New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-09
THE FATE OF CREEDMOOR.
SHALL IT BE GIVEN TO THE SOLDIERS,
CIVILIANS AFRAID THAT THEIR sHooriN'
GROUND MAY TRANSFERRED TO THE
GIARD

CIVILIANS AFRAID Ihh' i"S''
GROUND MAY TRANSFERRED TO THE
NATIONAL GUARD.
Civilian raemen in New-York and Brooklyn arc
greatly excited over an attempt which ihey say i
80 On ion, IN the uart OF National Guardsmen to
freeze them out at Creedmoor' ana 10 'un over '''
nroperty made famous By civilian matches TO the
N,topaI Guard as It's exclusive property This SIT
nation has been coming about gradually for several
vcars Tho range at Crecdmoor was esi aoished IN
1873 Tho property acquired by money which tho
State furnished. An appropriation OF S2''ooo was
secured from the Legislature oy the Natohai h''o
Association upon conditions which prevented II from
dsposing Of the property without the states consent
and required It to keep the range open for the use
NJ the National Guard. The association At first made
a great lnanoial success and prospercd anazingl5.
Tho Irish match Of 1874 tho Ave Centennial matches
and the two later ores brought fame and fortune
All these matches won by Americans, who SUI
hold the international trophy. But for the last SIX or
eight years no civilian matches have been shot, and as
result Of what seems have been reaction In the
public Interest in rfe-shOOng the range has sunereu
neglect and the associations treasury has become de-
peted.
The National Guard, on the other hand mas uSed
CreedmOor for practice and more every year anu
has come 10 look upon II almost as National Guaiu
property As tho zeal OF civilians has diminished mat
Of the military men has Increased. Many Ouarusmch
are members OF the National Rifle Association and Dy
reason OF the difficulty that has been experienced IN
securing civilian directors OF the association that gov
enng board has gradually passed over into the hands
o. the military men. This Is said by civilian rihemen
not any lack Of husiasm on their part
They are as numerous and devoted to the rhe as
ever but few Of them cared to become directors
because of the time necessarily taken from their
business to attend meetings and to perform other
official work incident to the position Of directors
MILITARY BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
The National Guardsmen, however. being organized
and constantly stimulated by the State military au
horites have been able TO find plenty of men willing
TO be directors, so that now, out Of about dozen
members of the board only are, strictly speaking
civilians. The board of directors has almost absolute
control Of the associations interests About the only
check which be put upon the directors lies In the
function OF OF the association TO elect them. An cleo
ton to fill vacancies In tho board is held every year,
but except by rejecting such drec tors as have proved
undesirable and by choosing Others more likely to
sympathze with civilians, the association has but lit
tie power It's own affairs
The fact that lilo board had become strongly mill
tary In It's feeling and inclined 10 disregard the rights
OF private riaemen cropped out last winter. when
bill appeared in the Legislature providing for tho
transfer of Creedmoor from the association TO the Ma
tional Guard. The bill had proceeded several stages
through the Legislature before any one knew OF IT, IL
did not pass 1t had been presented so late In tho
session that but little opposition was needed 10 hoid
It back, and adjournment finally killed IT, But al
meeting Of the directors OF the association held on
Wednesday the bill appeared again. 1t was drawn up
By General Wngate and was presented and warmly
advocated by General Robbins, Inspector of Rife Prac-
tice in the National Guard. General Robbins wanted
the directors to approve the bill, and 1t soon became
apparent that most OF tho directors present were In
cIined to act advised. only two civilians Colonel
John Bodlne and Mr.. Duane, spoke against IL. III
In
to be held on December IL. Unless strong opposition
to IT is developed before then 1t will probably be sp-
proved
PROVISIONS OF THE PROPOSED ACT
The preamble of the acts states that more land Is
required at Creednoor for the use OF the NatohH
Guard and that the practice is now confined almost
entirely the soldiers and that therefore the Rihe
Association is DESTROYS Of transferring to the sta'e
the ground and property belonging to 1t for the use
Of tho Guard on condition of its being permitted to
hold its annual competition thereon in the fall OF each
year for period not to exceed ten days" Inc
first section then provides that when the ASSOCIATION
shall convey Crecdmoor TO the state, subject only
the associations night TO hold It's annual en-dayS
competition and such other rifle matches as may from
time 10 time be approved and authorized by the
Adiutant- General the State shall take 1t. The
second action provides for the acquisition of such ad
Joining property the Guard needs and the thru ana
last section appoprates the necessary money for IT,
OF course tho associations own d.
rectors approve OF such an act as This,
the Legislature will be furnished with a powerful ar
gIment In favor OF passing it. Its effect. In the
opinion of prominent civilians, will BIO to destroy the
association and put an end TO international matches,
The military men answer that the civilians never
al any rights in the range anyhow. don't use It, don
take care of IT, can't raise the money 10 pay FOR the
additional property nov needed and ought TO be well
content with the allowance Of ten days for competition
the fall s6 beS sn ass be asked TO
what they never had They profess TO be willing to
turn the Ppes OsT DO the the saG 6SI Si them
one day week for practice. ten DAYS during septem-
for International matches and the preparatory practice
for them. Much bad feeling has been engendered
alleged that the National Guard has always enjoyed
all the privileges 1t could possibly make use of and
Creedmoor It's world. wide reputation is purely gratu
| tOus.
COLONEL BoDINE THINKS THE ACT SHOULD BE
AMENDED
Colonel Bodne was seen by a Tribune reporter
few nights ago and he spoke vigorously in denunclaor
of the scheme proposed by General Robbins. There
are 400 members of the association he said, "whC
have paid their money for the rights they secured
by such membership What Is 70 be done with them
Are they to be pitched out bag and baggage! Tia
susceptible of amendments which would make It sat
lsfactory however, and would be simple justice.
the men who are pushing this thing are 2lhenabi
10 reason and common SENSE cIeedmoor Will be save
for future glorics without trouble and the Nationa
Guard will have all II wants as well. II they won
listen TO reason, why they there viii be trouble.
do not believe the Guard, body OF men, wOul
indorse such an act OF injustice, which has nothing
commend IL whatever. At most, the military me
cannot employ moIe than four days week ere >,
them have five. Give us but one All We want
fair play
&" / there any chance OF all international mate
Soon COlouell" asked.
There is a good chance of one. can't tell yc
about It, but / should not be at all surprised
the Palma disputed next year"
A MEMORIAL BUILDING IN HARLEM
Ground has boon broken for new building 70