The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-05-02

WAS IT POLITICS !?
Members Of the Fourth
Regiment Discuss the
Governors Action.
ERRONEOUS IMPRESSIONS ABROAD
No Dispute Between officers and
Men But Both Ready and Pre-
pared 10 Go to The Front.
ERROSEuUs IMPRESSIONS ABROAD

Among some people there is an impress
sion that the officers of the Fourth Regi-
ment were opposed to going to the front,
while the men were enthusiastically in
favor of volunteering, and this was the
reason why the Fourth Regiment was not
included ii Governor Voorhees, first call
for three regiments.
The officers, from the Colonel down to
the greenest second lieutenant, have
troubles Of their OWN. and chief among
them is the fact that they are left be-
hind without having such a glaring mis-
representation, such as being opposed to
going out, put on their shoulders. The
fact is the officers wanted and want to do
service for Uncle Sam, and there's not a
man in the regiment doubts that.
The Fourti's position throughout all
this affair has been very much misrep-
resented. When it was known that the
National Guard would probably be called
out both officers and men of the Fourth
We're eager to respond to the call Then,
however, it was understood that only
volunteers would be taken, and the
Fourth, like its gallant brother regiment
in New York, the Seventh, would not hear
of any wiping outTof their organization.
They would go as a regiment to man,
StA>Tti
thing was not to be heard of.
The Hull bill passed, and with it went
the existing apprehension OF splitting up
regiment. Unfortunately for the
Fourth, other regiments in the State when
approached were given to understand that
they would go preserving their indtvidu-
ality, and, of course, they volunteered.
Had this been made clear to the Fourth
when the call was made there would have
been no trouble The Fourth didn't get
the chance given to others, and thus the
impression was created, an erroneous one,
as anyone can see, that the Fourth could
not muster up the biggest percentage.
When as a matter of fact it became
known that the Hull bill was passed only
two per cent. of the regiment would stay
behind for good reasons.
That is why we feel sore" said an
officer of the Fourth to News" repre-
sentative today. THE public do not un-
derstand our position. A few think that
the officers and men are divided. Nothing
of the kind.
The selection of the three regiments of
this State has given rise to the feeling
on behalf of some that, after all, there
was at least a suspicion of politics in the
arrangement 1t is at least strange that
the youngest Colonel in the State was Sc
lected as one of the three, when, by right
of seniority, that place belonged to others,
1t is also worthy of note that the Colonel
comes from district which is the key
note of politics in the State. and whether
or not there be any meaning in the Sc
lection of that officer, yet it has brought
forth this remark from great many.
Had a Democratic Governor been al
the head of the Administration the Fourth
Regiment would have been among the
three regiments to be ordered out
Meanwhile. the Fourth Regiment Is
waiting for orders, and by It's drills an5
preparation is ready at any moment for
service. The officers are, of course, very
reticent as to their feelings. While in
tensely disappointed at the situation, they
are soldiers first and however anxious
they may be to go to the front they must
obey orders, and when Governor Voorhees,
says GO" they will go, just as promptly
as would they obey the order Wait