The times., 1898-09-04
APPEAL TO COL. HARRIES
Reception to the Troops De-
pends Upon His Orders.
HALT In ARRANGEMENTS
Special Committee Appointed to
Meet the Commanding Offfcer of
the District Regiment and Prevail
Upon Him, if Possible, TO Postpone
the Date of Homecoming.

1t now depends upon Col. George II.
Harries whether the desire of the citizens
of Washington to pay distinguished
honor to the District regiment by receiv-
ing it with a fitting demonstration, an
escort and other evidences of popular ap-
probation shall be fulfilled or not.
1t has been left for him to fix the day
and hour of the home coming Of the
troops and if he adheres to his avowed
determination of bringing the regiment to
Washington next Friday at a. M, the
proposed reception may of a necessity be
abandoned.
Accordingly, all arrang ements have been
temporarily suspended, and special
committee, composed of Major Richard
Sylvester, Theodore w Noyes and Harry
l.. West, left for Camp Wikoff last night
for the purpose of interviewing the colo
mel of the District regiment and finally
settling the matter either for or against
the reception.
Interview With Ccrbin.
1t having been announced to the gen
eral arrangement committee that Col.
Harries had been prevailed upon by the
special Montauk Point committee to Or
der the regiment home on September Q,
a date too near at hand to permit of the
carrying out of the magnificent reception
planned by the people of Washington,
it was deemed advisable to have q spe-
cial committee confer with the adjutant
general of the army for the purpose of
learning just when the troops would re-
turn.
This committee accomplished its mis-
sion IN part yesterday afternoon by cali
ing upon Gen. Corbin and being informed
by him that the matter of the return
of the troops had been left entirely in
the hands of Col Harries and the COM
mandng general at Montauk Point.
1t was then decided that the committee
should go even further and visit Camp
Wikoff for the purpose of prevailing upon
Col. Harries, IL possible, to hold the regi-
ment at Montauk until such time as
Washington could complete preparations
for receiving II.
When the committee left the room of
the adjutant general yesterday its men,
bers were asked for statement as TO the
success of the conference. Major Syl-
vester said:
There is really nothing new. The mat
ter has been left in the hands of Col.
Harries and the commanding general at
Montauk Point
Mr.. West said: THE District boys will
return at the desire of Col. Harries"
Mr.. Moves said nothing.
Harries Is Notified.
After leaving the War Department the
committee met and decided TO lose no
time in starting for Montauk to confer
with Col Harries, and to ask him to re-
consider the date of the regiments re-
turn. They also sent him a long dis
patch, announcing their intended visit
and it's object. The telegram read as
follows:
The report OF our special committee TO visit
Montauk Point and report upon the condition
OF the District soldiers shows that our representa-
tiyes, after ascertaining the wishes OF your men,
prevailed upon you TO change TO an earlier date
the time which you had thought best for the
soldiers's home coming.
The special committee was not authorized 10
present the views of the reception committee on
this subject or TO participate as its representa-
tiyes in any such arrangement. In fact, the date
selected September Q, is too close at hand for
the reception which we had planned to give the
returning soldiers to be carried ont.
III the representations Of our special committee
had any influence in causing you TO expedite the
soldiers's return We beg to notify you that the
wishes of this committee, representing the com
munity were not voiced thereby, and we urge that
Won reopen and reconsider the subject, and II
possible after review Of all the conditions, post
pone for a few days from September the date
Of the regiments return TO Washington we
leave tonight to confer with you tomorrow on
this subject.
The dispatch was signed by each of the
members of the committee.
TIE committee left for New York short
" after 10 o'clock last night. and will
Of
some time tomorrow.
The Committeeman Talk.
Before leaving Major Sylvester said:
| 1.-THE committee is going TO Montauk to-
night, and will there confer with Col.
| Harries, with view to having him post
pone the date of their departure a few
days from September s, the date already
| announced. This postponement will meet
with the wishes of the entire committee
and will enable the citizens to prepare a
reception for the boys such as they de-
| serve. 1t will also give the boys time in
which to recuperate and get in shape for
| their home coming.
| Just before his departure with the COM
mittee Mr.. Noyes said: 'Tn pursuance
| of our appointment by the reception COM
| mittee last night with instructions tc
| confer with Gen. Corbin and Col Harries
on the subject of the date of the home
| coming of the District soldiers, we leave
| for Montauk Point tonight. We have al
ready sent dispatch to Col Harries. an
nouncing the fact of our coming and de-
| scribing the conditions which led 20 our
| appointment The purpose of the commit.
| tee, in pursuance Of the spirit of Its ap-
| pointment, is to ascertain whether il
would be possible to secure a reconsider
| alton of the date selected for the return
| of the District boys, and the postpone.
ment for few days of that event.
| Mr.. West, when seen just prior to his
| departure with the committee, heartily
| concurred in the views expressed by the
| other members, as printed in previous par.
| agraphs, and said that he hoped thai
| some arrangement might be made afte,
a conference with Col. Harries whereby
i the troops may be brought back to Wash.
| ington several days later than Septembe,
y, In order that they may enjoy the homo,
| OF the reception which the people oI