Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-12-04
MILITIAMsN.s CONVENTION.
An Effort to Secure More Generous Sup
port From Congress.

An E6Eort to Secure More Generous Sup.
port From Congress.
WASHINGTON, December 3.-The fifth
convention Of the National Guard Associ,
ton Of the United States will be held in
this city on the 18th inst, at 10 q. m, at
the Ebbitt House. The circular making
the announcement calls attention to the
fact that Congress viii then be in session,
and it is hoped that the National Guard of
each State will be represented in such a
manner as will materially help the associ-
alton in its efforts towards securing legisls-
ton from Congress for Q more generous
support of the militia Of the seye-
raj States, work in which 1t
has been engaged for the last four years
At the last session it procured the pass
age through the Senate Of Gen. SeWelPs
bill, increasing the annual appropria-
ton for arms aud ordnance stores for the
militia from 500, 900 (the amount at which
il has remained since lS05) to 100000;
and also seeuyed favorable report of the
Militia Committee of the House upon Gen.
eral Slocum's bill undermining the present
obsolete provisions Of the United States
militia law (which has remained substan-
tally unchanged since 1922. Neither of
these bill; could be reached ia the House,
and therefore failed to become laws, al.
though it is believed that they would have
passed If they had been reached. The as
socistion intends to renew its exertions at
the opening Of the next Congress, but, to
insure success, it is necessary that the
Congressmen from the several States should
understand that the measure IS a popular
one among their constituents. Each State
is entitled to send FIVE delegates from the
officers or ex officers of its National Guard
to the convention.
The following subjects are announced
for discussion: /. The progress that has
been made in each State during the past
year in advancing the efficiency Of it's Ns-
tional Guard. 2 The relslive merits of
regimental or brigade camps, and whether
it is best to hold them near large cities
3. Suggestions in regard to General Slo
Gums bill, for the improvement OF the
militia.
General Albert Ordwsy, 10 speaking Of
the coming convention, said thAs. there is
q good deal Of Misrepresentation in the
public mind as to TIE purposes Of the Ma
tionsl Guard Association. Some people
imagine that the end in view ls TO central
ize the power aud to establish q national
militia. That Is 8 great mistake, There is
no intention o. interfering with State mill
tis rights whatever. All that is desired is
to secure for the State organizations recog
milton by the Government so that they may
be given deserved support, and have some
uniformity in their organization and con-
duct
We want to get rid of the obsolete laws
relating to militia continued: General
OrdwAy, "anl substitute live legislation by
which the State military organizations will
be recognized and feel that they are OF
some Importance. The Law OF 1905. which
aporopria,es 100000 for the militia of
seventeen States and less than eight mil
lions of people, hardly sUtices for thirty
eight States and over fifty million people.
Yet nothing never has been done. Aud
really no law affecting the relations OF the
miG,ia With the people has been enacted
siuce 1892. We want these obsolete forms
of Law which have never been snnulied to
give place to something beneficial to ali
concerned"
Here is an instance Of the Righteousness
of the laws OF 1892, 90 applied to the pres
ent DAY." Gen. OrdWsy went on, opening
and reading from the statutes. Every
citizen shall after notice Of his enrolment
De constantly provided with good musket
or frelock, Of bore sufficient for balls of
the eighteenth part of pound, sufficient
bs7onet and belt, two spare hints and q
knspsack, q pouch with bcX therein, to
contain not less than twenty four car
tri1ges, suited to ths bore of his mGsket or
6reloek, each cartridge to contain proper
quantity of powder and ball, or with a
good rife, knspssck, shot pouch or powder
horn. twenty balls suited to the bore OF his
rife and 9 quarter ofs pound of powder,
and shall appear SO armed sccoutered and
provided when called out in camp days
only, he may appear without knspssck.
= = Each commander shall be arm
with sword or hanger ard spontoon.
Our forefayher5,' be said, recognized
the rights OF the States to self-defense to
such an extent as to amend the Constitu-
ton to make sach provision, and yet it
seems impossible nowadays to secure even
q recognition Of State militia. We want
national militia only TO such an extent that,
in case State organizations are called upon
for ns ioual defense there will be uniform
ity Of organization, equipment and treat
ment.