Waterbury Democrat., 1901-01-12
THE sfrLIrARY MuDDLE.
The Election of Captain Tilson Not in
 Accord With Military Custom.

The Election of Captnin Tilson Not in
 Accord With Military Custom.
 The special election of the Second regiment officers held at the armory Tn this. city yesterday afternoon, says the New Haven Register, is likely to stir up quite q little dfsaffection. The failure of ex-Colonel Callahan to se- cure reelection was missed by only two votes.
 me result of this election" said an omcer this morning, ''does not ar que anything for Colonel Callahan's unpopulartty. But as a matter of fact there were ambitions of some of the lesser officers to be fulfilled and these ambitions proved the defeat of Colonel Callahan, who was offered as a sacri- flee"
 The election of Lieutenant Colonel Sucher for the position of colonel made vacancy, and Major James Geddes Of Waterbury was elected lieutenant colonel and Captain John Q. Tilson of company D, this city, was elected ma Jof The decisive ballot for colonel stood, Sucher IT, Callahan II. But the election of the major was 1 not quite in accordance with military custom. Captain Tilson was jumped over six captains. Of the captains rank ing Tn seniority may be mentioned l captain Reynolds of Company E. Cap tain Fitzpatrick, who has had eighteen years experience in the military: Cap tam Bradley of Meriden, Captain Nor 1 ton of Wallingford and Captain Dono- van of the Sarsfields. All of these captains have more than Captain Til son two years experience. and some 1 nave served u dozen and fifteen years 1 Ana Captain TilsOn thus jumps over l competent officers
 l There was an informal conference at the ar1nory after the election of these | captains, who were practically shelyed Tn the matter of promotion. and the | truth of the matter was referred to in pretty concise language One officer said to-day that he would not be sur prised if these captains resigned their commissions. At any rate, the end is | not vet | w ny. there was never such a thing heard of in years as Jumping q young ofhcer over six captains" said an otfi- cer this morning.
 1t was learned to-day that Colonel Sucher had said repeatedly before the election that he was not a candidate for colonel. He had stated that he and Colonel Callahan would not be compet- ing candidate. And yet this was not
 
 1ahan's supporters were blinded into the belief that Colonel Callahan would be the only candidate. And right on top of that Lieutenant Colonel Sucher's was the first name put in nomination and but for vigilance the, nomination would have been closed against Col onel Callahan
 Had Colonel Callahan's friends known that an active canvass was be- ing made for Sucher. it is said they could have secured enough friends to give them the balance of power. But as q matter of fact, they did not be- lieve it was necessary to put in work for their candidate.
 And yet in view of all this combina- tion of circumstances against him Col onel Callahan came very near landing
 The promotion of Captain Tilson. it is said, means the election of Lieuten- ant Isbell as captain. This is said to have been one of the blanks in the agreement. Lieutenant Isbell and his friends are credited with putting in good hard work in making the scheme , successful Another candidate for cap. tain is spoken of as eX-Lieutenant Young.
 7 It is said that there were nearly fiji teen ballots takef before Tilson was
 
 : Carter of Waterbury has been prom 5 ised the next majorship when there is , a vacancy but others say the plan Will be to give the promotion to 1sbell, pro | vided he has been elected captain o1 the Blues, which seems to be a fore gone conclusion.
 Colonel Sucher at the meeting saiG . he had done nothing towards his cleo tion. He knew that Colonel Callahan could not be reelected. but he hat tried to patch the matter up. Bu this little speech does not agree witl z the facts as set forth by others. An attempt was made to make Col onel Suchers election unanimous, bu objection was made. Neither the cleo ton of Sucher or Tilson was greeted with the applause that is usual at z . Second regiment election. CaptaiI Tilson remarked on this feature in his own case, saying that the silence was ominous. He said he knew there was a feeling, but he would try to show 7 that he was a competent officer for the position of major, and would make the conditions as pleasant for his brother officers as possible Both Sucher anC Tilson had just the number of votes te elect, 17, and none to spare.
 "Callahan's friends blame Sucher, said an officer to-day.
 An out of town officer had writer Callahan that he would support him but he voted for Sucher. There is i question now whether the six seniol captains will resign because of Til sons promotion. It looks very muct as if they would do so. All precedents of the regiment were put aside in Cap tain Tilsons promotion. If there was | any question of these mems incompe tency, that would be an argument tol Tilson. But there was none. There were officers who were sheyed having fifteen and eighteen years experience Such work as that does not help the regiment and as result of yesterday election I know that the regiment will , suffer. Now in the case of Colone Sucher. If he had announced himself to be q candidate that would be al right He had a perfect right to dt so. But he had said he was not q con1idata and Colonel Callahln'S