentation, he announced
MS intention of taking the matter up with
Judge Bundy and Governor Mount and ef-
fecting an understanding with them. Every
ofncer IN the camp, in common with every
civilian acquainted with the situation, is
anxious for the appointment to be made at
once, and all realize the urgent need of
prompt action. AS yet there has been no
answer from Captain Bundy, who has not
even acknowledged the receipt of his ap-
pointment by the Governor. Judge Bundy
maintains that Captain Bundy has received
word of his selection, and minated to the
Governor by telephone his acceptance of the
appointment. When asked by the Governor
II his brother had communicated such a
message to him he replied mot directly"
The regular army officers in camp are Of
the opinion the regiment will not be here
longer than two or three weeks more. There
is hardly a chance of Captain Bundy re-
turning within that time, If at all.
Only the Columbus, Monticello and Ham
mond companies remain to be examined by
the surgeons of the ne-hundred-and-sixty-
first Regiment all the others having been
passed on and recruited up to the limit. At
the rate the work has been carried on, the
examinations will be completed by Saturday
morning, and the regiment will be ready for
muster
In spite of statements to the contrary.
there are plenty of men in camp and the
probabilities are there will be a hundred of
those now on the grounds who will have to
showed every company to be full and 100
men to spare, exclusive of the colored com
panies This will allow quite a number of
reflections.
In examining one of the men of the Shell
byville company yesterday, DIR. Wilson
found one of the mans great toes to be
missing. In a joking way he said: That's
pretty bad. You won't be much good at
running" Whereat the recruit answered
enthusiastically: Huh, don't you believe it,
When we stirred up a hornets nest yester-
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