The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-11-05

BECAUSE.OF
RELIGION
Captain Camfield Makes
Statement Against Col.
Freeman.
LATTER MAKES DENIAL
Mac Kie Gets Majority of Votes
at Informal Election for Major
in First Regiment..Camfi
Will Carry on Fight at
Formal Election.
LATTER MAKES DENIAL

Because of his religious belief Cap
tain William Camfield, of Company B,
First Regiment. NJ G. N. j., who is
Roman Catholic, says he was defeated
for the office of major of the First Bat
TALON, at an informal election held last
night in the board of officers room in
the local armory. Captain Camfield
was beaten out for the office by Cap
tain Arthur H. MacKie, commanding
Company A, on the fourth ballot. the
vote being. MacKie 2S, Camfield a.
On the first ballot Captains Charles
j. Allen and Mortimer c. Mum, of
Companies Mand C, respectively, re-
tired from the race, and after the third
ballot had been taken Captain Orrin
e. Runyon, of Company ID, who was
also a. candidate for the office, was
dropped because he received the lesser
number of votes.
The election was then between Cap
tains MacKie and Camfield. and the
count was even up until near the close
of the balloting.
Colonel Henry w. Freeman, who pre-
sided at the election, called the officers
together shortly before o'clock. Prior
to that hour the field. staff and line
officers were formed in groups here and
there in the >armory building doing
lobby work for their respective oandi-
dates. When the efficers' call was
sounded they hustled into the BOARD
room and began the battle of ballots.
The first ballot resulted as follows:
+ fN@,x,a f7o1as o. T9s.t,~xrr,4 q
Mum and Allen G.
There was recess of five minutes and
when the officers reassembled, Captains Al
len and Mum announced their withdrawal
from the race
The second ballot brought forth % votes
for Mackie, 10 for Camfeld and II for
Runyon. It was then announced that the
low man on the third ballot would be
dropped and another five minute recess
was taken.
The third ballot gave % votes for
MacBie, q for Camfield and 3 for Runyon.
There was another recess during which
the Campfield and MaclSie forces did active
work.
When the fourth ballot was begun there
was not a murmur to be heard all the
officers listening with intense interest to
the teller who announced the votes. When
all had been counted Colonel Freeman an
nounced that Captain Mackie had been
elected There was no cheering and the
election was not made unapimous.
Captain Camiield and his friends among
the officers openly attribute his defeat to
the fact that Colonel Freeman was op-
posed to his religious belief There was
runor to this effect during tho last two
weeks, but the matter did not come openly
to the surface until last night.
Captain Camfield, as well as many of
the other officers of the regiment, were
greatly aggravated over the report, and
It Is likely that they will ask Captain
Camfield to stand at the formal election.
1t was about. month ago that Captain
Camfield first heard that he would be OPP
posed at the election for major because of
his religion. At that time Captain MacI<ie.
who was not candidate himself at that
time, called at Captain Camflelds place of
business and ther informed Captain Cam
field that Colonel Freeman would not sup
port him for major
Asked TO give the raeson, Captain Mac
Kie said that it was because of bis religion.
''The Colonel told me So" said Captain
MaMclS1e, and | think it only just that
| let you know of it,"
Captain MacKie further stated that Colo
mel Freeman admitted that Captain Cam
field was a gentleman and a good soIi1ier,
but that he didn't like his religious belief,
and therefore would not support him for
election to he vacancy foTN major.
Several other officers later informed
Captain Camfeld that they, too, had heard
similar reports and advised Captain Cam
field to Investigate the matter
On Friday last, Camtield met Colonel
Freeman and asked him why he was OPP
posed 10 MS election Tor major.
The Colonel said it was because Camfleld
opposed him in regimental matters at the
board of officers meetings.
To this Captain Camfield replied that as
an officer he had the right to express his
view of regmental matters at those meet
ings
The Colonel told Captain CamheId that
he did not oppose him because of his re-
lgion and that whoever said so told a lie.
When informed that Captain MacISIe
had said he did, the Colonel got very
angry, and again repeated that it was
As a means Of getting 10 the bottom Of
tho affair, Captain Camheld last night,
before the @ election, qi requested st Captain
there, face to face, tell the colonel what
him wha he had told him the colonel had
said in regard to his opposition on account
Captain MacKie refused to do so.
Captain Runyon was very much put out
over his defeat for the ,majorship, and
to Colonel F1eeman said that there would
a vacancy soon. The Interpretation was
that he intended to hand in his resignation
In the near future
field that he heard Colonel Fireman sny
he was opposed to him on account of his
religion This officer said that If Colonel
Freeman denied to him that he had said
il. he would face him Rnd go with him
and insist he heard the Colonel make the
remark.
the Adjutant-General' Office is as follows:
Private, Company b, Second Battalion
September o. 1890; corporal, June is. 1891
corporal, Company f. Second Regiment
May 81 1892; Battalion sergean t-major
Second Regiment, June %, 1893; first lieu
tenant and battalion adjutant, First Regi-
ment February 3, 1896; captain and bat
tsdion adjutant, February 8, 1901; captain,
Company A. March 20, 1902 captain and
aide-de-camp by detail. staff of Governor
Franklin Murphy. March IL, 1903; first lieu-
tenant and battalion adujta1t, First Regi-
ment New Jersey National Guard Voun-
teer Infantry, War with Spain, April n
1888: discharged, November 4, 1898
During the last three years Captain Mac
Tie has attended the o0cers' garrison
school at Governors Island, where he made
creditable showing and received several
certihcates-