The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-07-14
AGREE upon A METHOD
OF Appointing Commissioned Of
f1cers for the New Volun-
teer Regiments.
BRYANISM is WANING
In the WeSt-President Mckinley
Giving His Personal Attention
to Military Arrangements.
Special Correspondence to The Gazette.

Special Correspondence to The Gazette.
Washington, July l0.-President
Mckinley and his cabinet have agreed
upon the method Of appointing commits
stoned officers for the new regiments of
volunteers. Notwithstanding the i'm
mense pressure to change it, the agree
ment is practically what President Nc.
Kinley first said-military experience
to be the first requisite. One captain
and one first lieutenant is to be selected
from the volunteers from each state,
each to be a man who has a good record
in the wal with Spain, and the second
lieutenants will be chosen from the
volunteers. without regard to states, on
their records as shown on the books Of
the war department., and without re.
gard to whether they served as pri.
Yates or officers. The present under
standing is that all officers above the
rank of captain will be chosen from
commissioned officers in the regular
army, although it is possible that some
exceptions may be made in favor of vol
unteer officers.
Director Merriam of the census has
requested that the 800 supervisors OF
the census be appointed at one time.
which will delay the appointments for
about ten days, as the congressional
delegations of a few states, mostly in
the west, have not been able to agree
upon the supervisors for their states
and the president announced from the
first that the responsibility for these
appointments must be assumed by the
congressional delegations Of the several
states.
Mr.. I. M. Bond of New Mexico
brought an interesting story to Wash.
ington. He says: "Roosevelt's Rough
Riders will re.enlist for service in the
Philippines. Governor Roosevelt has
received assurances from the president
that an entire brigade, organized along
the lines of the rough rider regiment,
will be accepted. Lieutenant Colonel
Brodie will command the old guard
and it is reported that Governor Otero
will be the colonel Of a regiment to be
raised either exclusively in New Mex.
loo or in New Mexico and Arizona
jointly. A majority Of the lads enlist
ed from those territories could swear at
the Filipinos in their own language.
Governor Roosevelt will go, il at all.
as a brigadier general. He is expected
in Washington soon. when a conference
will be held with the president in ref
erence to the matter, and all the details
will be arranged. Governor Roosevelt
has stated that the intention is to re-
peat the rapidity with which his regi.
ment was organized for the Cuba cam.
paign, and he is confident that he will
have his entire brigade recruited and
ready to sail to the Philippines by the
latter part of July or early in August.
With Roosevelt and his Rough Riders
cooperating with Funston's Swift
Swimmers, the rebels will soon be
brought to their senses. This was
news in Washington.
Ex-senator Brown Of Utah is in
Washington. He reports his state as
being very prosperous, and said of the
political outlook: utah will, l
think. undoubtedly be in the republi.
can column in 1900, and Colorado also.
There is no question that Bryan's popu-
larity III the west has been on the wane
for some time. l was recently assured
in Denver by a number of influential
men that Bryan would be unable to
carry Colorado should he be nominated.
His loss of prestige, however, is SO OBJ.
vious that | do not believe he will be
the candidate Of his party for president
again.
President Mckinley is quoted as hav.
ing said to a friend who asked him
when he expected to take his summer
vacation: How can | take to the
woods while there is so much to be-
done towards raising and looking after
the army in the Philippines, and to
faithfully carry out the obligations i'm
posed upon Inc by the constitution: 1t
is my desire that the army in the Phil
ippines shall be the best in the world
that General Otis shall have everything
he requires for the comfort of his
troops, and that there shall be nothing
lacking to bring the campaign to a
speedy and successful termination. |
am not giving any thought ito the
question OF Il vacation and will not
until General Otis reinfOrcements are
we'll under way and all arrangements
have been perfected for the return OF
the volunteers" President MCKINLEY
is acting right up to the sentiments
quoted. He gives the closest personal
attention to every detail of the mill.
tary arrangements for the Philippines,
and impIesses upon all his subordinate.
the necessity for exercising the most
watchfui care to see that no mistakes
are made that will hamper Genera,
Otis.
As q precautionary measure, Score
tary Long has ordered that four of thu
converted yachts used in the wal with
Spain-the Dorothea, Frolic, Hawl
and Viking-ha mt I'm ambition IN,