The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-22

recruits TO Brysn's regiment as rapidly as
possible and free transportation was fur
nished to bring men from all parts of the
State. When Ii was learned that free trans
portation was being furnished for recruits
to the Third the Governor was interviewed
on the subject. and he gave the impression
that the general government was paying the
fares of the men, and that he did not know
why the recruits for the Second Regiment
1t now develops that this free Transports
ton was furnished on the request Of the
State officials and that the bills for II have
been charged to the State TO be paid some
time in the future. This explodes the story
that the genera, government Was furnish-
ing the transportation, and II also proves
the charge SO often made that favortism
was shown to the Bryan regiment Tire
Governor has an assurance that the ex-
penses of the men finally mustered into the
volunteer service will be paid by the War
Department. while the railroad fares Of the
will have to be borne by the State But
the recruits to the First and Second Regi-
haVlmg pata OUT tner own money 20
pocket Just so much, and no effort will he
made by the Governor to reimburse them or
TO present their claims to the War Depart
ment. 1t was deliberate plan to boost the
Third Regiment and delay the First and
Second Regiments, and the expense of the
plan will be borne by the State.
The Wholesale issue of free tickets to re-
cruits for Bryan,s regiment resulted in
cases where men went to Omaha at the ex-
pense OF the state well knowing that they
would De rejected by the medical board.
They were running no risk of peeuniary
loss, and turned the trip into a pleasure
junket. At this same time young men were
paying out all their pocket money TO get
to Lincoln to enlist in other regiments, and
while waiting for examination, were living
on cheese and crackers ard sleeping on the
floor of the armory here. To get these men
here and to take care of them after they
arrived took many dollars out of the poelr~
cts of the recruiting officers. No aid was
offered by the officials who were at that
time showing 90 much activity in raising
men for the Bryan regiment.
The total expense to the State of the
scheme to rush Bryan to the front cannot
! be computed at the present time. as the
| vouchers are not all on file yet. When the
| bills are finally paid out of the fund pro-
| vided for the maintenance Of the State
| Guard, it will be materially reduced Not
only will the fund be depleted, but the
money will be paid out for the railroad
fares of men who never were in. the state
| Guard, and were rushed to Omaha to join
| a regiment that was mustered directly into
| the volunteer service. So 1t will be seen
that BryaTs shoulder straps and his onpor-
| tunity to pose for photographs at Jackson
Vile will cost the State a pretty large sum
/ after all, and that II will have been drawn
| from an appropriation in an unauthorized
manner. In the meantime the men of the
| Second Regiment will understand the rea-
| son why they were so long in getting their
! full number of recruits. The recruiting off,
GERS have understood the situation all the
| time.