The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-05-19
OTIS RECOMMENDED
NATIONAL VETERAN RESERVE
FAvoRs HIM
PRESIDENT HAS BEEN WIRED
Want Him Appointed Brigadier Gen
eral-Colonel Burns on Neglect
Of the Seventh

A special meeting of the National Vet
eran reserve was held in a room of the
Panorama building last night, at which
resolution was passed that will be
brought to the notice of the president rec
ommending the appointment of Colonel
Harrison Gray Otis as brigadier general
of United States volunteers.
1t was not later than o'clock when Cen
eral Bouton called the meeting to order,
but 1t was more than an hour after before
the talks, arguments and discussions had
progressed far enough so that vote on the
resolution, introduced by George N. Nolan
and seconded by tombstone Jones, could be
taken. And then the contents Of 1t were
made the unanimous sentiments of the
members at the meeting. The resolution
was as follows:
Resolved, That we most earnestly
recommend and urge the appointment
of Harrison Gray Otis to the position
of brgadier general of United States
volunteers, knowing him to be a vet
eran soldier with superb record, a
sturdy patriot, brave as a lion and
qualified In every essential to command
q brigade
Our commander is hereby authorized
president and to the California delega-
ton in congress.
The dispatches from Washington have
said that the president has told the Cali
fornia delegation that he would appoint no
brigadier general from California, because
they seemed unable to decide upon one
man.
Aside from the speeches made compli-
TOW IN al
the organization made some references to
the boys recently made volunteers in the
United States army. He thought the vet
Grams of this city showed neglect in per-
hitting the boys of the Seventh to leave
the city SO unprepared for outdoor life as
they did, If the officers of the regiment
did not know better, or were blind to the
facts, he said, 1t was the duty of the vet
Grams to assist them and tell them what is
needed. The first and cardinal requisite
for soldier life is blankets, and there were
few Of these about. And then the citi-
zens gave them nothing in the way of
edibles. though they should have been told
that it would undoubtedly be needed.
The speaker related how well he and his
comrades were treated when they left their
native town to take part in the civil war;
how big dry goods box was placed in
front of the grocery store and people put
therein what they could-anything from a
pair of socks to turkey. and then shipped
it to the boys. That Is what should be done
here and now, he said. A committee from
the reserve should have been sent to San
Francisco with the boys, he said,t to see that
proper arrangements were made for them
and that they got what was needed Of
ficers can protect themselves, he remarked
but 1t was the duty Of the veterans to pro-
| tect the privates.
| No action was taken on his recommends
| ton. The reserve telegraphed the presi-
| dent offering him the services of 5000 Pa
cifc coast veterans. A reply was received
saying that the matter had been referred
to the secretary of war, but that the gov
ernment could only accept the services OF
troops as ordered by the president through
the governors of states.
The secretary also sent to General Fitz-
hugh Lee a copy of a resolution passed
at a former meeting, complimeting him on
the way he conducted the affairs of this
country in Cuba. Following is the reply,
evidently written by the generals private
secretary:
WASHINGTON, May. s. 1898.
A. M. Fulkerson, Secretary-Dear Sir:
General Lee directs me to say to you
and through you to the veterans of the
National Veterans Reserve, that he
thanks you for your kind and compli-
mentary resolutions adopted at your
meeting. Respectfully yours.
III. DRAIN"
The reserve holds itself in readiness to
respond to q call from the president, no
matter what the ultimate destination may
be, and also to protect the citizens here
and their property and rights, should it be-
come necessary.
Orange Blossoms