The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-10-26
.B0WLES|NTENDEDI
TO RESIGN OFFICE !! [:
Blues Officers Induced Their
Commander to Withhold
His Withdrawal.
MCDOWELL CASE WAS CAUSE
Major Thought Governor Had
Not Treated Him With
Proper Consideration.

Only by dint of the unanious per-
sonal appeal made to him by the of1i-
GERS OF the Richmond Light Infantry
Blues Battalion was Major D. w.
Bowles persuaded to withhold his
resignation as battalion commander
after the Governor had declined to
| accede to his request for a board Of
examination In the case of Captain i.
B. Mcdowell. All Of the commissioned
officers had. with two exceptions, In
dictated their intention of resigning
with him II he put hts plans into eff
feet. s
1t is now believed, however, that no
trouble will result. The officers Sc
cured Major Bowless promise to take
no further steps in the matter at the
time. and they regard this as tanta-
mount to pledge not to resign with
out their knowledge and consent. The
latter is not likely to be accorded.
LonE-stnndinE Troubles.
This condition arose as the result
OF the troubles which have recently,
beset Company "A Of the Blues. and
which nearly brought the battalion
to finish on a night when 1t was
apparently In the zenith Of popular
i
Monday night of last week, just after
the presentation of the Lee bust to the
Blues by the friends Of the command
from Providence, r. I.
Major Bowles had Just learned that
Governor Mann had declined to order.
the board Of examination. which had
been requested by him two months
previously, to consider the case OF
Captain Thomas B. Mcdowell. This
board was asked for because OF a
report made by a court of inquiry
called at the instance of Corporal Car.
roll F. Martin. by which the latter
was exonerated and Captain Mcdowell.
was charged with responsibility for
the dissensions which had arisen In the
company.
When the command had assembled.
at the armory on the night OF October
IL to attend the reception given by the
Blues Association, one of the officers
learned that Major Bowles was con-
templating resigning. He at once com-i
municated with other officers, and
meeting was held, which Major Bowles
was asked to attend. He admitted that
he intended to withdraw from the MILL
tary service.
Was Not offered.
OF course. the statement that he
had Offered" his resignation at
meeting of his inferior officers is a
mistake. It is unnecessary to say that
designations are Offered" to ones SUI
periors. Major Bowles would tender
1t to the Adiutant- General
AS soon as this announcement was
made storm OF protest resulted. One
after another of the officers expressed
their regret and urged him to with
hold his action. He was assured time
and In fha he q Nd
ofssthe most efficient and satisfactory
commanders the battalion has had dur
ing Its long and honorable history.
They told him that they regarded his
presence with the Blues as necessary
Just at this 1uncture to its continued
success. Every officer Joined In this
| sentiment. Then. with two excep-
tons. they asserted that II he re-
signed they would all follow his ex-
ample and leave the battalion without
commanders.
4 ties, Major Bowles agreed not to write
his resignation and to take no furthe,
action along this line at present. Thi.
us taken to mean that the existing rea
son VIII no longer be regarded as jus
Trying withdrawal under all the cir.
Icumstances.
Opposite Opinions.
Friends of Major Bowles think h,
was justified in showing resentmen
because of the action of the Governor
IN refusing to grant his request for al
examining board. They regard this a.
La reflection on his judgment and be
lieve 1t is unprecedented.
On the other hand. friends OF Capital,
Mcdowell insist that the Governor wa.
right They think it unfair to tr.
any one without an Indictment, anl
that 1t would put the officer a a dis
! 4 advantage II he were forced to face ;
I tribunal which would be at liberty t
probe his entire past life and which
would, from the nature OF things, Civ,
the accused man no opportunity to pre-
pare defense, because he would no
lknow Whist the charges We're to be
1 Their argument Is that IL anything Il
known to justify a trial 1t is the dut!
of the battalion officers to ask a court
martial which would. it is understood
be granted by the Governor.
A good deal OF feeling still exists
In the battalion as the result Of Thu
/ affair, but it is being sincerely hopet
that the wounds are now in process Q
healing.