The San Francisco call., 1904-02-21
DARK HORSE
WINS PLACE
Exciting Election for Colonelcy
Of Seventh Regiment Results
in Choice of II. H. Finley
JOHN R. BERRY STEPS OUT
Artillery Instruction School.
Various Matters of News
Concerning Citizen Soldiery

There were exciting times IN the
headquarters of the Seventh Regiment.
n. G. c., at Los Angeles recently, when
the regimental officers met to elect
successor to Colonel John +. Berry, who
had held the colonelcy since December,
1895. He was a candidate for re-elec-
ton, and thought his only opponent
was Lieutenant Colonel ". C. Schreib-
er, who had for long time aspired to
lead the Seventh. Schneider was the
only avowed candidate, but when the
first ballot was taken it was discovered
that Major Henderson H. Finley of
Santa Ana had received the votes or
the officers of the three companies of
his battalion. The vote stood 10 for
Schreiber, 13 for Berry and for Fin
ley. The vote was the same for twenty
three ballots, except that occasionally
one would change his vote to either
Berry or Finley. This was on a Satur-
day night, and after the twenty-fourth
ballot Lieutenant Colonel a. W. Brad
bury, who presided, announced that in
a few moments It would be Sunday
morning and that an election held on
Sunday would not be legal. One OF the
officers asked that one more ballot be
taken, feeling sure that. the result
could be announced before midnight.
Another ballot was granted, and the
result was that the Schneider force with
one exception went over to Finley and
he was declared elected. An objection
was raised on the ground that . the
watch showed that it was just after
midnight when the result was an
nounced, but the presiding officer over
ruled the objection, as his watch
showed that it was not quite II o'clock.
Colonel Berry then moved that the elec-
tion be declared unanimous, and the
motion prevailing Major Finley became
the colonel of the Seventh. By this
election the headquarters will be re-
moved from Los Angeles to Santa Ana
During the evening Captain Walter
A Greenleaf was elected major, vice
Finley, promoted; Major Terrill Thorn
as, inspector of rifle practice on the
staff of Brigadier General Robert Wan
kowski, was elected major of the Sec
ond battalion over Captain Harvey E.
Higbey, defeating him by vote of 20
to IA; Captain L. H. Cole was elected
major of the first battalion without op-
position.
Major Shadworth o. Beasley, who
served in the Philippines as surgeon
in the United States infantry and in
the Eleventh United States Cavalry,
has been appointed inspector of rifle
practice for the First Artillery, n. G. G.
Last week there was a school of in
struction for the non-coms. of the First
Artillery, the instructor being Major
Bush, commanding the battalion. They
were instructed in much that apper-
tains to their ordinary duties and in
engineering duties.
At an election held in Company f,
Oakland, last week Major George II.
Wethern OF the Second Brigade staff
was elected captain, which position he
held in 1895. j. p. Johansen was elected
first lieutenant, and the election of Sec
ond lieutenant was deferred.
The First Artillery battalion will
have practice day at the guns at the
Presidio on the 2Sth of the current
month. 1t will be day of hard work
for the men of the First, but they are
willing to be instructed.
At a meeting of Company A, First
Infantry, First Lieutenant Bertrand
presiding, resolutions were adopted ex-
pressing sympathy with Captain George
IT. BalIinger because of the accusation
of embezzIement preferred against him,
expressing belief in his innocence and
nledging undivided confidence and sup
port.