The San Francisco call., 1907-02-03
MAY ORDER THAT
COMPANIES Be
RE|NSIATED
Gillett to Investigate the
Mastering Out of Guards
men in San Francisco
CALLS
ON THE GOVERNOR
Receives His Promise to In
quire Into Matter and Ex-
poets FaYorable Action

The National Guard muddIe. arising
out of the mastering out of two com
panies of infantry and troop OF cav
airy. has assumed a new phase. with
the assurance that there viii be an In
vestigafion and the possible nstate-
ment of the three organizations. IT
is said that II such an order IL issued
General John III. Roster, commanding
the Second Brigade, VIII resign
A few days ago Colonel W. N. Kelly.
Major J. F. Eggert, Captain Creighton.
Lieutenant Sengstack and Quarter
master Sergeant Levy of the First In
fantry Captain r c. Greeninger OF
Troop A, Colonel whitmore of the sixth
of cavalry. State Senators Wolfe. Hart
man. Anthony. Kennedy. Reilly ana
Keane and AssembIyman Wilson waited
on Governor Gillett at Sacramento and
had an Interview with him in his ca
pacity as commander IN chief OF the
Guard. in relation TO the citizen soldiers
in San Francisco.
The several members OF the visiting
delegation laid their grievance before
him, and during the interview the Gov
ernor said that the information he had
was 70 the effect that sr1ce the emer-
gency service all the companies in San
Francisco had been on an equal foot
ing and asked why 1t was that the
three organizations named had been
picked out and the others allowed TO
remain
The substance of the answers given
was that the hidden reason had not
been disclosed but the fact remained
that these organizations had been
thrown OUT after the positive asser-
tion had been made that there would
not be any mastering outfit at all.
until after the annual muster and in
spection. and that the mastering out
order had come without any inspection
as to conditions and needs or notice
TO intermediate or commanding Of
ficers
The Governor stated that that seemed
TO him a very singular proceeding. and
that he would order an immediate in
vestigation. The committee stated that
the main purpose OF the visit was TO
induce the proper authorities to rein
state the companies To this the Gov
ernor said that. after the investigation.
he would consult with the adjutant
general OF the State and would do all
in his power TO remedy the wrong. il
any had been committed. The com
mittee left with the impression that an
order reinstating the three organiza-
tions would be issued
Upon the advice of the Governor the
delegation waited on General Lauck
and was informed as TO what had
taken place. He gave assurance that
he would do all in his power to adjust
matters to the satisfaction OF all par
ties interested after he had consulted
with the Governor
What will be done is merely guess
work The general belief IS. though.
that should an order Of reinstatement
OF the three organizations be issued It
viii be uch>a-Tebuke to General Kos
ter that he will resign
In regard TO the troop Of cavalry that
was mustered out. Captain R c. Green
niger said yesterday;
The order mastering out Troop A.
First Squadron OF Cavalry, OF this city
has never been enforced. I have been
beSet by a number OF business men who
asked why the troop should be muster
ed out at this time. One reason set
forth by General Roster is that San
Francisco is not a suitable locality
on account Of the difficulty Of securing
saddle horses This reasoning Is. m
deed. remarkable. when we consider
that Troop A has been a mounted or
ganization since 1S49. and it was left
to the present brigade commander TO
discover this fact at this time.
The charge OF inefhciency cannot be
brought against the troop. for since
the April disaster regular drills have
been held on the open street. even dur
ing inclement weather and with the
men only partly uniformed, as we have
not received equipments since the fire.
TT is true that Troop A. as well as
every other organization IN the city,
whether military or fraternal. was i'm
paired. but at the last inspection the
troop received rating higher than
any other organization in the city. and
IL any organization was TO be mustered
out Troop A should have been the last.
but then General Roster tells Us that
we must not live on our rsputatfons-'
Il feel that I have been handed a
gold brick by General Roster The
tro0u was assigned to his brigade about
wofmonths ago. He sent for me at
that time and informed me that he
would render me all the assistance IN
his power. Why he should make such
a statement and then. several weeks
later, recommend the mastering out
of the troop without an investigation.
without warning and without even the
formal notice TO the intermediate COM
mander. is tnc0mprehensible- This. too.
only two days before Governor Pardee's
retirement.
These were the facts that I. as a
member OF the delegation. placed be-
fore the Governor. ad we were assured
by both Governor Gil1ett and General
Laucx that an inquiry would be held
and that we would receive an impartial
decision
The captain stated also that since the
mastering out order he had received
fifty applications from business men
who would Join the troop IL It were re-
instated.