New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-02

PROPOSAL TO ELECT A COLONEL CAUSES
TROUBLE.
FRIENDS OF MAJOR CLINTON H. SMITH DE-
CLARE THERE HAS BEEN UNDUE HASTE
AND ALLEGE INTERFERENCE
FROM HEADQUARTERS.


AND ALICE INTERFERENCE
FROM HEADQUARTERS.
Although it was given out at the list Regi-
ment Armory on Tuesday night that all was
harmony at the meeting OF the officers. II was
learned yesterday that II was one Of the i've
lest gatherings in the history of the regiment
Board of officers. The meeting was called ior
the purpose Of appointing a committee 10 select
a candidate for colonel. 1t was the call for the
meeting that precipitated the strife. The first
that the officers knew Of any meeting was when
some of them received postal card IN IueS-
days mail. calling the meeting for the evening.
This card reached some OF the officers as late
as the II 80 morning delivery Of Tuesday and
some of the officers did not get it till the night
Of the meeting The card did not specify the
nature Of the business to be transacted. and 1t
has always been the rule TO announce the
subject ot business at a special meeting.
number Of the officers were dumfounded at re-
ceiving such a call and went TO the meeting
prepared to protest
The two candidates who have been mentioned
for the colonelcy Senior Major Clinton ii.
Smith and Junior Major William G. Bates
When the officers met in the Board of Ofhcers
room it seen on a count or noses that the
meeting was about evenly divided between the
two candidates.
CAPTAIN w. r. Hi Of Company f. who is
friend Of Major Smith said: Il do not see the
necessity Of any hurry in the matter Of selecting
a colonel"
Captain Linson. who appeared 10 be the
Spokesman OF the followers Of Major Bates here
Got I'D and said Il do not understand that
there has been any hurry in this matter,
and
Interruption was made at this point by Major
Smith. who sprarg to his feet. There IS hurry
in this matter" he said. and hurry that can
not understand Here he took out Of his pocket
the postal card call for the meeting. This call
did not reach me Till nearly noon to-day. and
there are officers here who did not know OF this
meeting til they stepped into the armory to-
night. No meeting Of the regiment has been
thus suddenly called. To give only few hours
notice in such an important matter is irregular.
This regiment has suffered enough in the last
year from irregularities. Let our enemies prac-
tise irrecularity. but. for the sake Of the grand
old regiment. let US not practise IT against our
solves"
What officer here was ignorant of this meet
ing until he arrived asked Captain Linson.
II for one" replied Captain Hill Il knew
nothing about this gathering till I got TO the
armory
Il might explain" said Major Bates. that this
meeting called in accordance with the
wishes OF Brigadier General Smith. who said he
thought the time had arrived for the election Of
a colonel and that the Board Of officers should
proceed in their customary way by appointing a
committee"
Captain Hill said it astonishing that after
waiting so many months, more than nine in ALL
General Smith should suddenly authorize such
proceedings.
There need be no surprise broke In Major
Smith. THE regiment has been nterfered with
before by higher authorities who had no right TO
interfere with IT, and they are simply medding
now. say now and there is not an officer here
who will challenge IT, that had not General
Headquarters mixed UP in the affairs Of the
regiment after its return from Cuba, there would
have been no scandals in the list Regiment. II
there is any irreSularity here 1t has been in
spred by the same headquarters influence that
tried TO force unpopular officer on the regi-
rnent last year for colonel when we were prac-
ticallv told that we must elect a certain officer
shall not sit still and again see headquarters
interfering in this regiment. Why have they
not called this election before? Simply because
they were afraid that they could not control the
election. This is snap meeting and | protest
against It for the future welfare Of the list"
Captain J. II. Wells of Company +, also took
the floor. and warned the meeting that they
would take a dangerous step II they rushed any
action through as if 81 part Of a plan.
There was considerable more discussion along
the same lines and finally Major Bates put the
motion for the appointment Of committee 10
nominate candidate for colonel The vote on
this was at first eleven 10 eight. but as staff
officer had voted his vote was thrown out and
the final result was given ten 70 eight in
favor OF the appointment Of committee. One
officer did not vote.
The committee il IS said, Will report in favor
of Major Bates. but conference was held yes
terday which may have decided effect upon
the decisions OF the committee. This conference
was held by the officers who opposed the ap-
pointment Of a committee. They decided that Il
they could legally protest the appointment OF the
committee on the ground that the meeting was
irregular they would do so
General George Moore Smith, Of the Fnth
brigade said that no protest had yet been
lodged with him. THE meeting of officers
as I understand IT," he said. was merely to
appoint a committee l have ordered no cleo
ton yet. and will not till think the proper
time has arrived
Major Smith was seen and asked whether he
said that General Headquarters had tried 10
force an officer upon the regiment for colonel.
Yes il Is true" was his reply. land the officer
was Captain Frank Keck. who was defeated for
major and then resigned. The officers were
called down "a division headquarters and aske /
10 elect C9ptain Keck and they one and all de-
ciined Those who say that General Headquarters
has been trying 10 control the list and inter
fering in it's affairs, point 10 this incident as an
evidence Of it,
CONSUL GENERAL At CAIRO APPOINTED.
Washington. Nov. Judge John D. Long. Re