The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-12-24
THE MILITIA.
Annual Convention of the National Guard
Association.


Association.
WASHINGTON, December 16.-The fourth
annual convention of the National Guard
Association of the United States met yester-
day morning. President Wingate, of New
York, opened the convention by an address,
in which he said the condition of the aSso-
citation was more favorable, and that bills
now before Congress would receive favor
able consideration. General Taylor, OF
Colorado. was elected Recording Sec
retary. and Colonel Charles L. Bridge, Of
New York, Corresponding Secretary. Cen
eral Hartranft, of Pennsylvania, made
short address in which he cOunselled eau
tious action, 50 as not to arouse OPP
position. He reviewed the history of the
militia organization in his own State and
said that if Congress would give the de-
sired 5000, 900 for arms and ordnance stores
they would ask for nothing more.
The repeal of obsolete laws affect
ing the militia was saved for future
consideration. He moved that a commit
tee be appointed to prepare a bill sim
liar TO the one by the Senate apprOpriating
this money. and that the SlOcum bill be re-
ferred to the same committee. He thought
this committee ought to confer with the Of
fcals of the Government and of Congress,
and then draw up a bill. They might not
be able TO report TO this meeting. but they
could be authorized 10 prepare bill for i'll
PRODUCTION in Congress. Remarks were
made by General FainswOrth, of New York,
and others, the general tenor of which was
that everything should be subOrdinated to
securing the appropriation. General Hart
Tanft's motion was adopted, and tie COM
mittee appointed as follows: General Snow
den, of Pennsylvania; General Campbell, of
Kansas; General Ordway, General Hart
Tanft, of Pennsylvania; General Jones. of
North Carolina; Colonel Castleman, of Ken
lucky; General Finley, of Ohio. The fol-
lowing officers were elected: General George
w. Wingate, OF New York, President;
Adjutant General John S. Jones, of North
Carolina, First Vice President; AdjutanU
General A. B. Campbell, of Kansas, Second
Vice President; Colonel Charles +. Bridge
OF New York, Corresponding Secretary;
Adjutant General w. L. Alexander, of
Iowa, Recording Secretary, and General
Bonnet. of Nebraska, Treasurer. The fol-
lowing executive committee was appointed:
For the New England States General
Elisha RhOades, of Providence X. l.; for
the Middle States Major Andrew ID. Hep
burn, Philadelphia; for the Southern
States, General ID. II. Maury, Louisiana;
for the Western States, Colonel James VI.
Eice, Peoria, ILL.,; for the Pacific States,
Colonel Horace d. Ranlett, San Francisco.
The committee appointed to draft bill for
presentation to Congress for the benefit OF
the State militia, submitted a message pro-
posing an appropriation of S1,0OO,OO0 an
nualiy for the purpose of providing ord
nance stores, etc, for issue To the militia.
1t was agreed Ia. An assessment of SIS
10 dcfray the expenses of the association
WAS ordered levied on each State repre-
sented. The question of the relative merits
of regmental or brigade camps, and
whether it is best to hold them near large
cities was taken up and discussed at length.
OF the nineteen delegates who took part
in the debate ten favored brigade encamp-
ments and nine favored tlIe regimentaI
camp An invitation from the President to
call on him was received and accepted, and
tile convention adjourned.