The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-10-13
FOURTH MIMI. REGIMENT.
e. S. Chittenden Continues to Pro-
test Against Its Organization.

To The st. Paul Globe:
Our war governor Of 1898" seeks to avail
himself Of the Indian scare, which he ap-
parently has endeavored to intensity and
make the most Of to carry out his long con-
sidered project of mastering out of the state
service our gallant Thirteenth regiment of
volunteers First n. G. S. NJ and put shout
Ger straps upon others Of his personal and
political champions and favorites without any
regard to their qualifications.
To do this he proposes to disregard all the
provisions Of the military code Of this state.
by which he as we'll as the humblest private
and citizen must be controlled.
Notwithstanding the fact that he has here
tofore disclaimed any such intention and that
the Twelfth and Fourteenth regiments Of
volunteers and the Third regulars, although
under national control furnish ample mill
tary protection, he presumes to punish the
Thirteenth regiment for its gallant service at
Manila by attempting to dismiss them from
the state service
The military code of this state Ito the pro-
visions Of which on this subject the governor
has previously been referred in part 8, art 2
page 233 General Laws Of 1897. expressly de-
clares that no officer or enlisted man OF the
national guard shall be cashlered dismiss d
removed or mustered out Of its service except
by his voluntary resignation or incompete1cy.
or by decision Of a military court or commits
sion upon charges preferred against the indi-
vidual. It also defines the oftense on which
charges may be preferred and volunteering
into the service Of the nation on call OF the
president or governor is not defined as one Of
those offenses.
There is no authority whatever, in the MILL
tary code, for the muster out Of a national
guard military organization in a body.
1t is unnecessary 10 further comment upon
the injustice impolcy and bad politics Qf
political considerations are involved OF mus
tering out the Thirteenth regiment under
present circumstances. It would be, as it
has been characterized By others. an outrage,
a distinct discouragement OF national guards
men from enlistment as volunteers at the call
OF the general government.
As an authorized representative Of the boys
of the Thirteenth regiment in their absence,
this association would protest against their
discharge from the state service as unneces-
sary. unjust, unprecedented and Illegal
If, as is stated, the purpose Of the governor
is TO provide military titles for his favories.
his attention is called to those provisions Of
the military code which enact that all line.
field and general officers shall be elected by
their respective ommands-company oficsrs
by members OF companies, rlgimental officers
by officers of the regiment, and the brigade
commander by the field officers of the brigade.
All of these officers are subject to eXamina-
ton by a board of officers Of the national
guard. Had these requirements been applied
to some of the governors volunteer ap-
pontees, would they wear shoulder
straps, thereby endangering the lives and
health of their men?
If in the opinion OF the governor a fourth
regiment is needed in the national guard, he
may lin time of war. instruction, riot or
imminent danger thereof organize il und5r
the provisions Of the cCde, 5. art. p part
1, page PCS Laws Of 1897, but subject to the
above requirements as to elsction Of It's Of
fcers.
II is very certain that with nearly 500 men
we'll armed ard disciplined. now in the field,
and 500 additional members Of tn Twelfth
and Fourteenth volunteers and the Fourth
and Seventeenth regulars. numbering fully
500 to LOCO more. ready to respond Instantly
to orders the general government Is furnish
ing full protection for the state Of Mime
sofa and taking effectual m asures to sup
press any further Indian outbreak. That be-
ing the case the latest excuse Tor the gov
ernors remarkable desire FOR new national
guard organizations TO take the pace OF the
old and tried ones is removed.
1t is to be hoped that to accomplish Inls
purpose he will not attempt an uns5emly ana
illegal act. o...,
BY E. S. Chittenden,
COmmandant.
St. Paul. Oct. Y. 1898.