The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-04-24
STATUS OF COLONEL NAY
Harries Recommends That He Be
HOnOrably Discharged
Result of His Refusal 10 BE Exnm-
iRed by Junior Ohseers at the Com
mand of the GeneraI-Papers sent
TO the Secretary OF War-The Ae-
cused to Demand COurt-MarfIaI.

After several years of disruption. sus-
pensions. and discharges. Gen. c. H Har-
ries. commanding the District OF Columbia.
National Guard, has decided that ne alone
must take charge OF the remnants OF that
organization and as declaration OF inten-
tiOnS this morning fled with the Secretary
OF War a report recommending that Col.
Henry Nay. commanding the First Regj-
ment Of the National Guard. be honorable
discharged from the service
The report is said to be that of the
Examining Board. which was appointed By
General Harries for the purpose Of passing
upon Colonel sfzy's fitness 10 hold the
commission bestowed upon him by the
President This board was composed CT a
number Of junior officers, all anxious for
promotion who have ever faithfully fol-
lowed the dictates Of their commanding
general and have carefully abstained from
saying or doing sught which might dis
please that gentleman
In accordance with the instructions,
OF General Harries. Colonel May appeared
before this board yesterday, accompanied
by counsel. and as the body was com
posed entirely Of his juniors in Office he
refused point blank TO answer the first
question asked him Just previous to this
hearing. the psuedo board. under instrue-
tons from General Harries. had demarded
Colonel Mays resignation. which Was re-
fused in meaning terms
The aeiion il both cases was as expect
ed. and as arranged beforehand. General
HaTries submitted a document 70 Secre-
tary Root today demanding Colonel Nays
removal from Office Al a late hour this
afternoon AdjutaHt General CoTbin had
not received the report
The news Of the latest move Of General
Harries did not come in the nature Of a
surprise to Colonel Nay and his friends as
the action had been expected fer some
time
Colonel May, il is said. has been regard
ed as an obstacle in the path Ct the warrior
who heads the local militia. and rather
than have an officer in his command who
was not entirely subservIent 10 his likes
and dislikes. he would disband the entire
organization Colonel May IS not at all
put out BY his discharge as he does not re-
gard General Harries as possessing that
authority. but rather as the secretary OF
the Board Of Trade. who has power TO
make recCnmendatiOns, having his Office
next door 10 the headquarters OF the Dis
trict National Guard
-ColC2el May VIII rot surrender his CON-
mission until he has had trial Of the
authority Of the general commanding the
Guard. and he viii ask for a court martial
from the War Department where soldiers.
IN place Of biased clerks and frieads. VIII
ran f- 2 H.-
The action OF General Harries Is expect
ed to have a beneficial effect on the local
military organization. as il viii result in
a general overhauling of that body and
Inayhsp in its cisbandment. as the militia
" officials have tired OF the wrsngles OF
The present leader and his clique and
should General Harries be forced 70 re-
sign he viii doubtless force the disruption
OF the Guard completely before getting
down and out
The commanding general has had some
success in susPending and oveThsuling
Lieutenant Colonel O-Brien. Captain
Chisoinn. and others. besides Ereakiug pet
" vengeance on Colonel Ureu in many
ways. but il is said that be has had his
run and that he viii meet his Waterloo in
this case by being oyerhzuled himself.
The charges against Colonel Nay were
worked up by General Harries because OF
the testimony Of the former in the CHS
holm eourt-martial. wherein he dared 10
speak the truth even though this hurt
the case prepared by the latter, and pisc-
ed Captain Chisholm in a fair light IL is
said that the testimony in this case was
a mass Of faisities, and that the stenogTa-
pier who joJted the "ofiCial' notes. vas
instructed 10 FIJI in anything pertinent 10
the case when he had made omissions
In any event. il is well known that those
who were not with General HaTTies in his
schemes. we're considered against him and
when an officer might not be removed he
was subjected 10 petty meannesses, in
hopes that his resignation might be forth
coming
During the past few years. under the
Harries administration, the National
Guard and its wrangles have been regard
ed as a standing joke. among military
men Once in each month, OF portion
thereof. the General Commanding would
don his uniform and disliking the gloves
worn by another officer. would suspend
him from the service. AT this. the men
in the command Of the suspended officer
would resign or desert or obtain dis
charges and leave the Guard in disgust
As matter Of fact there have been so
many discharges IN the organization in the
past two years. that the clerks have tired