New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-19
O'RYAN DEMANDED PAY
AND CAUSED FRICTION
Dix Tells Why Major General
Was Removed as Active Conn.,
nander of National Guard.
HIS DISMISSAL NECESSARY
Judgment Was Warped by APP
pointment of Young officer
to Head State Militia"
Says Governor.

Albany. Dec. 18-The causes leading up
to the removal of Major General John +.
O'Ryan by Governor Dix from active
command Of the National Guard are out
lined in a statement issued py the Gov
ernor tonight, In which he says he great
ly regrets that his appointment of an
enthusiastic young officer TO the highest
operative position in the National Guard
should have resulted in so varying his
major General O'Ryan's) judgment and
respect for customary procedure that MS
relief from duty became an immediate
necessity"
Attorney General Carmody's decision
yesterday to permit attorneys for Gen
eral Organ to test the legality OF MS
removal in the courts led the Governor
to issue the following statement:
In connection with the Attorney Gen
erals decision i'm granting the Application
Of Justices Gildersleeve and . Brlen, l
feel that the large number or citizehs
interested directly and indirectly IN tne
militia are entitled to know the causes
leading up to my reluctant action In re-
moving Major General Organ from ac-
tive command OF the National GHard.
During the winter or 1911 IL MAJOR
W Ryan tdlluludtF was lAIV
much discussion but | finally decided
that the arguments in his favor, includ,
ing the high Endorsement or GeneraI
Wood outweighed those opposed ana l
decided to nominate him 10 succeed cen
eral Roe.
The question of salary, or some form
Of continuous pay, was then brought up,
and | told Major Organ that, although
felt that the major general should re,
ceive a compensation, there was no lesai
rya T., tIbin could no done AT the
present time.
knowing that he was not a man OF
large means / offered him the choice or
major general or adJutant general, the
latter carrying with 1t salary. IL tnai
were to be a necessary consideration, ana
he selected the more permanent but un-
salaried position.
While was In Europe General Organ
was sworn in on May /, and Immediately
asked the adjutant general TO issue
orders placing him on duty with pay.
This the adjutant general refused TO 90,
so appeal was made to the Lieutenant
Governor. who, not knowing or the prior
history Of the case. sent to the adjutant
directed him to issue.
The adjutant general. having 10 alter
native or option, caused 10 be Issued the
acting Governors order, but ny virtue
of his legal designation as auditor or
military accounts refused 10 honor the
voucher for pay which the major gen
eral submitted on June l, covering the
period from date OF order, includlng sun
days.
Upon my return from Europe. early in
June. | was greatly surprised TO learn
of this action by Organ during my alb
sence, and deeply concerned TO md
condition OF friction developed as a re-
suit thereof
Ny expectations of harmony and CO.
operation were disappointed, and despite
repeated persona, efforts on my part to
relieve the strained situation the fric-
ton continued throughout the summer
and early fall, General Organ apparent
" losing sight of the fact that the adju-
tant general. ia the furtherance OF his
progressive administration OF military
affairs was issuing the orders OF the
commander in chief and not his own.
This antagonlsm to the work Of General
Nerbeck continued with Increasing bitter
ness until IL reached point involving
the efficient administration OF the mill
tary affairs OF the state. including dis
regard OF the oft-eXpressed personal
wishes and official directions Of the COM
mander IN chief
Therefore, to officially define the status
OF the chief administrative officer OF MILL
tary affairs. ! ordered the creation of
the position Of chief OF STAFF. whose du-
ties should be performed by my adjutant
To this order Of the commander In chief
General Organ took vigorous exception.
calling meetings OF commanding officers
the authorities In Washington, asking
their interference.
This. as a elimination of the long
series OF acts preiudcal to good order
and discipline. would In itself have war
ranted HIS relief from duty, but as a
further effort toward harmony, and out
Of personal regard for the man "a well
as respect for his high Office. | allowed
him the privilege Of submitting a brief
az 10 the legal aspects of the creation OF
the new position
This brief was IN my hands, and had
not even been reviewed by the Attorney
General when It's contents appeared in
the public prints. and | thereupon con-