The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-25
NATIONAL GUARD Farce
General HarrieS Orders the SuS-
pension of Colonel May.
Secretary Root Declines to Receive
the Report of the Trial hoard BE
First Regiment Was Summoned to
Appcar-Wnr Department Comment


The action Of Gen. c. II. Harries. COM
manding the District OF Columbia National
/ Guard. in recommending the discharge Of
/ Col Henry May. commanding the First
! Regiment Of that organization, is expected
! to prove a boomerang to the warrior who
has for years been the cause of disruption
! in the local militia. 1t may eventually end
/ in the complete disarmament of that body.
( As a result Of the latest in a long list Of
suspensions and discharges brought about
( by rhe commanding general in the few
years Of his administration. through his
personal dislikes and whims. there is a
[ disposition among military officials to end
! the whole matter by forcing the com
mander Of the Guard to turn his uniform
and equipment over to the War Depart
i ment and if necessary disband the body.
, which has become a source of perpetual
jest through the actions of the man now at
the head Of it.
The climax came yesterday when General
Harries forwarded to the Secretary of War
a document recommending the honorable
discharge of Colonel May from the service.
/ The papers were said to be the report Of
the examining board which was appointed
by the commanding general for the pur-
pose Of enquiring into the fitness Of Col
onel May to hold the commission be-
slowed upon him by the President. and
passing upon the matter This board as
/ composed OF a number OF Junior officers,
who were held to be Influenced by General
Harries. and, consequently, biased. They
are all said to be anxious for promotion.
and willing to take a cue from the man
whom they believe can elevate or discharge
them. Consequently. they followed faith
fully the dictates Of the leader and care
fully avoided doing anything which might
displease him.
When the board had been gotten into
condition to DO anything desired. it con-
vened and demanded that Colonel May
send in his resignation at once This was
refused. General Harries then sent for
Colonel May and told him to appear before
the board on Monday. that his young men
might look him over. ask him questions,
and determine upon his fitness to hold a
commission. which had never before been
questioned. Colonel May appeared. &C
cOmpauied by counsel, and as soon as the
first Interrogation came from one Of the
members of the board, refused to answer
on the ground that the members we're all
HIS JULIUS III ram anu idh ~ lASAt ~
examine him. This was what had been
expected by the astute commander. and, as
arranged beforehand he sent a report to
the Secretary Of War setting forth the
fact that his board had examined Colonel
May, had found him unfit to hold the COM
mission as he had refused to talk, and
recommending that the officer be at once
honOrably discharged.
Refused to Receive the Report.
After hearing of the matter yesterday
afternoon Secretary Root refused to re-
eeive the report. on the ground that he
had no jurisdiction in the matter under the
law, and would not act. The report was
returned to General Harries. who person
ally brought IL to the attention Of Adju
tant General COrbin later in the afternoon.
and left the papers with this official It
is said at the War Department that the
Secretary of War has no power in the mat
ter. and that the President has full iuris-
diction. ..I
General Harries stated last night that
the only action he would take in the mat
ter would be to discharge Colonel May
from the service. 1t was further held by
the young men at the headquarters Of the
District militia that Colonel May would
be discharged for good as the great gen
eraI himself had saidfit and would put the
threat into effect.
The news OF the latest discharge on the
part Of the general commanding the Guard
did not at all surprise Colonel May and
his friends. who believed that the former
had confidence enough in himself to at
tempt to discharge General Miles if he
took such "a notion. Colonel May stated
last night that he will not surrender his
commission until he hears from higher
authority than the Secretary of the Board
of Trade. He Will ask that the Secretary
Of War detail a court martial TO try his
case. and welcomes an investigation into
the present condition Of the District
Guard, which will bring some interesting
facts to light and may relieve General
Harries Of any further desire to discharge
officers.
Il will be glad to have a court martial
by military men," said Colonel May, and
am willing to have my superior officers
make any examination they desire. / do
not believe that General Harries can dis
charge me and do not consider myself dis
charged
Root of the Trouble.