The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-12
WANT TO STOP THE ELECTION.
.v.1 RESERVES WRITE TO GOV.
,rEINsON URGING IT'S DELAY.

Sou. of the Men Dissatisfied with
col Garrard's Investigation and
"a. RoeommentIatiOnst Co the Gov
,or-They Expect to Hear From
atlanta To-day. But IL Not, the
r,.ction for battalion Officers win
co,,e OF Tonight.
A combined effort of the Second division
=, Tho savannah Naval Militia is being
made TO stop the election of battalion Off
RS which the Governor has ordered for
>. ,iqht Each man wrote the Governor
,arsonal letter last night, which may
toye some effect in securing what they de-
sire
The movement is not wholly confined to
the men of the Second division, as letters
we're also sent by a number from the Third
division. The movement is understood TO
have been inspired by the dissatisfaction
among the men of the Second and con-
si1ar,ble number of the Third division,
over the finding of Col William Garrard,
who was recently instructed by the Gov
ernor to investigate the troubles in the
militia here and make such recommended
tons as he thought would produce bet
ter feeling and place the militia on more
substantial basis.
Col. Garrard conducted the investigation
Saturday afternoon, the day he received
the communication, by examining Lieut..
Coldiug and Lieut. Broughton, between
whom the contention lies. Ensign Kinzie
of the Third division was the only other
officers, Col. Garrard came to conclusions
about what he would recommend and
started his report to Atlanta in time 10
reach there Sunday. 1t is said he recon-
mended that the resignation of Lieut.
Colding be accepted, that the election pro-
coed tonight for battalion officers, and
further expressed the opinion that one
good company of naval reserves would
prosper here better than two companies.
The letters sent the Governor are signed
by the men individually A COPY of on
Of them is as follows:
Hon. w. Y. Atkinson, Governor: Sir
On yesterday morning 1 learned through
the papers that the investigation ordered
by Acting Adjt. Gen. Brown into the
trouble in the ranks of the Savannah
Naval RESERVE was neiQ SATURDAY after
noon. l am one of the men who requested
the investigation to be held, and desired
TO throw some light on the matter, but did
rot receive any notice that an investiga-
ton was to be held, and in this I
think / was not treated with proper con-
sideratiOn. l do not think that with the
meager Information obtained in that inves-
tigation proper report could be made in
the matter therefore beg that you viii
postpone the election, which Is ordered for
tomorrow night until a better and more
complete investigation can be had. The
body is in deplorable condition, due en-
trely to an unpopular man insisting On
holding office against the expressed wish
of his command. The men openly say II at
they will not serve under him. whatever
the consequences of a refusal may be-"
Respectfully,
Whether the election will be called off
remains to be seen. It is said Col. Gar
rard strongly recommended that one COM
pany would place the reserves on a better
footing in Savannah and if the Governor
considers this favorably, the election may
be allowed to proceed. If, however, he
thinks, the reserves should be strongly
organized and that it would be better to
have two companies, the threatened dis
solution which the election will bring may
he considered and the order rescinded.
There Is the deepest interest In the Gov
ernor's action, and the news from At
lanta to-day will be awaited eagerly.