The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-10-16
COL. BRYAN'S CHEAP BOOM,
EEBRlsKA MADE no Par FOR HLs
MILITARY GLORY.

EAWoEINAlm HnOWn " NNANo Om1AAhA ~
His silver Battalion = DISCRIMINATION
Against Other R-egimsnts-Cost 20 the
state OF the Only Political Colonel.
LrNooLS. Eeb.. Oct. 12.-The charge has
often been made that the Third Nebraska
Regiment. or Silver Battalion. Of which Will
liam ]. Bryan II Colonel received special ia
vors which were not granted to the other vol
unteer regiments In this State. and that these
favors were due to the desire Of the Popo-
cratic officials TO send the Bryan regiment to
the front. where It could win military and po-
litical glory. Notwithstanding denlals Of this
charge. It is now learned fiom an ofnoial
source that the machinery Of the State Gov
eminent was used to furnish recruits TO the
Third Regiment. and at the came time to him
der the recruiting OF the other two reeiments,
and that the expense OF this political favorit-
ism will have to be borne by the State.
At the time whom the President was pre-
vailed upon TO accept the Bryan regiment he
called attention to the request just made of
Gov. Holcomb Of Nebraska 10 furnish 600 re-
cruits 10 the First and Second regiments.
which were already mustered in, and OK
pressed the hope that the regiments already
in the field would be filled before any other
regiment was orRanized. Soon after. when
the Third Regiment was getting ready to as
semble at Omaha and recruiting officers Of
the other two regiments were In the State
trying to get volunteers, It Is well known that
officers OF companies In the Third read orders
to their men notifying them that they would
not be allowed to join either Of the other reet-
ments. These orders purportod to come
from the headquarters Of the Nebraska Guard.
but were disavowed by the Governor and the
Adjutant- General.
It is q matter Of record that the recruits Of
the First and Second regiments were re-
quired to pay their own railroad fare 10 the
place OF enlistment and In case OF reiec-
ton to pay their own fare home again. This
was 30 severe O tax on younR men who
lived at a distance from q recruiting station
that a large number who wanted to enlist re-
manned at nome because they. could not af-
ford the expense, and as o consequence the
recruiting Of these two regiments was de-
layed q long time. One officer. who was sta
toned at Lincoln and was ~enlisting men to ill
the Second Regiment. paid out q considerable
amount Of his owl money to defray the ex-
penses Of the recruits he needed SO badly. All
requests made by recruiting officers Of these
regiments for free transportation were ignored
bythe Governors or the reply was made that FOR
some unexplained reason It was impossible to
secure transportation for recruits"
At this very time the machinery Of the State
Government was being used to get recruits to
Bryan's regiment as rapidly as possible and
free transportation was furnished to bring
men from all parts OF the State. When It was
learned that free transportation was being
furnished for recruits to the Third the Gov
ernor was interviewed on the subject. and he
gave the impression that the General Govern
ment was paying the fares Of the men. and that
he did not know why the recruits for the
Second Regiment were not favofed In the
same way.
1t now develops that this free transportation
was furnished on the request Of the State
officials and that the bills for IL have been
charged against the State. to be paid some time
In the future. This explodes the story that the
General Government was furnishing the
transportation. and It also proves the charge
SO often made that favoritism was shown to
the Bryan regiment. The Governor now
has IN assurance that the expenses OF the
men finally mustered into the volunteer ser
vice will be paid by the War Departmental while
the railroad fares Of the men rejected because
of physical disabilities will have to be borne
by the State. But the recruits to the First
and Second regiments. having paid ont their
own money to reach the recruiting stations.
are out of pocket just so much. and no effort
will be made by the Governor to reim-
burse them or 10 present their claims to the
War Department. 1t was a deliberate plan to
boost the Third Regiment and delay the First
and Second regiments. and the expense Of
the plan will be borne by the State.
The wholesale issue OF free tickets to re-
cruits for Bryan's regiment resulted in q
abuses. There we're q number OF cases where
men went to Omaha at the expense Of the
State. we'll knowing that they would DO re-
jected BY the medical board. They were rum
ming no risk Of pecuniary loss. and turned the
trip into o pleasure junket. At this same
time young men were paying out all their
pocket money to get to Lincoln to enlist In
other regiments. and while waiting forexRmi-
nation were living on cheese and crackers
and sleeping on the floor OF the armorV here.
To get these men here and to take care OF
them after they arrived took man dollars out
of the pockets Of the recruiting of1eers. No
aid was offered By the officials who were at
that time showing so much activity In raising
men for the Bryan regiment.
The total expense to the State Of the scheme
to rush Bryan to the front cannot be COM
puted at the present time. as the vouchers are
not all on file yet. When the bills are finally
paid out of the fund provided for the main
tenance OF the State Guard. 1t will DO material
ly reduced. Not only will the fund be de-
pleted, but the money will be paid out for the
railroad fares Of men who never were In the
State Guard. and were rushed to Omaha to
join q regiment that was mustered directly
into the volunteer service. 30 1t will be seen
that Bryan's shoulder straps and his oppor-
tunity to pose for photographs at Jacksonville
will cost the State q pretty large sum after
all. and that 1t will have been drawn from an
appropriation In an unauthorized manner.
In the meantime the men Of the Second ReGi-
ment will understand the reason why they
were SO long in getting their full number Of
recruits. Til recruiting officers have UNDER
stood the situation all the time.
MONTREAL As AN OOEAN PORT.