Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-12-05
FOR A HIGH OFFICE
Colonel Fl. II. Caughlan Candidate
for Adjutant General.
STANDS an EXCELLENT CHANCE
Appointment Would Be of Especial
Pleasure to This Part of the State
Has Long and Honorable Military
Record-Three Active Candidates.
[Trom Wednesdays Daily.l


[From Wednesdays Daily.l
Governor-elect Cummns has indicat-
ed that he will appoint his adjutant
general, and members of his staff be-
fore Christmas. Colonel HI. H. Caugh-
Ian, of this city, is an active candidate
for the Office of adjutant general, and
his many friends in this part of the
state believe he stands an excellent
chance of landing the plum. Repub-
licans in this, as we'll as many other
parts of the state, are urging the can
didacy of Colonel Caughlan with much
vigor, and they all believe they win
be successful in their work. The APP
pointment of Colonel Caughlan would
be received with much pleasure in this
city, where he numbers his friends by
the thousand. They all feel sure that
Mr.. Cummins would make no mistake
If he We're to entrust this important Of
flee to Colonel Caughlan. There is no
doubt of his ability. His military rec
ord, which is long and honorable
one, confirms this statement. He is
comparatively young man, and pro-
gressiye. His ideas in regard to the
national guard are to put it on old
basis, and should he be so fortunate
as to receive the high honor from Gov
ernor Cummins, the Office will be ad-
ministered in manner that all will
feel proud of it.
An Honorable Record.
While Colonel Caughlan does not
have a civil war record, as he was not
old enough to participate in the war,
he has a National Guard record that
will comare favorably with any man
in the state. He started in as a pri-
vate, and has worked himself up, until
today he holds TIE highest elective Of
flee that can be given him in the
guard. After serving with high hon
ors as a private, Colonel Caughlan
passed respectively, through the non
commissioned Office of Corporal and
sergeant to first sergeant of Company
G of this city. Then came in rapid
succession elections to the Offices of
second and first lieutenant. In each
OF these he acquitted himself wln
honor, and when the Spanish-Ameri-
can war broke out, he was captain of
Company G. He started to the
front at the head of his company, and
while in Des Moines, sho thy before
the regiment was sent to Jacksonville,
Captain Caughlan was elected major.
He served throughout the Spanish
American war as major in the Fiji
tieth regiment, and was mustered OF
of the service with that title
Elected Colonel.
When the Iowa Nationa Guard was
recognized, Major Caughian, with
several others, was a cand d tie for the
position of colonel AT tie election
which followed, Major CaIghlan was
easl.y elected colonel, and at once be-
gan the reorganization of his regi
ment. Since that time he has seer
the Fiftieth regiment improve in its
efficiency until today it is one of the
leading regiments of the state, and
will compare favorably with any ma
tional guard regiment in the United
States.
A Fitting Honor.
With the brilliant record Colonel
Caughlan has achieved at the head of
his regiment, his friends feel that it
would be a fitting honor to place him
at the head of the Iowa National
Guard, and to this end they have petit
toned Governor-Elect Cummins.
Three Active Candidates.
At present the contest for the Office
of adjutant general has narrowed
down to three men. Melvin H. Byers,
the present incumbent, who has held
the office four years, and wants anoth-
er appointment, Captain William H.
, lnrift, of the Governors Greys,'
Company A of the Forty-ninth regi-
ment of Dubuque, and Colonel Caugh-
Ian. General j. hush Lincoln, Of
Ames. is also passive candidate for
the position, but is not making an eff
fort for it. Captain William e. Can't,
of Company H Fifty-second regi-
ment, of Sioux City. was also mention
ed as a candidate, but it is understood
! that he has withdrawn, and will use
his influence to secure the appoint
| ment of Colonel Caughlan.
Gone to Canada.
: Governor Elect Cummins has gone
, to Canada to spend a week, after
I which he will return to Des Moines
! and see the different candidates, and
soon after that time he expects to an
> nounce his selection of an adjutant
| general. He believes that he will be
| able to make this announcement sew
!. eral days before Christmas.
: Will Appoint Staff.
. While speaking of his appointme
yesterday, Mr. Cummins said that he
| expected before the first of the year to
!. announce his staff, which, in addition
to the adjutant general, includes a
l quartermaster general, an inspector
, general commissary general sur.
! geon general, judge-advocate gener-
. al, a general inspector of small arms
practice, chief of engineers, chief
r signal omcer, military secretary and
i seven aides. So far as is known. there
;. are no candidates for these different
= positions, although it is likely that
. friends of possible candidates have
written to Mr.. Cummins regarding the
matter.
:, More Cheap Excursions.
,. On the first and third Tuesdays OF