The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-03-12
SAYS SOLDIERS WERE GOOD
The Pennsylvania Division Guar
ternaster Defends His Troops.

letter From Lieutenant Colonel
RIcha r,Ison TO Chairman ~ eIler, of
the Public Comfort Committee-De-
cInEeS Offences were Exaggerated.
Chairman NJ. l. Weller. of the Inaugural
Committee on Public Comfort. Who re-
Gently II an open letter expressed his be
lief that the National Guard of Peunsyl-
vania Was grossly maHened IN the gen
era condemnation cC the conduct Of the
militianen while il Washington. has to
day received a letter from Lieut. Col "
F Richardson thanking him for his de
fence of the State troops Lieutenant
Colonel Richardson IS the division quar-
teTmaster. who made al arrangements
for the accommodation of the 500 men
composing the Pennsylvania brigades tax
ing part in the Inaugural parade
The letter is a reply to communication
sent by hIr. Weller, enclosing q copy Of
his letter Lieutenant Colonel Richard
sons letter is as follows:
State Arsenal.
HarrtsonbUTg, Pa. March IL
Mt NJ l. Weller, Chairman Committee
o. Public Comfort Washington. D c.
Dear Mr. Weller: l want to person
ally thank you Tor the very v:iIUa bic
service rendered me white making ar
Engagements for the Quartering OF the Ma
tIonu Guard OF Pennsylvania. You did
splendid work. of which You personally
should feel proud.
y received your letter of March this
morning and the contents We're rad with
pleasure. 1 am glad We haze somebody
at Washington who seems To think
enough OF the National Guard of Penn
sylFanla To at least l9cfend them. II is
an outrage 10 note some Of the articles
that have been written on the National
Guard of Pennsylvania which on the
very face are branded as faisehoods
There Is no body of men who would stoOp
to all the things that have been attri-
buJed to them.
Nv lille some of the men were out. away
from home. it IS tr3Ie, they expected a
good time. il is not 10 be supposed that
men viii go away from home, and make
sacrifice of time and business. at their
own expense. and not have q little enjoy
meIit CUT OF the trip. The people of
Washington who are doing the kicking
seem to forget the amount Of money left
by the National Guard Of PennsyIya MIA .
not only by the guard themselves, but
bE the number of the Pennsylvania
friends Of the guard who accompanied
them
One police officer stopped and talk
90 10 on the street at Washington. the
Gay after the parade was 5oud IN con
GcmnlCE the actions of SoEl.. OF the Ma
Iional Guard Of Pennsylvania. and he
made charges concerning things ! know
personally. were not done hy The PENN
SyI-ania Guard ! represented myself as
heii4S q guafGSElan from one Of J2= 9TH
ct States, TO invite his opinion
We have nothing 70 thank the people
OF Washington for. Everything we had
ia the way of quarters. except the pub
he buildings we occupied, we bought and
paid Tor The parties in charge Of both
tn" Convention Hall and Old Arrnorv
tSuIidinS treated us very nicely and aided
us IN every possible way in making the
men comfortable The buildings wer.
nicely heated and -sreII lighted Capt,,f1
House Of the Washington Light Infant
r. treated Us with the greatest courtesy.
'.aiH made special effort il every way
possible TO serve US
IN the public buildings the men re-
ce!Feu All the courtesy II WAS possible
70 give them In The State War and
Navy Building, Capt. q. ~ Baird who
sudeGFed himself to the hearts OF the
men Of the SIX regiments qua rtered there.
personally looked after the welfare of
tn mon. and served them 70 his own
The charges that the men used their
hssNon@ts and dug pieces out of the
/ vail at this building he VII brand as a
NJ captain Eaird said 3 would pay
GoF ali the damage done by the rpgi-
TIcHts that were quartered ia this build
lElS toward replacing the building in the
( condition 1t was prior TO the time IL was
occupied
--sEe are also under many obligations tC
Z the chief Clerk OF the Patent Office
/ whore the bird Regiment WAS quartered.
E
! officers and men Of the regiment. 1. per
sOn4lIy. as an officer Of the National
Guard Of Pennsylvania. trust that this
VII be the last inauguration trip the
National Guard of FeuHsvlya MIA will at
tend for some time No matter what
/ occurred, or what any OF the men of the
regular service. or any of the State
Guards from other States did, II was
blamed on the National Guard OF Penn
syivauia-
II want TO again thank YOU for Eour
Kindness in defending The National Guarl
/ OF Pennsylvania. and when [ do. | voice
. the sentiment OF All the officers and men
Of the Guard. Oar organization Is the
pride of PENNSYLVANIA. and its reputa-
tion has been lssajiea by people who are
Jealous and prejUd:ced against the SPLEEN
aid showing that II made when il passed
the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES, the President.
We are stiH further pleased 10 know
that Wc have another friend ia Gen.
Francis y. Greene, Grand Marshal OF the
inaugural Parade, who Is his letter u
Major Gen Charles Miller congratulated
him on the splendid showing Of his d.
vision Believe me 10 be. yours. very re-
specJu.Iy. ". r. RICHARDSON,
Lieutenant Colonel and Division Quar-
tr-1aSter-