The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-05-24
BRING EN- HOME
Kansas Soldiers Must Not Be
Mustered Out in California.
Talk About Extra Pay is All
BOSh.
WAS A CLEVER EXCUSE
Would Amount to Little After
Expenses Are Paid.
Citizens Show No Disposition
to Give Up.
WILL KEEP RIGHT ON.
Arrangements For Reception
Will Be Completed.
Regiment Must Receive a Royal
Kansas Welcome.
Would Amount to Little After
Expenses Are Paid.
Citizens Show No Disposition
to Give Up.
WILL KEEP RIGHT ON.
Arrangements For Reception
Will Be Completed.
Regiment Must Receive a Royal
Kansas Welcome.

1t has turned out. as might have been
suspected in the first place. that the
motive assigned by the war department.
for mastering out the Kansas regiment
in San Francisco, is a thinly Vanished
excuse.
1t was claimed that muster out in
San Francisco would mean that each
man in the regiment would receive $50
more than if mustered out at home. An
investigation reveals the fact that
nearly all the extra money would be
consumed for travelling expenses.
The people of Kansas do not regard
the home coming of the regiment in a
commercial light. Kansas stands with
open door ready to welcome home the
brave men of the Twentieth and they
must come home as regiment and not
singly or by squads.
The war department has shown a dis
position to treat Kansas unfairly ever
since the troops were mustered in and
it is about time for a change Of pro-
gramme.
The committee in charge of the pro-
posed reception to the Twentieth Kan
sas decided, at the meeting Tuesday
night, to invite the governors of all the
states represented by regiments in the
Philippines, to request Secretary Alger
that the regiments be mustered out in
their respective states instead of San
Francisco.
The committee understands that all
the regiments are to be mustered out
under the same order as that govern
ing the Kansas boys and the commit
tee is also certain that the governors
of every state, acting upon the Wlshes
of the people, will request the regi-
1nents to be sent to their home state
instead of being disbanded thousands
of miles away from home and allowed
to wander and straggle back as best
they can
Secretary AIger gives as the reason
for the boys being mustered out in san
bof hay will "a
ell pay and that will amount to neat
sum for them. That may be given out
as the reason but men who have been
acquainted with army affairs think dif-
ferently General J. K. Hudson said=
THAT is a plan to have the boys re-
enlist. They are experienced soldiers
now and worth more to the army tnan
recruits. If they are disbanded in san
Francisco and have their pockets hlleu
with money they will spend it most
likely find themselves penniless and .
600 miles from home and re-enllst' mat
has been shown in former times; me
idea that they will receive handsome
sums of money is true in the cases OF
the officers but not with the enllsteo
men. on travel pay they will recelVa
a days pay for every 20 miles they
travel. A private receives about oO
cents a day and would therefore re-
ceiVe a bout $50 for the z, 600 miles traN-
eled The railroads have announces
that after June L the special rate VIII
not be given to soldiers and that they
will have to pay $50 first-class ana
$50 so second-clasS. $12 Pullman tar5
and Sc tourists fare so that after pay
ing this the boys would not have very
much money left. Those soldiers VINO
have served outside the United states
will receive two months extra pay ana
that will be given them, no matter
where they are mustered out Ihe OF
ficers of course, who receive one day
nav for every 20 miles Travelled Would
make a good sum out of the trip"
The governors of the western stateS
will be requested to join in protest.
or petition to the war department ana
the several congressional delegations
will also be requested to join the move
ment Congressman Charles curtis mas
signified his Willingness to go to WASH
ington or to accompany a committee
there at any time to present a formal
request to the secretary of war.
'fOur congressman should be asked to
work with us for the mastering out OF
the Kansas regiment on Kansas SOIL
said E. H. Crosby. AFTER II mas Deeh
decided to have them mustered out at
home then we can work TO nave theIa
mustered out at Topeka but hrst OF
all we must have them mustered out III
After the regiment is mustered out
here" said P. I. BOnebrake, I'VE VIII
see that they reach home and arrange
ments will be made with the railroads
to furnish them with transportation
General J. K. Hudson. p. l. Bone
brake and ]. A. Troutman were ap-
pointed a committee to confer with Gov
ernor Stanley on his return from Wich-
ita and to communicate with the gov
ernors of the different states.
The Kansas boys who enlisted did SO
with a different motive than that OF
drawing pay. 1t was patriotism and
love of country that inspired them to
enlist and money can not compensate
them for their valorous deeds so Wen
as an event to show the gratitude of the
people of Kansas.
The war department seems to look
upon the mastering out as matter OF
dollars and cents but the citizens OF
Kansas think differently. Every one in
Kansas wishes to cheer that regiment
when it returns. The people wish to see
the famous regiment headed by its own
band of veterans and officers who have
won their straps for bravery march up
Kansas avenue. The regiment viii un-
doubtedly wish it, too. This would be
a simple but fitting tribute to theirvaIor
and the ceremony that has welcomed
regiments, after the wars. for years
II would be to Kansas a greater event
than when the union army passed in
review at Washington after the civil
war, 1t is a time honored custom and
an event which the soldiers of the KAN
---------s