Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1906-05-03
DEFENDED MILITIA.
Gov. Pardee Resented HOtly the
Charges Made Against the
National Guard.
HAVE NOT BEEN WITHDRAWN
Relief Fund Under One Management
Gen. Funston to Have Principal
Command Of Troops-Camp
for the Chinese.

San Francisco. April T.-Gov. Par
: dee visited San Francisco Thursda.
when he attended conference between
, Gen. Greeley, Mayor Schmitz, DR.. De
vine, of the Red Cross, and member,
Of the Citizens committee of 50, VIII,
are advising the mayor. Gov. Paroles
brought up the question Of the req4es
of Mayor Schmitz and his COMMITTEES
for the withdrawal Of the Nation.
Guard from the city. The govern
spoke highly In fa;oT OF the Nation
Guard and referred to the splendid Sc
vice its members had done In the "
with Spain. He stated that he CO...
sidered the request as rejection upo;
a Well-organized and highly e1lcien
body of men. The governor said tina
he was very indignant over the attl-
tude taken against the guard and tn
charges preferred against them. l.;
that he thought 1t best not to ma:
lany further remarh. Mayor Schmi-
Immediately replied that he and h.
committee had not made any charge.
against the guard. On the contrary
he had thanked the governor for their
services. II charees had Dee:. made
they were made by outside peJ!e. The
object In making the request fer TN
withdrawal of the troops was to con
centrate the contro! of the city in tn
federal troops and prevent misua3or
standing and conflict OF orders. Ma.
Gen. Greeley stated that SO far as lie
knew there VS. no conflict Of author
ity and that as an United States army
officer he could not assume charge OF
the state militia. The mayor was the
head of the city and every Request
made by him had been followed and he
would continue to recognize the au
thority of the mayor in giving direc'
tons for the safety of the people. The
civil authority was superior to the mil
itary and the mayor is the only head
ne Will recognize.
The state troops have not yet been
withdrawn and the meeting adjourned
without any announcement that they
would be. There was long discussion
over the advisability of starting a
number OF the electric street railway |
systems The committee did not yet
feel that all danger Of fire from this |
source was passed, and the mayor
finally appointed committee to inves-
Ligate and report on this matter.
Capt. Payson, of the water commit
tee, made report on the water phase
Df the situation. He said that num-
Der of the city's most important res
Drvoirs had been either entirely de-
,troyed or very badly damaged and
he water pipes were in no condition
o meet the demand put upon them
there was no storage water for lire
and consequently no means
# protection against fire If 1t should
freak out at this time.
Chairman James D. Phelan, presi-
lent of finance committee stated
he arrangements of the relief fund
IS outlined in President Roosevelt's
of the day before was
satisfactory to the finance
ommittee. He stated that the efforts
eing made was to centralize the con-
rol of the fund in the hands of one
ody. Gov. Pardee then turned over
D him control of such contributions
s had been sent daily to the governor
nd General Funston also formally
the $4,000 remaining I'M
sed Of the $4,000 contributed by the
interests. This fund was
fred directly to Gen. Funston with
irections to use it according to his
wn best judgement, and the general
xplained to the committee the man
er In which he had used it. These
Ependitures we're approved by the
Thus control OF the entire :
lief fund is now in the hands of the
nance committee Of the relief and
ed Cross funds.
General Greedy incidentally explain
the relative position Of himself and
unston He said that he had divest-
| himself as far as possible of all
,partmental duties which would con-
nue. to remain In the hands Of Gen
al Funston and would devote himself
the sanitation Of the city, the mat
r of the policy Of the army In its
usual relations with the city and
her special matters.
II q suggestion made by Colonel
1rney is adopted camp for the Chi
'se refugees Of the city will be estab-
he'd on the golf links Of the Preside
Dy me army. Colonel Tor
y said the Chinese, confident of the
'ility of the federal government to
We them the fullest protection, had
Jpressed their willingness to camp