The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-08-11
GUARDS TROUBLE
is NOT ENDED
Serious Condition Still Exists in the
States Military Organization.
CAPT. W. C. WEBB RESIGNS
SECRECY GOVERNS ORDER FOR
ELECTION OF COLONEL.

- is about due to break out in the
National Guard of Utah again, accord
ing to a we'll known member of the
organization ......-- -.---.--.
This soldierly expression, considered
in connection with several known facts
of recent development, make it appear
that the late trouble, far from being
settled. has merely been hidden from
public view while it ragged all the more
fiercely within the ranks.
In the face of a statement made some
time ago that no high officers would be
elected for a long time, has come an
order calling for an election today to
choose a colonel for the First regi-
ment. With the once of brigadier gen
eral vacant as it is. the commander of
the First regiment is the commander
of the guard ands the election is thus
one of Importance.
Mysterious Proceedings.
Secrecy has characterized the pre-
parations for this election. In the past
the practice has been to make public
at once all official orders of this nature,
but that practice was discarded in this
instance. Although the order was is
sued last Saturday, it has not yet been
officially given out. A majority of the
members of the guard are believed to
be no more enlightened than the gen
eral public as to the reason for this
secrecy.
Lieutenant Colonel H. NJ. H. Lund, at
present commanding the First regi-
ment, is mentioned as an officer likely
to become colonel, and, therefore, COM
mander of the guard Lieutenant
Colonel Lund has been acting in that
"a Y
Brigadier General Samuel c. Park some
weeks since.
A deep seated feeling of discomfort is
apparent among almost all the guard
organizations and, while the guardsmen
generally are reticent concerning the
matter. radical move on the part of
many leading members is imminent.
Webb Is Out of 1t.
One of the surprises of yesterday was
the information that Captain William
c. Webb, commander of the First bat
terry and one of the veterans of the
guard, had rendered his resignation the
day before. 1T was formally accepted
yesterday and took effect Immediately,
according to Captain Webb's request.
The resignation of Captain Webb is
viewed as especially significant. He
has been one of the ''stand-bys" of the
guard for over ten years, remaining
faithful in fair weather and foul. Even
the late COMMUNICATION officers re-
signed by wholesale, at its close left
Captain Webb still giving his time and
knowledge to the guard His action at
this time is therefore taken as evidence
that the situation is more serious than
il has been before.
In his letter Of resignation, Captain
Webb assigned no reason. When asked
about the matter last night he de-
Clined to discuss it.
1T is true that 1 rendered my resig-
nation yesterday and that il was ac-
cepted today" he said.
What reason did you assign for your
resignation"
q gave no reason"
But there must be a reason"
Il do not care to discuss il at all"
do YOU expect TO re-enter the
guard -
out of it permanently"
F "And you refuse to say what is back
Of the whole thing?"
Yes, I refuse to say anything about
the matter at all. do not believe it is
a proper subject for me 10 discuss eSpe-
cially now that / am out of the guard. L
consulted my own wishes in rendering
my resignation and was pleased by it's
prompt acceptance. Further than that
have nothing to say"
Veteran of the Guard.
Captain Webb entered the guard in
1894 as second lieutenant of company A.
About eighteen months later he was
elected captain of the company and re-
manned at its head until the Spanish
American war broke out in 1898 He
promptly volunteered and was ap-
pointed second lieutenant of battery A
Of the Utah artillery. He served
through the Philippine campaigns with
his battery and made a splendid re-
cord Immediately on his return to
civil life he threw himself into the work
of reorganizing the National Guard OF
Utah and was the leading spirit in
forming battery a, now the First bat
terry, and his late command. During the
Carbon county strike, Captain Webb
was in command of the troops at
Sunnyside and Castle Gate, where he's
showed rare administrative qualities