Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1902-01-17

required, you will be borne in mind.
Very Respectfully,
(Signed.) II. G. CORB1N,
1.. Adiutant General


from the various states and the idea OF
cowboy regiments from the western
states was popular with, General Miles
and the Secretary Of war.
The idea was all right and in line
with Grigsby g suggestion, but cowboy
regiments from the western states
brought him no nearer a comm ission
than when he first telegraphed Alger,
because the Governors of the several
states in the west would commission
the officers for such cowboy or rough
rider organizations raised in their state
from Colonel down. and Grigsby's re-
lations with Governor Lee offered no
hope for him IN the state organization.
A bill had been introduced by Sena-
tor Warren calling for regiment Of
cowboys to be raised in Wyoming.
That fell short of Grigsby's plan. He
wanted an amendment to the volunteer
army bill calling for United States
volunteers and giving the president
power to appoint the officers.
Senator Kyle assisted Mr.. Grigsby in
securing an interview with Senator
Warren who was member Of the com
mittee on military affairs in the senate.
Mr.. Grigsby unfolded his plan and the
scope of the amendment he desired
incorporated in the army bill. Sena-
tor Warren said no such amendment
could pass the senate or house, because
the army bill had already passed the
house and was about to be reported to
the senate for final and speedy action
Grigsby could almost see defeat star
ing him in the face. He argued with
Warren and stuck to his grounds so
firmly that Senator Warren finally con-
sented to report Grigsby's. amendment,
which he had already prepared. In
thirty minutes the army bill and the
amendment had been read in the sen.
ate and it passed, and was returned to
the house for concurrence in the
amendment, where it was amended to
read, "Not to exceed three thousand
men," - '.'
-Grigsby had laid the foundation for
a volun teer commission from the presi-
dent. Could he get it? There was
opposition to his being commissioned
from his own state. In a few hours
after the amendment passed, Presi-
dent Mckinley commissioned Leonard
Wood as Colonel and Theodore Roose-
velt as Lieutenant Colonel of the First
regiment. Judge Torrey of Wyoming
was commissioned Colonel of the Sec
ond regiment, and Grigsby was on the
anxious seat At last the ambition of
the gentleman from South Dakota was
gratifed.. A commission came, and
with it the rank of Colonel Third regi.
ment of rough riders Colonel Grigsby
had won a glorious victory over red
tape state pride and the army preju.
dice. For the first time since the civil
war president had commissioned men
to command volunteers.
The First South Dakota Infantry
Volunteers had been organized and
the officers commissioned by Governor
Lee while Grigsby was in Washington
The three rough rider regiments
were duly organized and equipped.
The first regiment was the only one
sent 10 the front It was com manded
by Lieutenant Colonel Roosevelt, and
gallanlly led the advance on Santiago.
This splendid regiment led by the
dashing and fearless Roosevelt covered
itself with glory. "Roosevelt's rough
riders" won the applause of the Ameri-
can people. The dashing young man
from Long Island was the hero of the
hour, and his fame made him Cover
nor Of New York. He was too honest
to suit the old time Publications of
that great state. ..s
& T. G. Platt and other ambitious men
feared his growing popularity and
dreaded his open administration. in be-
half of clean government, decided to
nominate him for vice president and
get him away from Albany. This
they did and by one of those mysteries
of life and death the final step was
given him. Now we come to the origi-
nal proposition, Was Governor Lee Of
South Dakota responsible for the ele-
walton of Theodore Roosevelt to the
presidency? .. g..
! Certain it is that Governor Lee
forced Grigsby to seek commission
from the president and this commission
came through circumstances and con-
ditions entirely outside of all ordinary
rules or regulations prescribed for the
army in war or peace. To get his po-
sition he had to secure the organization
of an independent branch of the army
which made it also possible for the pro-
motion of Theodore Roosevelt.
We have told you how Grigsby did
it and why he did it.
Cowboy soldiers furnished the in
spiration that pleased the warlike i'm
pulse of the dashing spirit that was
growing restless under the red tape
methods of the navy department. No
other branch of the army could have
suited the man who climbed the bullet
swept face of San Juan hill to glorious
victory. From San Juan to the vice
presidency was the elimination of the
hope of American manhood. .,r