Evening star., 1898-10-12
WILL GO TO PHILADELPHIA
Secretary Alger Promises to Send Troops
From Camp Meade.

The committee from Philadelphia having
charge Of the arrangements for the mill
tary and naval display of the jubilee at
Philadelphia called the Secretary of
War and on Commodore CrowninshieId to-
day. The members of the committee were
introduced by Representative McAleer and
were headed by Mayor Warwick of Phila
delphia. They were joined al the depart
n ent by Representative Loudenslager OF
New jersey and Representative Wanger of
Pennsylvania They were received by the
Secretary of War N the War Department
reception room. ana MIR. Henry Clay. act
ing as spOheSman. presented the request of
the committee for the assignment of troops
to participate in the jubilee celebration.
The Interview With the Secretary
Secretary Alger received the committee
with great cordiality, expressing his inter-
est in the jubilee.
Mayor Warwick first presented the Sec
retary with a formal invitation to partici-
pate in the celebration, and the Secretary
said ii his desire and his intention to
be present, if possible The Secretary ac-
guessed in the requests made, holding in
reserve only some minor details as to how
the orders should be executed. The matter
of transportation of troops being an i'm
pOrtant consideration, Mr. Clay assured
the Secretary of the Willingness of the city
of Philadelphia TO do everything necessary
in this particular.
The Secretary replied that the depart
meEt would have to consider lust how far
the expenditures by the government for
transportation would be admissible, but
said that it was his opinion that the pres
ence of the President at the celebration
made it an occasion of truly national
character, and that it would be proper that
Il very considerable body of soldiers should
be ordered there at government expense in
attendance upon the President. This was a
matter, however to be considered and
with the assurance that the city Of Phila-
deIpnla Will do whatever the government
could not in the way of transportation he
said that the troops asked for would be
ordered to Philadelphia.
The Secretary. as the requests were made
OF him. answered them categOricaliy all
III the affirmative, except that as to TIE at
tendance of Gems. Shafter, Wheeler and
Lee, with respect to which he signified an
indefinite acquiescence, and with respect
to the attendance of the colored troops
designated. he said that the colored troops
would be represented, and that he hoped 10
be able to order the particular trooDs that
were asked for by the committee. The COM
mittee asked that $50 officers and men of
the 2lst Regular Infantry, now at P!atts-
burg barracks, should be ordered to partic-
ipate in the jubilee, giving as a reason the
fact that they were under command of
Col. Mckibbin who is Philadelphan, and
that they had distinguished themselves by
gallantry in battle, singing the Star
Spangled Banner and wading waist-deep
through ater in d charge, under fire from
the enemy.
The Secretary said that this request
would be granted
The committee requested also a battery
of United States artillery, a squadron of
United States cavalry, the 9th preferred
two companies having been recruited at
Philadelphia; also an assignment of colored
troops from the 9th and 10th Colored Cav
airy, and the oath and 25th Colored Reg
ular Infantry. The Secretary said that he
would comply with this request sending
| the particular colored troops asked for, #
Iossible.
| Noted Commanders Wanted.
/ The committee also asked consent for the
| attendance of Gems. Shafter, Wheeler, Lee,
| Graham. Sumner. Young and McKibben.
| and such other heroes of the war as could
| be prevailed upon to accept.
| The Secretary made a general acquies Sc
ence to this. but did not answer definitely
| that Shafter, Lee and Wheeler could be
| present.
| In response to the request that the Cd
| Army Corps at Camp Meade should be
] ordered TO participate in the jubilee, with
| all the Pennsylvania troops and battaliOnS
| from the regiments from each of the four
| teen states represented there, responded
| promptly that the order would be issued,
| and that the matter of transportation, that
| or part, would be determined on later, 1t
| bsing understood that if the government
| could not arrange 1t, Philadelphia would.
| The committee, in view of the fact that a
number of the volunteer troops would be
| without arms, possibly on account of be-
| ing mustered out before that time, asked
| for the loan of rifies and other accoutre-
| mentS.
| This the Secretary promptly agreed to-
He also consented for the Pennsylvania
| troops 10 participate, and in response to the
| request that the 10th Pennsylvania, which
| has just returned from Porto Rico should
| be rendezvoused at Camp Meade, so as tc
| be convenient to participate in the celebra.
| ton, the Secretary suggested that ii would
| be better possibly for the 10th to rendez
| vous near Philadelphia instead of going tc
| Camp Meade and on being assured that 8
place would be provided for their camp
near Philadelphia, he said that he. would
order them there.
The committee also asked for authority
for the city troop and Battery A of Phila
delphia to participate. and this the Secre
tary granted. The Secretary expressed
| qualification that General Miles had con
| sented to act as chief marshal.
| Referring again to the 10th Pennsylvania
! being camped near Philadelphia, the Sec
| retary laughngly expressed the hope tha
| the Philadelphia people would not feet
them on pies and dainues and make then
| all sick.