The herald., 1898-08-30
Want THEM SENT HOME
A REPRESENTATIVE TO BE SENT
TO WASHINGTON
THE OFFICERS WILL OPPOSEIT
Men With Fat Salaries and Shoulder
Straps Want to Hang on to
Their Jobs

The story of the suffering and misery, the
sickness the deaths among the soldiers OF
the Seventh California regiment, told in
The Herald yesterday morning, has aroused
the people of Southern Clifornda to pitch
of indignation that BODIES III for the men
who are responsible for the Ill treatment,
neglect and worse than indifference that
have made such things possible.
The people no longer cry, Send our boys
to the 'front.' The cry now is Muster
out the regiment before any more Of the
men die. Muster out the Seventh and let
them come home.'
1t is not all talk, either. Action has al
ready been taken, which will eliminate
within week or ten days, in personal de-
mand being made upon President Mckinley
to interfere and insist upon the war DEPART
ments sending the boys home. They have
surely suffered enough and the people win
no longer remain silent while their sons
die in camp in order that commfs-
stoned officers may hold their place and
draw their salaries.
If the country needed the men 1t would
be different but the war is over and no
good can come of longer torturing half
clothed, ill-fed regiment of sick men. They
want TO come home-all except the commits
stoned officers-and the people propose to
see, at this late day. a little justice done the
soldiers from the south.
When the Seventh regiment was formed
a war board was also formed in Southern
California with headquarters In this city,
for the purpose of aiding, as far as allowed,
the soldiers. Under the peculiar censor
ship exercised by those in authority over
the Seventh only questions upon "official
business" were answered, and hence the
war board, which did some good and could
have done much more had they known how
TO direct their efforts, were unaware Of
what was going on.
AS late as yesterday gentleman from
this city had to send word to the parents
of a soldier that their boy was dying. 1t
was not "official business" for the colonel
of the regiment or the captain Of his COM
pany to notify the poor boys mother that
he was sick unto death, and 1t would have
been very unofficial" and might have en-
dangered some popinjay's shoulder straps
had word been sent her SO that she might
once more see her son before death closed
his eyes and sealed his lips.
The dead tell no tales.
The war board consists of five members
from Los Angeles and three members each
from Ventura, Santa Paula, Pasadena, San
Bernardino, Redlands Riverside. Pomona,
Santa Ana and San Diego.
Yesterday the Los Angeles members met
and Mr.. ]. R. Newberry appeared before
the board and subs tantiated the sta tements
made by The Herald as to the condition OF
the troops, and stated that the men Of the
Seventh were anxious to be mustered out,
but the commissioned officers would object.
Iect. The local board at once passed a resolu-
ton directed to Adjutant General Barrett,
asking him to aid in having the Seventh
mustered out of service at once, and the
secretary was notified to correspond with
all out of town members Of the board, ask
ing them to meet at once and adopt reso-
luton to that effect AS soon as this Is
done Mr. Newberry will go to Washington.
D. c., and personally cali upon President
Mckinley. asking him to interfere and
have the war department instructed to
muster out the troops.
No demand for an investigation will be
made until after the boys are free and foot
loose and can talk without fear, but by
and by there will be an investigation made
by the people right here at home, whether
1t be Official or not.
One thing is certain, the members Of the
Seventh once out of the clutches of the
army will hesitate a long, long time before
enlisting again in any military organiza-
ton. One poor fellow, just out of the hos
pital, said in camp the other day: "If Uncle
Sam ever wants me again he will have to
reach out and drag me in. I'll never vol
unteer. My patriotism has been almost
starved out of me over there" pointing to
the general hospital.
"And my patriotism" Clipped in an
other man, has been wet through so often
It will take It long time to dry OUT
1t is understood the officers of the Sew
enth intend preparing a statement denying
Ill charges made against them and asking
the soldiers to sign 1t. If the company is not
mustered out before the statement is pre-
pared the boys would be fools to refuse the
"reQuest" of their officers. If they do
well, 1t may not be official, but as a re-
turned invalid from the Seventh puts It.,
they'll catch hell"
The following interview Is with a gentle
man who is working hard to have the Sew
enth mustered out and have its officers
Investigated. He has q son In the ranks:
IA move is being made in formidable
way to have the Seventh California infan-
try mustered out Of the service he said.
81. r. Newberr1 has just returned from
San Francisco. While there he visited
the Seventh regiment in camp. He reports
that the rank and file are practically unani-
nous in favor Of being mustered out, while
the commissioned officers desire to see more
service Colonel John r. Berry is opposed
to the move to muster out the regiment.
Recently petition was circulated among
the privates asking the authorities to mus
ter out the regiment so the boys could re-
turn again to their homes and occupations.
To this petition there were some sixty or
more names attached when Colonel Berry
heard Of 1t. He promptly informed the
boys that such action was contrary to law
in such cases made and provided, or words
to that effect, and that such action would
call for court-martlal. OF course the
petition was promptly suppressed.
"fr. Newberry armed with authority will
start Immediately for the east. In a week
Dr ten days ne will be In Washington, and
be will present the matter in person to
President Mckinley He says that within
Two weeks the order will be issued for the
beventh to be mustered out and the boys
WI b ct their homes again.