The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-20
BACON PULLS FOR THE THIRD.
CONFERs WITH THE PRESIDENT
REGARDING ITS RETENTION.

lAS AONs
Prospects That the Men May Remain
in the Service, Although the Last
In-First-Out-RuIe Has Been Adopt
edwin Keep Only Those in the
Service Who Desire to Remain.
Many Young Men Have Made BUS
mess Sacrifices to Fight For Their
Country, and should Not BE Dis
charged-senntOr Bacon Leaves
For Home.
Washington, Aug. Ex-senator Bacon
called at the White House to-day and had
a very satisfactory talk with the Presi-
dent relative to the retention in the serV-
ice of the Third Georgia Regiment. SEN
ator Bacon spent the day making round
of the departments in the interest of his
constituents and left for his home to-
night.
In discussing the subject of the Third
Regiment, he told the President that he
had kilograms from officers of the regi-
ment expressing their willingness TO go
to Santiago, or anywhere they are or
dered. The President said he was much
gratifed at the spirit they showed. He
told Senator Bacon that it had not yet
been determined what regiments would be
mustered out; he did say positively, how
ever, that such rule had been adopted as
that the last mustered in should be the
first mustered out. A good many things
must be considered. The aim would be
to keep in only so many as may be neces-
sary, and so far as possible those who
want to stay. There might be difficulty
in ascertaining what commands desired
to stay and what ones did not, as doubt
less some men in each command would
like TO stay in, while others would not.
All of these points the President went
over in detail with Senator Bacon. On
another point he was more positive that
was that wherever soldiers desire for
good reasons to be mustered out or dis
charged, they win be accommodated.
The Georgia senator told the President
that he had a number of requwts from
young men, and especially from their pa
rents and relatives, stating that for busi-
ness reasons they would like to be must
cred out. These, he explained, were
young men who had enlisted to fight and
had made sacrifices of a business nature
to do So They did not want to stay in
simply to garrison towns, especially as
many others were anxious to remain in
the service. In some instances they were
men for whom business positions were
being held open, some were boys in col
lege, some We're young professional men,
to whose interest it would be to get back
to their professions, now that the need
of their services had actually passed.
The President was prompt In his declar-
ations that he would endeavor to see to
It that the desires of these men were met
He agreed fully with the senator that this
should be done. He said that he had no
doubt that wherever these men stepped
out, others were ready to take their
places, and in justice to these young men,
they should be given their honorable dis
charges, now that the possibility of fight
ing was at an end. This cannot be done
at once for each case must be acted upon
separately, but those who desire discharge
for the reasons indicated can secure it by
making application.
The unfairness of mastering out at this
time officers and men in the position of
those in the Third Georgia, where they
have been put to a good deal of expense
and have made sacrifices to get into the
service, impressed the President, but he
would give no indication as to what would
be the final decision.
In discussing the matter with the adult
ant general later, Senator Bacon dwelt
more particularly upon this phase of the
matter, showing Gen. Corbin that the Of
ficers had not only been to much personal
expense, but had saved the government
the expenses of recruiting; and he advo-
Gated the payment of an extra two
months salary to all volunteers who may
be mustered out under the first order
Senator Bacon said he would favor that
and Gen. Corbin strongly indorsed the
idea. 1t is the general impression here
that - 900 men will be mustered out under
the first order but it does not follow that
these will be the troops raised under the
second call.
Senator Bacons visit, backed by the tel
egrams which Senator Clay has sent the
authorities, may save the Third from be-
ing among the first to go, but il is by no
means certain at the war department, the
officials declare, that the question will be
decided by the department without regard
TO anybodys wishes They say this evil
IDENTIFY with the desire to keep off pressure,
but that is already on from all parts of
the country. Almost all the regiments
want to stay in the service through to the
end.