The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-07-09
The Colonelcy of the
First Bri.
gade.
MAI. FAIRBANKS CHANCES.
Colonel Clark to Be Ad-
vanced if Brig. Gen.
Mathews Resigns.

Col. Harry B. Fairbanks is not a re-
mote possibility in the eyes of the
friends of the popular major, command
ing the third battalion of the Second
regiment, and his friends intimated
that the headquarters of the Second
regiment will be changed from Spring-
neld, where it has been for a great
number of years to Worcester.
IL has been said times innumerable
tnat Col. K. P. Clark of the Second
was to resign at the time of The mus
terlng out of the regiment after the
conclusion OF the war with Spain. but
up 10 the present time the rumors that
nave gained credence did not prove to
be the truth. 1t is stated now that Col.
Clark will be advanced to the position
OF brigadier general upon the resigna-
ton of Brig. Gen. Mathews, who at the
present time is in command of the
First brigade.
The rumor is from q reliable source.
and the local militiamen are anxious to
see the genial and popular major of
the third battalion be promoted to the
position of colonel of the Second when
Col. clark is advanced to brigaidier
general
Three years ago, when Col. Mathews,
then in command of the First regi-
ment, was advanced to the position of
Drigadier general, it was understood
that he would resign after three years
OF service. Col. Clark was a candidate
for that position against Col Mathews,
and only withdrew when Col. Methews
made the statement that he would re-
tire after three years in office. The
belief among the officers of the militia
l n1a& k11,.1 u
Mathews will hold good to his prom
Use and will vacate the field to Coz.
p. P. Clark. If he should do so, there
is no doubt but that the commanding
officer of the Second regiment would be
advanced to that position.
VINO Will take the command of the
Second regiment, is the question that
will prove hard to solve, if all things
come out as it is thought they will
Worcester has the candidate whose
chances are rated above all others, in
the person of Major Harry Fairbanks,
and the military men of the state con-
cede that honor to him, should the Of
flee of colonelcy of the Second be yaca-
ted. He will not get that office without
a contest is to be depended upon, as
the Springfield companies of the Second
will not let the regiment headquarters
be transferred from that city to this
without a fight.
Other men spoken of for the vacancy
are Lieut.. Col. E. r. Shumway of this
city and Capt. Mcdonald.
With the retirement of Maj. Whip
pie from the state militia, the Office of
major of the Second battalion would
then be vacant and would probably be
filled by the election of Capt Leonard
of G company of Springfield and there
is liability of a trading of votes with
the idea of electing the colonel and
major Maj. Fairbanks would have the
united support of the four companies
of the third battalion, and would h. in
a position to trade a few votes with
the Springfield candidate. Should Mai.
Fairbanks be advanced, then an in
teresting problem would arise as to
who would be major of the third bat
talon, and it looks now as though that
honor would be given to Capt. Edwin
G. Barrett of A company. He is the
senior officer of the third battalion and
preference would naturally be given
him.
But while the matter is still mostly
conjecture, still the Worcester militia
men look for Brig. Gen. Mathews to
resign after camp, and the advance
ment all along the line will then COM
mence. Maj. Fairbanks has expressed
himself as willing to take the colGnelcy
of the Second regiment If it was Of
| fered to him. The possibility of the
case is enough to make the heads of
the ambitious militiamen of the Second
swim when they come to think what
| is in store for them, when Maj. Fair
banks and Capt. Barrett are advanced
and Lieuts. Plummer and Gray receive
| their commissions in the new volunteer
regiments