The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-08-11

The failure of the war department TO
detail for active duty either Of the two
Minnesota regiments now at Camp
Thomas has been the source of no lit
tie dissatisfaction, both among the
troops themselves and the patriotic
citizens of the state who were anxious
that Minnesota be represented in the
campaign in Cuba. =
Although first to respond to the call
to arms, the state has been accorded
little recognition by the war depart
ment, and this fact has occasioned
great dissatisfaction, for the reason
that the Twelfth and Fourteenth reg
iments are admittedly among the best
drilled and equipped volunteer regl-
mentS now in the service, and from
the first there was every reason to be-
lieve that they would be detailed for
active duty early in the campaign. HOW
the men feel about it has already been
told in The G o b e, and an editorial
of ten days ago resulted in numerous
personal appeals to the governor. This
pressure, brought to bear upon the
governor to use his influence with the
war department, was supplemented by
a letter, worded in no uncertain terms,
by Col Joseph BObleter, of the Twelfth
regiment, complaining bitterly Of the
policy of the war department, and led
iAAS SON Ci ilOl " SSl lung
to President Mckinley yesterday on the
subject. The governors message is as
follows:
President William Mckinley, Washington,
D. C.-Under the first call for tr- ops Mn
nesota was the first state in the Union to
mobilize her troops and get them all cut O,
the state. The Twelfth and Fourteenth regi-
ments, now at Chickamauga, are second to
none In the United States according to all
reports, ard at the same time they are still
in camp. 1t seems to me that Minnesota has
been sadly neglected. So many other regi-
mentS inferior to Minnesota troops in equip
ment, drill and general fitness for field WORK,
have been given preference and sent to the
front. Our officers ard sold ers, and also the
entire people of cur state feel that we are n t
receiving fair treatment
Is it not possible to get at least one of our
service? D. NJ. Clougn, Governor.
Gov. Cloughs action in communicate
ing with the president direct was only
taken after repeated requests made Of
the Washington officials to look into
the matter had been passed unheeded.
Col. Bobleter's letter, which was re-
ceived by the governor a few days ago,
said the officers and men were chafing
under the daily routine of camp life,
when regiments on all sides of them
had been given important posts in the
campaign, and they, as one Of the
national guard regiments, had been
left in camp for several months with
Out any prospects Oh their
country the service for which they
were called out. The regiments which
had gone to Cuba were in many in
stances greatly inferior to either of the
two Minnesota regiments, and there
was no little disappointment and dis
satisfaction in evidence among the
men.
would not have a word to say If it
were not for the fact of the record
which Minnesota made in getting her
troops ready under the first call. Be-
ing the first to respond to the call, it
was only fair that they should be given
some part in the campaign.
Gov. Clough wired the colonel yester-
day that he had communicated with
the president direct and would advise
him as soon as anything developed in
the premises. A reply was not received
yesterday.
Discussing the prospects for an early
departure of the Fifteenth regiment,
now in camp at Camp Ramsey, the
governor said that he received a tele-
gram from H. c. Corbin, adjutant gen.
eral of the United States about a week
ago, stating that the Fifteenth would
be ordered to Jacksonville just as soon
as the sanitary conditions at that place
were sufficiently improved to make
their station at that point safe one.
The governor said nothing had been
heard since that time, but, incidental
ly, mentioned that Gen. Lucius F. Hub
bard had written home within the last
week from Jacksonville, saying that
there was no fever there, and the place
was never in a more healthy condition
The governor is inclined to foster the
belief that the war department would
not assign the regiments still remain
ing in the state raised under the second
call until something definite was known
as to the outcome of the peace nego-
tiations now in progress.