New Ulm review., 1913-06-11
Major Buschers
Elected Colonel
New Ulm Again Becomes
Headquarters Of Second !.
Regiment.
Captain Pfaender Also Elect
ed to Higher Rank;
Now Major.

For 20 years, when Gen. Bobletel
was Colonel OF the End Regiment, our
city had the distinction Of being
Regimental Headquarters and now fol
the second time in the history of the
National Guard of the State of Mime
sofa, New Ulm is agaiE to be head
quarters of the Second Regiment. At
the election held at Austin, Friday
evening to choose successor to Col.
A. w. Wright, Major John Buschers
was elected Colonel by close vote
over the present incumbent in most
hotly contested election. With Col.
Wright, Lieut.. Col. Geo. S. Whitney
and Major N. Nicholson also pass o.
of the militia service, their terms
having also expired. Capt. Stelle
Smith OF w orthington was elected to
succsed LII Col. Whitney aid Capt.
Albert, Pfsender and Capt. Oliver
Duane to succeed Major Nicholson
and to fill the vacancy caused by the
promotion of Major Buschers to the
Colonelcy.
It was known even before orders
were issued for this election that there
was considerable opposition to the re-
election of tho incumbent field officers,
the western companies being practi.
cally aligned against the companies
located in the eastern part OF the
State. That considerable work had
been and was being done on behalf OF
Col. Wright by his friends was ap-
parent to every one on arrival at
Austin. The opposition to Col.
Wright was judiciously separated.
some being entertained at private
houses in the hope that they could be
worked and swung to Col. Wright's
banner. Members Of the Colonel's
staff who had no right to vote, we're
iu evidence to help down the oppo-
sition. That effective work was done
in this way, developed when Winona
and Fairmont who had been con-
fdvntly figured among the insurgents,
rallied to the support Of Col. Wright.
There was in reality no hostile feeling
against any of the field officers who
aspired to a reelection, but re-
election meant barring promotion to
all others for possibly another ten
years and this the majority was not
willing to concede. If Col. Wright
had been willing to sacrifice the other
two he might have been reelected, but
he preferred to stand by the slate pre-
pared by his supporters and went
down to defeat with them.
Gen. F. B. Wood presided at the
meeting and took occasion to urge the
officers to re.elect Col. Wright, but
this also failed to make any i'm
preston on those who bad banded
themselves together to make MAJOR
Buschers Colonel of the Regiment.
Upon the informal ballot Col. Wright
received ls votes, Major Buschers q
and there were 3 scattering votes.
Upon the fourth and deciding ballot
Major Buschers had q votes, Col.
Wright 10 votes and there was one
blank vote, This gave Major Buschers
the decision and be was duly declared
elected. Both Col. Whitney and
Major Nicholson then informed the
officers present that they refused to be
candida dates for reelection. Capt.
Stelle Smith was elected Lieutenant
Colonel, receiving 20 votes out of a
total of 80 cast. Capt. Duane was
next elected Major, receiving p votes
to his opponents 20 and Capt. Pfaen.
der was elected Major, receiving %
votes ont of a total AZ votes cast.
Altho Capt. Pfaender was the last one
to be elected, he will nevertheless be
the second ranking Major because he
was the senior ranking Captain OF the
Regiment. A splendid banquet was
served the officers at the Elks Hotel
after the contest was over.
How soon the newly elected officers
will be commissioned will depend
upon circumstances. If the powers I
that be should insist that they take
an examination to show their quail ,
fication for the positions they have
been elected to, it may take several {
weeks. If no examination should be !
then there is no reason why
The commissions should not issue at
once.
Tho ,,ronotion nj Ma;or Pusohars 6