The herald., 1898-11-30
SEVENTH FORMALLY ACCEPTS
TWO HANDSOME BANNERS
TO SIGN OR NOT TO SIGN
Petitions to Be Continued In Service
Again Being Circulated-Receive
Cold Reception

were given, the regiment being in San Fran
cisco, could make no formal acknowledg
ment of their receipt, but wished before be-
ing mustered out of service to testify to the
donors their gratitude for the honor done
them.
Yesterday afternoon after the regiment
had marched upon the field for dress pa
rade, Company b, Captain Dodge, was de-
tailed as guard, and, headed by the regimen
tai band, escorted the colors from the
barracks to the parade, where they were
presented first to Colonel Berry and then to
the regiment The flags were then saluted
with present arms" and dipped once in
acknowledgment The two color bearers
took their places and the escort resumed its
place in the ranks.
In addition to the presentation the regi-
ment gave dress parade, and at its con-
clusion passed in review before Colonel
Berry and staff. Each company as it
passed before the reviewing st tand was greet
ed with cheers for the excellent drill it
displayed.
The petitions which were started Monday
to give an opportunity to those men who
wished to remain in the volunteer service
continue to arouse feeling both pro and con.
These petitions, of which ten copies were
started in each company, read:
10 the Hon. Secretary Of War:
We, the undersigned members of the
Seventh regiment, California volunteers,
respectfully ask that we be retained in
the volunteer service of the United
States, and that after those members
who desire to be mustered out are dis
charged, we be given an opportunity of
serving the government at Manila.
As to the advisabildty of signing this
petition there have arisen two opposing
factions among the men. Among the off
GERS the general sentiment appears to be to
grant discharges to all who desire them, but
to persuade sufficient number of the men to
sign to keep the regimental organization in
tact. Yesterday morning the three majors
commanding the three battalions advised
their men to sign, claiming that if a suffi
cient number OF names were secured there
were influences working to keep the regi-
mental organization in service. The men
were told of the advantage which would
acrue to themselves from a trip to Manila,
which one major characterized as "a liberal
education in ITSELF They were advised
that all signs indicated that the present
winter would be dry winter in Southern
California and many of them would have
difficulty in securing employment. Such
men as were afraid. of signing, from fear
Of adverse criticism by their comrades,
would have an opportunity of affixing their
signatures in private.
Several men questioned whether there
i, ~
which would justify any one in thinking
that the regiment would remain in service,
and, no orders could be cited, nor were
the names given of those of influence who
would use their pull to keep the regiment
in service, provided sufficient names were
obtained.
Colonel Berry, when seen, said that the
subject was simply personal matter with
each man. Those who desired to leave the
service had had the opportunity given
them in San Francisco of expressing their
views, the present petitions were circulated
in the interest Of those who desired to re-
main in the service, that it was personal
matter with each man and that those who
wished it would undoubtedly receive their
pay and discharge on Friday. Captain
Pratt knew nothing officially about the
matter, his duty being connected with the
mastering out of the regiment. His duties
in this direction are nearly finished yester-
day being spent in making out quartermas.
ters and ordnance reports.
Among the enlisted men two parties are
at work, those who wish to quit the service
absolutely on Friday and those who wish to
20 to Manila. The former claim that the
regiment is given an opportunity Of re-
trieving itself by active service and wish to
avail themselves of the chance. The other
party fears that if sufficient number of
men sign the petition the work of muster
ing out will be stopped and the men contin-
ued in service, whether they wish it or not;
these consequently oppose any hindrance
to the mastering out, claiming that such
men as wish further military life would
prefer enlisting in the regular service and
not under the present volunteer officers.
A poll of the signers of the petition was
taken Yesterday afternoon with a total re-
suit of l25 names, with A, G and l. COM
panies in the lead. Those who wish that
the regiment should continue as an organza-
ton claim that this poll does not represent
the true strength of their side They claim
that many are signing privately to escape
from the jeers of their comrades, and that
today fully 375 men will have signifed their
desire to stay in the regiment, which num-
Der they claim is sufficient to hold the or
The other party claims that
not over ten per cent of the men desire to
remain in the service. In A and L COM
pany is claimed the greatest number of
signatures to the petition, some estimates
being as high as forty per cent; in c and l
the claim is made by the opposition that no
signatures have been obtained Tomorrow,
when all sub rosa petitions are in, correct
estimate can be given.
On Thursday at O'Clock the second bat
talon will give an exhibition drill at Haz-
ards pavilion for the benefit OF the wild
owed mother of Gail Ferguson, the first of
the regiment to die at San Francisco. Those
who were unable to see the Thanksgiving
day drill will have the opportunity of see-
ing the battalion drill once more before
being mustered out The gross receipts
will be given to Mrs. Ferguson, who is in
need of financial assistance.
A supposed epidemic of diphtheria has
proved to be unfounded. Only two cases are
reported, and these are being cared for at
the county hospital. Two suspect cases
were found to be suffering from sore throat,
and no further cases have been reported.
The camp has been thoroughly disinfected
with chloride of lime ard iron and the cattle
pens in the park have been cleaned.