Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1900-05-18
NORTH DAKOTA BOYS.

NORTH DAKOTA BOYS.
Hsnsbrough Speaks in the
Senate Of Their Splendid Conduct.
During the consideration of the
military appropriation'bill, Senator
Pettigrew having read numerous
letters from the members of the
South Dakota volunteer regiment
complaining of the policy Of the
Administration in the conduct of
the war-Senator Hansbrough
said:
Mr.. President: In view of what has
been said here to-day and on yesterday
in regard to the service and experience
Of the South Dakota regiment, think
it is due that should make some re-
ference to the service and experience
Of the regiment that went from North
Dakota. e1l.,s.3 s,,a .e.s,,a,s H.. r..s.ls,,
I assume, Mr.. President, that the
two regiments were made up of about
thu same kind of material, the same
class of people. The men who COM
posed the North Dakota regiment
came from the shops and the stores
and the farms. had the honor to 30
on committee that went from my
State to San Francisco to meet
the North Dakota regiment when it
returned from Manila, and remained
there for two weeks, assisting in any
way that could to arrange for their
transportation home. I talked with .
great many members of that regiment
and it was the unanimous testimony
that the hardships which they encoun.
tered were not.unexpected. do not
recall hearing 8 single complaint from
any of them in regard to their treat
ment, nor did > I. hear of any regret
from any OF them over the fact that
they had gone to the Philippines in
the service OF their Government.
The service of the North Dakota
regiment was equally remarkable with
the service of the South Dakota regi-
ment. I remember hearing the colonel
of our regiment relate an incident of
that service which it seems to me is
very creditable. When Captain Young,
l think it was, from the State OF Utah,
applied to General Lawton for the
privilege of organizing company of
scouts, he requested that he be per-
mitted to select his men from the
North Dakota regiment. General
Lawton replied to him that would not
do, as it might cause some jealousy
among the members of other regi.
ments. The scouts were organized
however, and 18 out of the Is in the
organization were North Dakotans.
do not refer to this by way af dispara
cement with respect to any other regi.
ment in the Philippines. understand
and believe they all served with dis.
tinction and bravery.
The State of North Dakota paid the
expenses of transportation for our
troops from San Francisco home. The
citizens put their hands into theil
pockets and raised some $4,000 fol
that purpose; and, as have said, Mr.
President, have never heard from the
mouth Of any member of the NORTH
Dakota regiment q single complaint OF
q single regret that they were ir
Philippine service.
The discussion of political questions
was not allowed, was not tolerated, in
the camp, as am advised. At Sar
Francisco, when our committee, con
sisting of the two senator's, the mem
ber OF the house of representatives
and several state officers, arrived
there, we observed that some of the
troops showed no little feeling ovel
the fact, indicating that they were not
pleased with the presence there o
men who we're engaged in politics, OF
that we should have gone there tt
meet them. and thus subject them tt
the suspicion that political influences
were at work. There was no politics
in the regiment. So much for thu
patriotic spirit of those volunteers.
Mr.. President, the North Dakots
regiment was composed of Democrats
and Populists as we'll as Republicans
On their return home / was at severa
receptions which were given to those
troops; and I recall that one Of the
majors of the regiment made speech
at one of the receptions. He was 8
Democrat. In the speech that he
made at this meeting he endorsed the
action of the Administration with re-
spect to the conduct of the war. and
said that even if he had the work tc
do over again he would be found in the
ranks on his way to the Philippines as
before.
Mr.. President, think it is due that
should make this statement in be-
half of the regiment from North Da.
kota by way Of contrast with what has
been said here in regard to the South
Dakota volunteers, because I have
yet to hear of single complaint
against the Government or against
the treatment of our North Dakota
volunteers while they were in the
Philippines in the service of thei1
country.
Sergeant Phil. Short saws OF
the above:
9 Chief Of Scouts Young was not con.
nected with the service, bu: was 9
civilian scout. Physically he was q
giant. standing about 6 feet and g
inches in height, and weighing about
$50 pounds. He was brave man and
q beautiful rife shot, and many of
Aguinaldo's followers had heart fail.
ure shortly after he glanced over the
hind sight of his Mauser in their
direction. He received mortal
wound while at the head of the famous
North Dakota scouts, but fred seven.
teen shots at the enemy after receiv-
4 inc his 6oafh uuonn1 uo ,uo. -.