The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1898-11-11
BRYAN ASKED NO FAVORS.
War Department Feels Called Upon
To Make a Statement.

To Make a Statement.
The secretary of war, on being asked
as to the report that Colonel w. j.
Bryan, Third Nebraska, had been re-
fused leave of absence and kept with
that Colonel Bryan has asked no indul-
gence whatever Of the war department,
so that none had been refused him, any
reports to the contrary are without
foundation.-Oficial Statement Issued
by the Wa Department.
The war department has found it
necessary and convenient at this time
to make the above statement in refer
enc to the in which Colonel
William Jennings Bryan, Of the Third
Nebraska, was treated when he came
to Washington to ask for the discharge
of certain sick soldiers of his regiment.
Colonel Bryan had with him when he
arrived in Washington a list of the men
whom he thought should be allowed to
go home because of sickness and other
reasons. AS soon as he reached town
the story was given out that Colonel
Bryan was here to make a personal
plea for his discharge, and this was
coupled with the intimation that he
wanted to get into the political field for
the congressional elections.
Colonel Bryan's mouth was closed so
S1loI hC SoulN y 1SplS ~ 11'Ai
uations which were industriously cir
culated at the war department. In adj
dition to this he was obstructed at
every turn when he made his request
for the discharge of his men.
He was sent from one office to
another. and eventually went to the
Office of General Miles. The general
took his list and said he would see to
it that the meritorious cases were dis
charged. Colonel Bryan was informed
at the war department that his list
must be sent back to Jacksonville and
forwarded here by General Lee. This
had not been usual before this alpli-
cation.
comb were also DESTROYS of having the
sick of the First Nebraska in Manila
mustered out. The alternative vas
suggested to Colonel Bryan and to Gov
ernor Holcomb of having either the
First Nebraska or the Third mustered
out, putting the governor in the posi-
ton of either keeping both regiments
in the service or of mastering out the
Third, which was junior to the First
regiment.
After several visits to the White
house and to half a, dozen places in the
war department Colonel Bryan's leave
Of absence of ten days expired with
out any satisfaction being given him
or Governor Holcomb. Colonel Bryan
was not well WQen ne came mere. anu
was so worried with red tape and du-
plicity that he grew quite sick and had
to go to bed.
But through it all he and Governor
HOlcomb declined to be caught in any
Of the cunning traps laid for them al
the White house and the war depart
ment. For political PURPOSES it was
desired that Colonel Bryan should ask
to be mustered out, or hat Governor
Holcomb should jump the First Ne
braska and ask that Bryan's whole
regiment should be mustered out. The
contention of Colonel Bryan and Gov
ernor Holcomb was that Nebraska's
fair share Of troops should be retained
in the service. The in which
Colonel Bryan has been treated has
naturally engaged the attention Of pol
iticians on both sides in Nebraska, SO
the war department ome today to its
own defence and issued the statement
quoted above.
The secretary denies an irrelevant
matter. out NJ answer to the other
statements which show that there was
a conspiracy to, put Bryan in a bad
light on account of his visit to Wash
ineton.
In the meanwhile his former opnO-
nent. the president, has been stumpine
in Bryan's state and the west gener-