New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-01
THE ACTION OF THE SEVENTH.
AN EXPLANATION FROM MEMBEh-"hi
THE REGIMENT WOULD MOI
VOLUNTEER.

4 member OF tho 7th Regiment who has heard
much that has been said against his regiment since
tho members refused 10 enlist for two years IN the
United States Army had this to say yesterday IN
defence OF the position taken by the men;
The action which was taken by the individnai
members OF the regiment the subject OF enlist
rnont was not a hasty. mpulsive act, but one "Nch
had been well considered and discussed In all KS
bearings. The men knew that the regiment hau
enemies and that these would mscoDstrue the res-
mcnt's action. and they knew also that people VINO
did not look beyond the surface would call them
towards But they felt convinced that their rea-
sons FOR not giving up their organization would ne
understood eventually and they voted no.. kept
silent while their critics ragged, and they nave 'ne
satisfaction OF knowing that although only lie"
days have elapsed since the action was taken ther
position s already understood by many persons
who were blinded by the first news on the sud-
jcct on the morning before the meeting took
place the authorities at Albany were asked what
would become o, the It'll Regiment II the major
ity answered the call and entered the volunteer
army
Those who remain behind was the answer
will keep up tho organization. and VIII form
nucleus for a new 7th Regimen, and within Few
weeks TIE organization will again have fll! ranks
II WAS explained tlat the men who had been re-
crultcd by Tammany Hall or the ndependent lrsa
And when the war T. over was aSheu hi.L
Colonel App,cton or some other commander comes
ba TX with those ~ the conm3hI Wiio m.s 49,
"
OF the tn Regiment? -,
Ion no. in order to return to the regiment all
those who enlisted I'm the service Ok ne tnitei
states would have % be mustered In aSan, ana j,
The ranks should he fuli or II those who composed
the reg mont then objected, they could not re-
enter the organization.
ANY ono can see that T. this rule had been car.
ricI out II the members OF the tn had declared
Themselves willing - enlist the an Regiment -
we have known IL would have ceased to exist. ana
In It's stead You wpuli hav" had 't1 EeEi'ncit
COMMANDED by JACK Scanncil or some other Vo-
untecr officer who would gain TIE place oy means
81 \ political pull This would not fall so heavily
on other regiments ns Il would on the ith. because
our organization Ia the only one IN the CITY IN
which tho members have personal interest," BEYOND
that which attaches TO being a member. II IL the
only regiment which owns its armory The ar
mory is full OF valuable property. some Of wnlch
has been paid FOR by the state. all OF which IL dear
70 the officers and men. md no one can blame them
,or refusing to surrender all 20 persons who are
unknown 10 them and IN whom they have no IN
forest
cr,y the regiment would have responded 10 a man
/, II had been called into arrive service AZ X was
In tho carly days - the Ciy War. II the order
had come 10 Colonel Appleton 70 take MS COM
rrnuI away 20 serve the country. ana II the mon
had the assurance that th.y could % as the 'h
Rorlncni ana under I'm Regiment officers. and
that when they returned tho old armory doors
wou,d W oneu - Thorn. ard that tho old company
rooms would ic their homes once moro. every mar
IN Tho command would have followed the colonel
I{l' they were unwilling TO enlist T. enlistment in
rlul.i tho surrender OF thclr organization. th"lr
homo ard their cherished traditions