The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-07-17
GUARDSMEN LOST
JOBS BY DOING
DUTY FOR STATE

Much interest has been taken in mill
tary circles over the report, that two
members OF Company c, First regiment,
who attended the tour OF duty of the
Rhode Island National Guard at Forts
Adams and Greble lost their positions
at the Providence Manufacturing and
Tool company's plant, IL Warren street,
as result OF their action I'm leaving
their work for the week required OF them
In the service OF the state. and that
four other men employed by that con-
cern, who are members OF the Machine
Gun battery, and Of Troop B, First Bat
talon Cavalry. and one or whom Is an
officer In the former command, are TO
be in similar jeopardy OF their positions.
II they obey the state order TO partici-
pate In the practice march OF those two
commands next week.
Capt. II. Merle Bixby OF the Machine
Gun battery has addressed a letter to
Gov. Higgins, setting forth the facts. A
letter from the governors office To the
Providence Manufacturing and Tool COM
pany and another TO Capt. Bixby stated
that official cognizance of the matter had
been taken.
Capt. Bixby said:
'iBeing informed that two members OF
Capt. T1llinghast's company had been
Obliged 60 forfeit their positions with
the Providence Manufacturing and Tool
company for taking part In the tour OF
duty last week. l communicated with
that concern regarding three members
or my command who are employed there.
j was Informed by the superintendent
that the men could not go. One of them
IS Lieut.. Dixon and the others are a
sergeant and a corporal / Immediately
wrote to the governor, with the result
that today the superintendent called me
up and explained that ne must look out
for the business OF the establishment
and that the men were needed there.
lot
that one of the men was a commissioned
officer he finally consented TO let the Of
hcer of for three days, but declared the
others could not go. He asked me to
come &c his office and talk the matter
over. but have not yet had an opportu-
THE MEN AFFECTED.
The two national guardsmen whose posi-
lions We're filled when they left for the
camp last week were William G. O'Brien
and Charles Miller. OBrien returned TO
the shop and was told that his place was
taken and that there was no work there
for him. Miller did not return.
The national guardsmen employed By
this company who are expected to devote
the coming week TO the service Of the
state are Lieut.. Dixon. Sergt. Wright
and Corp. Blood OF the Machine Gun
battery and Private Webster OF Troop
D. First Squadron Cavalry.
superintendent Joseph Burck of the
Providence Manufacturing and Tool COM
pany said the two men OF Company
were not discharged because they went TO
camp, but because they left their posi-
aions without notice or permission.
Capt. Tillinghast came to me before
the camps began, 10 ask about letting
the men or" he said. 'I explained the
situation to him, saying that II would
necessitate shutting the shop. and that we
could not possibly do that on account
of lot OF CONTRACT work that must be
finished. There are a number OF men
who work here in the militia, and IL let
one go should have to do the same for
all the rest
''The captain did not see my point OF
view. and told me that he would take
the men anyhow, and that II they lost
their Jobs he would find them other posi-
lions when they came back. / had talked
with the men and explained to them how
IL was impossible for me 10 let them all
60 and how IL would compel me TO close
the shop IL they did GO
II did not tell them that they would
lose their Jobs IL they went Before going
the two men In question asked the fore
man for permission and were not given
bn answer In either direction. They did
hot say that they were going but I un-
nerstood from the captain that they were
Only one OF the men returned and asked
FOR work, and of course he was refused
The other man who went did not apply
when he returned and we have not seen
him since.
There are four other men here who be-
long TO companies that are due TO leave
next week on their excursion. They have
not been told that their positions would
be forfeited If they did GO and / have
their case under advisement now. Capt
Bixby was to have called upon me yes.
terday relative TO the question OF having
them go on the camp. but he did not
come."
The superintendent denied that he or
the company could be thought unpatrlo-
kic.
OFFICIAL OPINIONS.
Adjutant General Frederick NJ Sackett
said last evening that although the COM
mands that went to the forts last week
were mustered into the United States SER
kice for eight days. the federal govern