The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-09-13
WEST VIRGINIA
AGAIN COMES TO
THE FRONT.
Dan MendeI, of Wheeling, Ap.
pointed TO a LIeutenautey in
the New Volunteer Service
WITH WHITE OF AORGANTOWN
Vacancies Were oscasioned by
the Resignation of C. D. Elliott
Recently Appointed Major.


Special Dispatch to the Intelllgencer.
WASHINGTON. D. c., Sept. 1.-THE
last of the West Virginia appointments
in the ten new volunteer regiments were
made to-day by the pelection of W. j.
White, Of Morgantown, Us first tieuten-
ant, and Dan G. Mendel. OF Wheeling,
as second lieutenant, to fill the vacancy
caused by the decllnatlon of C. D. Eli
ott Of the majority rendered him.
When Major Elliott wns rendered this
commission week ago he had just re-
ceived a very Aatterlng business offer
from New York firm, and had agreed
to accept. He was very desIrous Of
going to the Philippines, and imme-
diately upon the receipt Of a message
from the war department that he had
been appointed major, came to WASH
Ington. He was able to secure a few
days in which to attempt to be released
from his bushes engagements, and then
went to New York. He was In confer
ence there for several days with the
gentlemen whose interests he was to
represent, and returned to the city SAT-
urday.
During this conference It was pointed
out to him that the regiment to which
he was assigned would be the last re-
crulted and the last to sail for the Phil
ippInes. II was further shown that this
regiment might never leave the recruit
ing camp, and for these reasons The
New York people insisted on his living
up to his agreement.
EIlIot's DeclInatIOn.
After his return to Washington Mr..
Elliott found that the general opinion
in administration circles was that the
rebellion would soon be crushed; that
the chances for active service in the
Philippines were very slim; that he
would be embarrassed by the fact that
he would outrank his old colonel, T. d.
E. Casteel, and he reluctantly decided
to decline the commission offered him
in the interest OF that officer, now a
captain In the Twenty-seventh regi-
ment, on Its way to Manila.
When the war department was notis
fled of this II was found impossible to
secure the promotion OF Captain Cas-
teei, and to secure the appointment for
n West VIrglnlan Senator Scott was
telegraphed for and arrived here yes
terday. He Immediately called upon the
President and secured from him an or
der TO the secretary OF war to give
West VirgInia nn additional first and
second lieutenant In place of the ma
jority declined by Major Elliott. To.
day Senator Scott presented to the sec
retnry of war the names OF w. ]. White
and Dan 9. Mendel US the two new lieu
tenants. The appointments were at
| once made, and both gentlemen Will
soon be assigned to their regiments.
Mr.. White was captain and adiutant
OF the First West Virginia volunteers,
and has one OF the finest records Of any
man who saw service In the Spanish
American war. His selection was made
entirely on merit. Senator Scott had
never met the young gentleman, and
had not been asked to appoint him. Mr..
White is graduate Of the University
and also OF the cadet corps. 1T Is eX-
pected that he will be one Of the best
OF the new officers appointed.
Wheeling Mans Good Record.
The selection of Dan G. Mendel, of
Wheeling, was due to the record this
young man has made on board Of the
battieship Iowa. At the beginning Of
the war he enlisted us an apprentice
and was assigned to this vessel. Under
Fighting Bob Evans he saw service
in the battle Of San Juan and In the
naval engagement in which Cervera's
fleet was sunk. Mendel was such n
record for himself that Captain Evans,
Captain Sterling, Commander Niles and
Lieutenant Van DuEer all united in
urging his appointment to Annapolis,
The young man was too old, however,
and was recommended for the second
iieutenancy Us a slight recognition OF
his gallantry. When his case was pre-
scented to the President, Mr.. Mckinley
| did not hesitate moment, and said, as
he signed the order: These are the kind
OF fighters we want"
Senator Scott was unable TO secure
any appointments In the two new col
ored regiments. The war department
Insisted on appointing the officers to
| these regiments from commands which
saw actual service during the Spanish
American war. No attention was paid
! to states and recommendations. Rec
ords were the only thing examined.
Notwithstanding this fact, West Vlr-
glnIa has Jared exceedingly well In the
matter of commissions in the volunteer
regiments. In the FIRST teu' regiments
called for she secured six commissions,
when her quota was only three. In the
last ten called she has ngain secured
six commissions, when her quota was
four Both senators are sorry they could
not obtain more, but think the state
\ should feel very well satisfied with the
results already accomplished.