The Indianapolis journal., 1898-05-27
GOVERNOR COMES BACK
IMMEDIATELY BEsIEGED by MEN
WHO WANT TO BE SOLDIERS.
His Views About Military Appoint-
ments-HOw the New Quota
VIII BE Made UD.

Governor Mount returned from winona,
where he has been attending the Presby-
terian General Assembly, yesterday. He
arrived late in the afternoon. On going
home at night he found it almost necessary
TO form "trocha' about his residence to
keep away the horde of men anxious to an
swer the Presidents second proclamation
for volunteers. Considering the vast num-
Der of men ready to accept any position
from colonel of a regiment down to second
Lieutenant of company, member Of the
state strategy board" felt inclined to pre-
dict that every new company formed would
contain ninety-nine officers and one private
The proportion of men ready to become line
officers is not quite that great, but it is suf-
ficiently large to appall the Governor, who
will most likely have regimental and COM
pany appointments to make.
TO very large extent" said the Gov
ernor. II shall be guided in the matter Of
commissioning officers by the wishes Of the
companies. Where the men elected are re-
garded as fit for the duties required of them
in the company commands they will be COM
missioned The right to not commission
men elected will. of course, be reserved.
"One thing might as we'll be understood"
said he, "and that is that it will not fur
ther the cause of any man to send tele-
grams and delegations to the Capitol. 1t is
the intention to proceed with deliberation.
Until 1t is known just what the War De-
partment wants no plans will be formed.
When official information is received rules
will be laid down that will be followed to
the letter. You can readily see that it is
not possible to make rules just now. When
it comes to making the official call for vol
unteers the number of companies that have
already been furnished by the different con-
gressional districts will be taken into con-
sideration, and where district has already
furnished more than its proportion of the
entire number Of men wanted it cannot ex
pect to furnish more. Where various coun-
ties of a district have furnished the men
that have already gone South the other
counties in that district will be given the
preference. Take the Eighth district, for
instance, which has furnished five compa-
nies. That district could not expect to send
more than one additional company when
there is the Sixth district which has not
furnished any. When any district is slow
in furnishing companies or fails to furnish
them at all, other districts that are ready
and anxious will be given an opportunity"
How soon will the troops be mobilzed?"
was asked
CAN BE Modified AT ONCE.
II shall notify the secretary of war that
Indiana is ready to concentrate the troops
here as soon as they are wanted-within
twenty-four hours. if necessary-but shall
indicate that the men will not be brought
here until the government is ready to take
cnarge of them. so that they will not be
Kept at state expense any longer than is
necessary. / do not suppose that Official
information of the call will be received for
several days. 1t is the intention to have
all the information necessary with regard
TO the governments plans before taking any
Governor Mount smiled when asked how
many men there were who were willing to
serve their country in the capacity Of
coi0nels, majors and adjutants.
haven't any idea,' said he. Then. as
ne thought OF the annoying complications
tnat We're about to arise, he looked rather
grave There are not many men in Indi-
ana VINO would care to step into the Gov
ernorS shoes at the present moment and
nave to shoulder the responsibility of turn
Ing down scores of men who are bringing
all sorts of pressure to bear on him.
, Even with the determination TO apportion
the call Tor companies by districts, the Gov
ernor Will have an unpleasant duty on his
hands There are fully five hundred men
who have offered separate companies to
say nothing. of those who have organized
would be made colonel. There is hardly
district but has dozen or more fully or
canned companies. On an average four
companies have already been furnished by
each district, so that there are not more
than Two more, on an average, to be re-
qu1red from each district. With dozen
different towns to select from in each dis
trfct, the Governor will have an unpleasant
task. He said that in selecting companies
OF men who had passed rigid physical ex-
aminationS. Every district has many phy-
sieians st capable of passing on applicants for
the service as carefully as would United
States army officers
Until 1t is known definitely how MANY
men Indiana is to furnish--whether her re-
quest to be allowed to furnish three full
regiments will be granted-nothing will be
KNOWN nfo ths OF i,9 how many companies are to go
the adJutant generals and the secretary of
states oftfce were making calculations
based on the probable apportionment. The
nifty companies have been sent into the
field, as follows: First district three; Sec
Fft6 foGr Sixth none one Eenf5
Eleventh. six; Tweifth. eight, and and ThiT., ir,
2,5S1, the apportionment due Indiana under
the second call. following is the number of
% Iaf that viii be called thirtytwo in
FIVE; Fourth. five; Fifth, two sixth, six;
Seventh, two; Eighth, one; Ninth,
and Thirteenth, none. If indiana is
allowed to furnish three fun reg1-
mentS additions will be made to the
above as follows: Seventh district one;
Eighth, one; Tenth, one, and Eleventh, one.
These calculations are only rough esti-
mates, and are subject to many changes.
On the authority of the Governor, nothing
positive can be said as to how many COM
panies will be required from the various
districts until definite information is had
from Washington.
DANA BATTERY WILL GO.
''If Indiana is required to furnish any bat
terry said the Governor, preference will
be given to the Dana Battery, which had
to be left behind before" He was inclined
to think only infantry would be wanted at
this time. He said that there are some
troops of cavalry that would be available in
case there is any demand for that sort of
service.
II have had no time to consider the mat
ter of commissioning regimental officers"
said the Governor THAT matter will be
taken up in due course of time. There is no
need for haste in any direction"
The Governor said that any one could see
that under the equitable plan of evening
up the number of companies accepted by
districts it would be out of the question to
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