New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-21
COMPLAIN OF COLONEL
Two Officers of 6Sth Make
Charges Against Col. ConIey.
REGIMENT SPLIT IN FACTIONS
Majority of the officers Said To
Be Bitterly Opposed 10
Commander.

There is more trouble in tho seth Regi-
ment. which H. now torn with disseusion.
owing 10 the opposition 20 Colonel Louis
n Conley. by what is said 90 be ma.
iority Of the officers
Lieutenant Pcrrival l.. Magic. Tammanv
leader OF Harlem and a battalion quarter
master in the regiment has made n charge
against tho colonel and has asked for "A
court Of inquiry. and Captain John F.
scanlcn. OF Company h an ex-Assembly-
man and a great friend OF Magic. has
also made formal charges against Colonel
Conley
The papers Of both the officers arc now In
the hands OF the colonel. as by military
regulation. all documents must he for
warded through the colonel. Wao reads
them first After q given time hc must send
them t. the Adiutant General NJ Albany.
None Of the Officers concerned will give
any information concerning the charges.
Captain Scanlon and Lieutenant Nagle
both said that all Information must be OBJ
tanned from their superiors and that they
had not word to say Colonel Conley
had the charges yesterday. but refused 20
say anything concerning them.
II was learned. however. that Captain
scanlon. amosg other things charged the
colonel with having helittled him i'm front
Of his company last FRIDAY night after its
special drill AT the srrorv. and that the
colonel uniuSt'v Inundated him before en-
listed men lie also charged that ha mad
been oppressed and Disseminated against
because he refused 70 sign paper giving
the colonel power 70 appoint officer, in
stead ~ choosing them hv election.
Lieutenant NsEle alleged that colonel
Conlev had publicly and falsely cast asper-
sions upon him. and for the good Of tie
regiment he asked for court ~ inquiry
in connection With the allegations.
An officer who is in tho faction opposed
70 the colonel Was willing ~ speak Of the
trouble last night.
The actions of Colonel Conlev IN admin
isterine me affairs of the regiment are
hard 20 understand" he aid He made
enemies by his peculiar methods of officers
who were absolutely LOYAL IN him re ha-
interfered I'm company elections b. tryin-
n get his own candidates elected. and both
officers and men resent such interference
His desire seems 10 10 ~ Cypress those uu.
DER hi command without any reason %;
justification. He Wa elected 80 tho colo
nelcy originally by only one vote. and noT,
instead Of having only tvel,. officers
against him. he has twenty-one In my
opinion. II viii now he impossible for tho
regiment 70 prosper as an efficient mill
tarv organization unless there is change
in the regiment head. am positive
court of inquiry viii testify 20 this necoT-
sitv"
The whole trouble A. present twisting
IN the 69tr Regiment rs luo 90 tho fact
that = few officers. having no regard for
the interests or tho regiment, desire 90
dictate 70 tho colonel. who would not al
low il for a moment" said an officer friend
Is 20 Colonel Conley. Some II these Off
GERS arr beyond tic age ~ progress ami
naturally resent any proSrcssiv" movement
which viii show up their ignorance. These
are the officers WHO arc opposed to tho
colonel and who desire 90 make politl-
cal machine out Of the regiment rather
than an efficient military body. Colonel
Conley has been expecting some such move
as the charges which have now been made
against him. but 7 know that 10 viii nos
keep him awake AT nights.
The first open development ot tHe trou-
lie i'm the regiment was last Friday night
when General George Moore smith. COM
manding the First Brigade. ordered COM
pany E under Captain Scanlo1, 10 parade
for inspection and drill before Major Ar
thur W. Little, inspector general OF the
brigade General Smith took this action boz
response to an application made Oy Colonel
ConIey for a board TO examine into the
moral character. capacity and general tit
ness for the service of Captain Scaulon.
The rerort OF the inspector viii be for
varded TO Albany some time TINS week II
Is expected