The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-26

be some hours before an answer is received
but 1t is hoped that the same vigorous
methods of demanding what the State
wants that have given Indiana rank as "a
hustler" the last month will bring about
a Favorable reply. Indiana's senators anc
representatives will be asked to urge a com
pliance with the request that the quota be
made three full regiments.
CALL HAS NOT ARRIVED.
Governor Mount is away and is not ex-
pected home before Saturday 1t is not ex-
pected that official notification of the cal
will be received before that time and more
likely not before the first of next week
Major Harrison, who is home from Wash
ington arranging his affairs preparatory to
being assigned to active service, informed
Colonel Wilson that tho call would come by
mail. Colonel Wilson is authority for the
statement that the apportionment OF In
diana volunteers on this call will be made
by congressional districts, account being
taken of the troops already furnished.
Some counties those furnishing men under
the first call, will most likely be excluded
now. Marion county, for instance, can
scarcely hope to have any more companies
taken at this time, as her proportion has
more than likely been exhausted already.
Inc great Dulk or the men taken under this
call will come from the northwest and cen
tral-southern portions of the State. which
were not very well represented in the Ma
tfonal Guard.
Just what the call means to Indiana is not
very clear in some respects. For instance,
1t cannot be told how many regiments will
be formed. If the companies are organized
under the state law there will be two regi-
ments of something over a thousand men
each and about two-thirds of another regi-
ment-that is under the quota to which the
State is entitled. If on the other hand, the
United States army regulations are fol-
lowed, which require about 100 men to the
company, it would take ESQ men for two
regiments, exclusive of officers. 1t is sup
posed that the state laws will control as
under the first call, which means that there
Will be eighty-four men to the company.
Under the first call Pennsylvania regiments,
with but sixty men to the company, con-
tanned less than one thousand. Military. au-
thorities said that it was pretty hard to
size up the question until the War De-
partment had forwarded definite instruc-
lions as to how the regiments are to be
formed, although it is believed the state
laws will govern.
In any event the Governor will have abso-
lutte and full jurisdiction in the matter of
issuing regimental commissions. The policy
of respecting the wishes of the men who
constitute the companies in the matter of
Those men who have formed companies and
have been elected captains will be commits
stoned, as will the minor officers who hold
their positions by election.
1t is very plain that the regiments which
have been formed will be broken up. Per-
haps some of the companies in them will
be accepted, but when they are finally mob
iized in indianapolis the Governor will form
the regiments and appoint the colonels
Those are about the only officers that will
be appointed directly by the Governor.
THERE WILL BE NO HURRY.
There is no need Of haste. The State is
not in a position to equip one company,
to say nothing Of two or three regiments,
and it is possible that the companies that
are accepted will be kept in their home
towns and drilled until the government has
equipment ready. Major Harrison said that
the government is bending every effort to
get tents, shoes. uniforms, ETC., but that
the work is necessarily slow, as everything
has to be manufactured. Tents, for instance,
cannot be got. as the supply of canvas has
all been, bought up. 1t taxed the govern
ment to equip the navy. Only those who
have been in touch with the War Depart
ment, as has Major Harrison, can realize
and how much time it takes to equip an
army of 100000 for service. With these con-
ditions to meet there is no necessity for
fastening the mobilization of the second
quota of volunteers, as they could not be
put into service before they were equipped.
QuartermaSter General Richardson yester-
day said that the State has enough tents
on hand for one regiment and that two
other regiments could be quartered in the
buildings at Camp Mount. If the govern
ment wants the men organized into regi-
ments and made ready to be sent to Camp
Thomas or some other point of centraliza-
ton and there equipped the volunteers may
be modified sooner If this policy is to be
necessary for the State to do will be to
transport them here. furnish them with
food and shelter while in camp and leave the
rest for the government.
Last night Colonel Wilson had the work
OF ti5uring out the apportionment of men
that is to be made TO each congressional
district commenced. This work will require
considerable time, so that it lis not at all
probable that anything definite will be
known before the first of next week as to
how many companies will be assigned to
the different districts. Some large city will
be chosen in each of the different districts
as a point of Capitalization for the coun-
ties of that district, as 1T would be too in
tricate to designate just how many men
should come from each Of the ninety-two
counties of the State
There is already speculation as to whom
Governor Mount will appoint to be colonies
of the two regiments that are to be formed
On the best Of authority it is said that
Brigadier General w. J. Mckee can have
the first appointment that is to be made
Those who know say that General McKee's
reason for refusing colonelcy in the Ma
tionai Guard was misunderstood and that
his reason for so doing was that he did not
want to stand in the way of any person
who was entitled to recognition. 1t is said
that If he had accepted a colonelcy his pro-
motion to brigadier general would have been
a matter of but short postponement. Now
it is said. General Mckee can have no
scruples about standing in the way of some
one else and is free to accept an appoint
ment. General Mckee was unwilling to ex-
press anything on the subject. either in the
way Of indicating he would accept an APP
pointment or that he would refuse ii if
rendered him. He is not hunting q place and
never has been. but those who are on the
inside believe that he viii be made colonel
of the d-and-sxty- first Regi-
ment Indiana Volunteers. This would place
him in the line OF promotion.
MANY TROOPS OFFERED.
" NJ Backus. who has formed regi-
rent here. hopes that 1t will be accepted in
its entirety, because the greater portion of
the companies are in other parts of the
State. There are but three of the twelve
companies located in Indianapolis, there be-
ing one company in each OF the following
towns: Peru, Monticello Muncie, Linton,
Scottsburg. Edinburg, Vernon, Upton and
Lebanon. TIE companies of this regiment
contain more than the quota required by
the regulations There are about 1850 men
on the regimental rosters. After all the
men not capable on account OF physical de-