The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-09-04

per cent who want to be mustered out Why
net get the opinion Of the whole regiment,
not of one or two. Give the boys In the lower
ranks a chance to express their wishes. They
are the cnes who would have to do garrison
duty and receive small pay. We volunteered
to aid our country, and not to be Kept down
as prisoners and lose our liberty. We came
to fight for our flag and country, not through
political influence, for $1,000 month These
who are so loyal to their country and want
to hold the Fifteenth-give them a chance
to Join the regulars for Sl3 per month. Re-
duce themstO The ranks. from those fat sal e.
aries, confine them TO a few acres of ground,
take away their liberty and the Fifteenth
will be mustered cut as soon as possible.
Hoping the Fifteenth will not be overlooked
as 1t has been, but given show to express
these feelings.
A Private OF the Fifteenth.
Camp Smelling, Sept. ..
To The ST. Paul Globe:
A grave injustice IS ing Gone the men OF
the Fifteenth regiment, Minneso a volunteers.
rumOr was afloat in some papers lntimat :
ing that the service due he men CT the Fly
teenth was more suitable T. tn M than
that of their former lives, before enlist lg.
The article read to the eff CT ttat the men
were fit for nothing but ha Dor or a
hoboes life. Ii also at tina none o. the
men gave up good jobs to enlist, and Hone
of them gave UP gocd homes, Tor they were
not fortunate enough to have homes.
II has been rumored that the m n or the
Twelfth are anxious TO stay IL the Eerv!ce,
but that rumor was never ar Ell ny any
of the privates or non-comm sion ON
GERS. The officers may want to the re l.
ment kept in service, for th2y are g5ttl1s
good pay. The men, however, are Simply
cattle, and are treated acco-d ngly. Sh u
the question be put to the men, "a it ought
to be, and the men allowed 20 make known
their wants, not less than 81 per cent would
say we want 10 be mustered cut. But, as II
is, the men dare not say anything, as I
means the guard house fer any one so cong.
Many of the men are depending upon tnelr
education for a living, ard they are iu a.
a point where this winters schooling NoIil
mean a great deal in their III ure Il e.. Ihe
whole regiment is just a money-maker for a
few. No one Is able 10 OF in farl ug l;
and a pass from six TO twelve hours S /
that the cattle" are ertitlcd o.
A great blow was mae en- ern NJ tn
profits of the regimenta! cantsen. 1t wss
rum0red that the profits would go iowa
making up regimental fund. Who're Is e
fund? Has any private hea-d or It? u >
again, the men are cat Il, ana nu submit
No fruit wagons. or vag rs Ci S. OF an !
kind of eatables, are allowed lns.g IN :
grounds. and the men are ares ed and male
10 serve in that louise hos or a qua
house if caught buying elsewhere tran at
the canteen. SO tAe "hcboe ana I'VE on
charity" men are compelled to buy ct the
cantcen for most of the men mutt rave to
bacco, ard all must live, ana VINO can sur.
vive on grease and fats continually 30 II
takes nearly all the m ms wages 1or Nv nS
sources. The camp is getting to De a Ie8l-
lar sick hole" and no wonder, Tor me en-
couragonent the men re Give is very httl,'
and the best OF them give up IN d5spl 7:
a few DAYS ago a couple OF officers went
walking through their company's street and.
upon seeing a couple Of c-ttle Cairg mel
on, ordered them taken to the guard house
and then proceeded to eat the melon them-
selves. One poor fellow was caught eating a
piece of pie, and a days ard l-br tn
regimental ditch along the TENS W the
result. Just simp'y for correct decls on, me
men ought to be given the lib rtE OF -
to stay in the service. But why talk? Tha:
liberty will never be given them, as IT mig II
be disastrous to some Of the sa.a y-dr1win
see active service a very few void want u
sfey behind, but, IS that is ont Of the, ues-
ton. the men undoubtedly want to be Sc;
free All we ask Is this: Give US snow
Member of Company A, FIJI eentA he S-ineIl''
Minnesota Volunteers.
Camp Smelling, Sept. 2