The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-12-20
INVESTIGATION
| OF ROUND ROBIN
Guardsmen Admit Signing the
Protest, Giving Various
Reasons For Com
planning.
WANT TO RETURN HOME
Little JustlhabIe Cause for Protest
Has Been Found by Officers
Probing the
Affair.
WANT TO RETURN HOME
[By Webb Miller, United Press Staff

by Webb Miller, United Press Staff
Correspondent
Ell PASO, Texas, Dec 20.-Actfon
upon the cases OF $50 Ohio national
guardsmen for breach of military reg
ulat1ons in signing and mailing a
round robin" to an Ohio newspaper
protesting against longer stay on
the border and against camp condi.
tions and food, today awaited the re-
port OF the district inspectors investi-
eating the affair by order of General
Geo. Bell, Jr., commander Of the
eleventh army division here.
Major n. e. Ely Of General Bells
staff went into the Ohio camp again
today to continue his investigation
and ascertain If there was any basis
for complaints. During the day It is
expected the investigation will be fin
ished and the final report submitted
to General Bell.
After inspecting the quality, amount
and preparation Of the guardsmen's
ratfons, and the camp conditions,
Major Ely went into the tents and
talked with the men who signed the
protest The names of all signers
are known, as the round robin"
came into possession OF the military
authorities when 1t was intercepted in
the mails and returned to the sender.
In most cases the guardsmen freely
admitted signing the protest and gave
their reason.
AS the Investigation proceeded it
was found that the protest was mainly
la manifestation of desire of the men to
return home. Although the results
of the inquiry have not yet been mad"
public it is known that little justin
able cause for the protest has been un-
covered Many of the men declared
they had signed the ''round robin"
merely because they wanted to go
home and thought the protest would
have that effect. Others signed be-
cause they were urged by men circu-
lating it; while others had minor
complaints directed at the lack of
flooring in tents, the quality Of food
or at their officers. ,
In case action is taken following
Major Ely's report, it will be based
upon the infraction Of the sixty-second
article OF war which covers such
demonstration. The inspectors stated
none of the men, knew at the time
that circulation of the ''round robin
was violation of the army regula-
ton.
According to Colonel Edward Voll-
rath, commanding the Eighth Ohio, 1t
developed during the day that the
charge contained in the protest that
the death of Private Rodney Lapp. OF
Wadsworth, Ohio, was due to neglect
of his own case and the medical
corps was without foundation. 1t was
found Lapp was out Of the guard
house and doing duty week before
he became III, Colonel Vollrath stated.
After his illness was reported he was
given the best medical attention The
protest claimed Lapp was thrown in
the guard house because he pleaded
illness to escape from drill and while
in the guard house contracted pneu-
monia. The investigation proves this
claim to be false. !
In military circles 1t is believed if
any action is taken it will be in the !
form of a mild discipline for infrac-
ton of military rules. Camp activity |
is going on as usual with the men
drilling and putting floors in their
tents.
Guardsmen In Sand Storm.
Ell PASO, Texas, Dec, 20.-Forty |
national guardsmen in this !