The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-09-14
Rrran,s Military Glory.

The publication of the list of troops to
be mustered out Of the service and 10 be
etained until further orders has caused
Hood of kilograms of protest. and the ar
rival in Washington of many officers
anxious % secure a change in the orders.
At the Adjutant Generals Office it is
stated that the list, as made out. will be
closely adhered 10, and that appeals will
5o unavailing. The regiments chosen for
retention have been selected with much
care and because their services in the near
future will, it is felt, be required. One of
the regiments which is reported as pro-
testing most bitterly against being retain
ed in the service IS the Third Nebraska,
commanded by Colonel William Jennings
Bryan. His regiment is stationed at Jack
sonville as part of the Seventh corps. of
which General Fitzhugh Lee is com
mander, and which, il is generally un-
derstood, will form part of the army of
occupation in Cuba. The regiment was
raised under the second call, although
not demanded by the Government, and
in excess of the quota of Nebraska II
was accepted in response to the earnest
solicitation of the friends of Mr.. Bryan,
and as the result Of statements of friends
of the administration that to refuse it
would be considered in some quarters ev-
idence OF lack of generosity on the part
Of the President toward former politi-
cal opponent, anxious to obtain military
glory in connection with the war.
Ia the organization of the regiment the
Governor of Nebraska selected as far as
possible for officers prominent advocates
of Populis.a in the various counties, and
the bulk Of the regiment itself was re-
ported to consist OF those who had voted
for its Colonel in the last Presidential
election. Very few of the officers or men
bad ever handled musket. even in mil
tia training. The first suggestion was
that il should be utilized in garrison from
tier posts in Nebraska. taking the place
IF the regulars who had been sent to Cuba
This was Indignantly resented as an iu-
suit to Mr.. Bryan, and in order that there
should be no suggestion of partisanship,
as soon as the regiment was mustered in
and equipped ii was sent to Jacksonville.
Florida. and placed under Gen. Fitzhugh
Lees command for discipline and drill.
Now that there seems to be a certainty
that it and its Colonel will be given an
opportunity TO go to Cuba, q majority of
the regiment and its officers, including
Col. w. J. Bryan, are reported as clam
oring 20 be discharged. in order that they
may participate in the fall campaign in
Nebraska.
The Governor is urging the War De-
partment II muster them out, aud Colo
mel Bryan is threatening to resign, in or
der to be able to take the stump before
the coming election. Colonel Bryan viii
he allowed TO resign, if he so desires, but
his regiment will not be mustered out at
present. it was forced upon the War De-
partment purely for the sake of affording
Mr.. Bryan an opportunity to gain some
notoriety In connection with the Spanish
war. In response to earnest requests it
was placed in General Lees corps, be-
cause Il Was well known that the troops
under that command were to be the first
OF the reserves TO see foreign service. In
convenient as it may be 10 Colonel Bryan
and the men OF his command 70 be away
from Nebraska during political cam
paign. the War Department is unable TO
convince itself that 1t IS its duty TO change
military programme in order TO afford
the late candidate of the Democratic psrty
an opportunity to continue his interrupt
ed series Of rear platform addresses. A
large number Of individual applications
for muster-ont from the regiment have
been granted, but the War Department
has positively refused to place the regi-
ment on the roll Of those organizations
which are 10 be Immediately mustered
out