St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-01-13
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OUR LOCAL SOLDIERY.
News Of Interest to Members
Of the National Guard Of
Minnesota.
Features of the Ninth Annual
Convention at St. Paul
Wednesday.
Gossip Cleaned From the
Ranks of Company K, Of
the Prison City.
Company A Annual Election
Small Shot From State
Guards.

Bend, president. Capt j. l.. Amory. of
Company A, First regiment, was secre-
tary. After roll call the regular order
of business was taken up. Col. Bob
Letter, from the committee on legisla-
ton, reported that two bills had been
agreed upon, the first for an amend
ment of the present law providing for a
second battery of artillery, to be located
at Minneapolis. The other provided
for an additional appropriation of
$4,000 and the admission of the Third
regiment infantry, now reserve
organization. These bills have already
been introduced by Senator Ives.
HONORARY MEMBERS.
Under the head of new business,
Capt. De Witt, of COMPANY K, Duluth,
offered the following: ''Resolved, That
the present law be so amended that
each company be allowed certain
number of honorary members pro rata,
according to the population of the town
in which it is located. In towns of
from 5000 to 10000. 25 members; 10000
to $4,000, so members; 25,00U to 10000,
rs members; 100000 to 10000, 100 meni-
bers. The honorary members to be eX-
empt from jury duty and poll tax, the
same as active members, upon the pay
ment into the company treasury OF an
annual fee of $25
Capt. De Witt said, in support of his
resolution, that such law was IN force
in Ohio and that it worked all right,
providing substantial means OF sup
port for the companies and working ITO
injury to the jury system. Referred to
the committee on legislation. Lieut..
Tawney, of the Second regiment,
that the constitution of the association
be so amended that the association shall
consist of the governor and staff, the
commandantS and commissioned staff of
the several regiments, the battalion of
mounted troops and the commissioned
officers of the several companies of in
fanty of the national guard OF Mime
sofa. The cOmmander-in-chief to desig
nate the time and place for all future
meetings. That the meetings last two
days and that the officers III attendance
receive per diem of 81, including time
coming and going and mileage from
their respective towns. The above mo-
ton was carried and in future the meet
ingS of the convention VIII take the
form of an officers school.
SPECIAL DECORATIONS.
/ On motion of Capt. Chantler, of COM
pany c, st. Paul, it was resolved that
the state be asked to provide special
decorations for members OF the state
rifle team, as further inducement for
men tO-WOrk for this distinction. 1t was
ordered that in future all men who re-
ceived discharges for the good of the
service be published in daily OF weekly
paper of an equal date with the annual
inspection of the company to which
they belonged. Chaplain MOlyneux, of
the Second regiment, caused quite
little merriment by Offering res0lu-
ton "That the eyes of the blind pigs
that have infested our camps be opened,
SO that they may see their way out of
camp This was lost. Capt. De Witt
moved that the state be requested to
issue certificate of honorable discharge
to officers when leaving the state sefV-
ice, which prevailed.
IMPORTANCE OF DISCIPLINE.
This finishing the regular order of
business, the convention settled itself
to listen to papers which might be pre-
scented by different members. Col.
Bend introduced Col. Mason, U. S. A..
commandment Third infantry, Fort
Smelling. who read paper dealing with
the soldier of by-gone days and the
men-at-arms of the present day, eS-
pecially as found in the National guard.
The point which the speaker brought
out most forcibly was that good dis
cipline and instruction qualified 10 men
to cope with a mob of 100 who were
without discipline and formation. Dur
ing the course of his remarks he said:
mo national guard officer should be
permitted to come to an annual encamp-
ment ignorant of his duties more than
once. The time is at hand. if it has not
already come, when the national guard
should take the next step in drill-that
is. the application of minor tactics to
field movements. Minor tactics have
| regard to the evolutiOnS of body of
troops in the actual presence of an en-
envy: it is the strategy of the battle
field, the means by which the COM
mander handles his fighting forces.
Col. Mason urged the great Importance
| of thorough discipline, weak point in
| volunteer system.
"As a preparation against domestic
violence, officers should be well ac-
uuainted with the laws governing the
use of an armed force, and the troops
should be practiced in the details of
street fighting. The troops of this city
| may be required at any moment to dis
charge this duty. How would you guard
the Jail of this county against mob of
armed men-guard it with the troops
available in the two cities so as to best
protect the inmates and quell or deter
| the mob from attacking? Or. if an at
tack was made. repel it with the least
possible bloodshed? 1t is no time to
| learn how to handle troops when the
emergency is upon YOU"
The paper was enthusiastically re-
ceived.2 600 copies being ordered printed
for distribution amongst the guard of
| the state.
RIFLE PRACTICE.
After Col. Mason had finished Maj.
| Miles. rife inspector, U. S. A.. read a
| short paper on rifle practice, which was
we'll received
Lieut.. Williams. rifle inspector First
| regiment, n. q. s. NJ, road paper on
| rifle shooting. during which he made
several good recommendations. First,
| that each company provide badge to
| be shot for once week or as often
and that the companies pay for the am
munitiOn used, some such a method as
the following to be used TO determine
the amount due each man: Ii man
made an average of not less than so per
cent during practice having shot not
| less than three times. he should have
| all his ammunition paid for: if he made
| 20 per cent on the same conditions. he
! should receive three-fOurths of the
| amount paid for cartridges: if he made
60 per cent he should receive one-half
of the amount paid for ammunition.
| Some such scheme as this the lieuten-
| ant thought would induce the men to
| practice more.
Lieut.. Williams further thought that
in camp, firing at target at 500 yards.
and also company volley firing should
be abolished. The time so gained could
be used TO better advantage in skirmish
firing. He further thought that all men
should be required to use the prone po-
sition at 500 yards, as that was the posi-
ton used at Creedmoor, and should the
state send team there they would be
| required to take that position.
M