Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1912-08-02
GOVERNOR ORDERS PROBE OF
ALLEGED MISCONDUCT OF
NATIONAL GUARD OFFIC-
IALS AT GATE, WASH.
STIRS MILITARY CIRCLES
Adjutant- General Finzer Declares Or
egOn Troops Have Received "Black
VIII Stand Behind Officers; Threat
ened "Strike" in Sight.

Courtmartial for the five officers
of the Second battalion of the Third
Regiment Oregon National Guard,
who are alleged to have disobeyed
orders issued by General Marion P.
Maus at Gate, Wash, on Sunday,
July 2S, has been decided on by Act
ing Governor Ben Olcott after a con-
ference by wire with Governor West,
who is at present absent from the
state.
Military officials, including Adju-
tant-General FINER, profess to be
very much concerned over the Gate
matter, and declare that the contro-
versy has stirred the National Guard
to the depths. They say that it is
one of the most stunning blows ever
dealt the organization in this state
and profess to believe that it will be
years before its evil effects are for
gotten. Others do not take so rad
ical view of the matter. They ad-
NIT that, possibly, the officers might
have been wrong, according to strict
ders, but on the other hand, they say
that there might have been extenuat-
ing circumstances and some even de-
clare that the trouble is the outcome
of long political fight within the
Guard which has kept it in a turmoil
for two or three years.
"Strike" Threatened.
The latest feature of the affair is
the announcement that the members
of the Second battalion who are at
tached to the Portland companies,
will stand by their officers in the
event of a courtmartial and that, If
the officers are punished, the men
will quit the Guard and refuse to do
further military duty. Whether or
not they really mean to attempt this
extreme measure Is problematical If
so, it is difficult to understand how
1t could be accomplished. 1t is be-
yond the power of a member of the
militia to leave the service at his
pleasure He enlists for a certain
period and he must remain In the
service during that time unless dis
or mustered out for cause.
1t Is pointed out that a refusal to do
duty by an enlisted man might rem
der him liable to punishment for
or. worse still, to prose-
cut!on on the charge of desertion.
Local Men Loyal.
Members of company G, of Dallas,
which company is a member of the
Second battalion, and whose captain,
Walter l.. Tooze. Jr., is one of the
officers under fire. declare their 10y
atty to their officer. They say that
all OF them will stand behind them
In the fight. If he has one, but. as
one of the members said yesterday:
II do not see how we can quit the
service II we should decide to adopt
this course. Those of us in the SER
vice. and who have been connected
with the Guard for several years
know of the political quarrel that
has kept the organization stirred up
and we all attribute the Gate diff
guilty and the fuss that has been
made over IT, TO that fight.
We will certainly stand by Cap
ain Tooze and do all that is possible
10 assist him in the present trouble
lut. further than that, ] don't care
- say"
Captain ToOze has been out OF the
'ity since Tuesday and consequently
4 has been impossible to secure
statement from him.