The times., 1898-06-19
An Incident of the War.


A local paper recently spoiled what
should have been a very good war story
by printing a brief interview between
Gov. C!ough and staff officer relative
to the equipment of the troops at Camp
Ramsey. To the end that history may
not lack this jewel, we may as well dress
it now, while 1t is warm.
1t was during the time of the greatest
rush in the preparation for getting TO the
front and the equipment OF the troops,
when trusted member of the governors
staff was ushered into the presence on
important business.
Governor" said he, after saluting. Il
think it is very important that we should
/ have some ordnance for the camp. There
is nothing else just now that seems to
me so important, and suggest that you
take urgent steps 10 provide same.
"Um. uni Sure you haven't got any?"
said the governor, obviously, and avoid
ing details.
Not piece, sir; not piece"
well, well have TO look into this; Just
excuse me a moment. Take seat Then
! stepping out into the office the governor
called his private secretary aside, and
| said, SAY, Hartley. what is an ordi-
nance?"
Hartley was rather nonplussed at first,
but rallied and started in on the def
I milton of an ordinance as being a legisla-
| tive enactment adopted by city coun-
| Gil.
20, that amt the kind, 1 mean. 1t is
something connected with the army
| something of a flag, l reckon, or some
| thing of that sort
20, you mean ordnance-cannon, you
! knoW-big guns"
30, to be sure that's it; why didn't I
| think of that? That's what he wants, =
! and the governor looked relieved. We'll
| there's no use talking; If our soldiers
want ordinance they're got to have EN-.
Tell Muehlberg to come here" he said
] TO his messenger.
The adjutant general presented him
self. General" said the governor "our
! troops are in need of some ordinances,
and they must be supplied. Where is the
nearest place they keep em?'
| Gen. Muehlberg replied that the near
est arsenal was at Rock Island, ILL.,
who runs the thing?" asked the gov
! ernor as he looked around for his stenog-
rapher and beckoned her to follow him.
Gen. Muchlberg furnished the desired in
formation, and a few minutes later the
! telegraph operator was ticking off the
| following message:
~
PLEASE send sufficient ordinances Tor prop
er equipment of the three regiments of Mime
| sofa troops now ready TO proceed TO the front.
I'D. NJ. CLoUGH, Governor
With sigh of relief theiRovernor re-
/ turned to his reception room, where his
caller was still waiting. and said to him,
You may report to the)troops, Colonel,
the governor of Minnesota has done his
duty, and that those ordinances will be
| on hand when they are needed.
Then the governor sat down and waited.
| He expected an answer in at least an
| hour and waited two, then he told the
| telegraph operator to find out what was
| the matter. Inquiry disclosed that no
answer had been filed at; Rock Island.
| Then he waited some more, and the while
| conducting certain suppressed deYotions
| in the privacy of his apartments. No
| answer came that day, for the next, or
the next. Finally letter came 1t was
| not exactly what he expected, but 1t was
something 1t conveyed the compliments
and regrets of the ordnance department,
and a bit of sarcasm upon which the
| governor is still figuring. 1t said that
the officers of the ordnance department
were mere creatures of habit-were hu-
man automatons as il were. They had
! been so long in the habit of receiving or
| ders for Ordinances from the War De-
partment of the United States Govern
ment, that not even the clarion call OF
the governor of the great commonwealth
of Minnesota could stir them from their
/ lethargy. And then 1t said Yours
Truly" and chopped off.
/ ITS derned funny, ruminated the gov
/ ernor, as he started for an Interurban
car. that they should eall'a cannon an
ordinance / reckon it's because it's SO
easily exploded