Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-02


permeated most of the other states The inno-
vatons have been in the direction Of the prac-
teal military instruction and discipline as
opposed TO what may be termed the old "fuss-
style which brought the name Of
militia into such disrepute that it il obnoxious
to the present national guardsman.
THE ARMY AS A MODEL
In bringing this change about the regular
army is, as a rule, taken as q model and the
effort has been made to bring the instruction
of the troops as near as possible to the regular
army methods.
The improvement that has been made in
discipline is wonderful Although this lies at
the foundation Of the military organizations
and is practically the great distinction be-
tween an army and an armed mob, yet before
the late civil war it was almost unknown in
the militia. Very little respect was paid by
private in the militia to his officer and there
was even less idea of subordinaton on the part
OF the men, and no proper system of keeping
the books and papers on the part Of the officers
whose duty it was to attend to those matters.
In fact the organizations were run very much
on the idea Of a town meeting, where one man
is considered as good as another. The expert
ence of the war demonstrated that this method
OF conducting the National Guard was all
wrong and reformation began to be insti-
tuted by a number of old volunteer officers
who resumed their former places in the Ma
tional Guard after the war was over.
THE NATIONAL GUARD ASSOCIATION
was the outgrowth of the feeling that the mill
tia organizations of the country required to be
still further improved to fit them for national
defense. The settled theory of the United
States government in reference to this matter
has been that the state raised and governed
its militia as it fit and it the duty Of the
general government to provide the National
Guard OF the states with arms, equipments and
n he fraa hat 10 IN,
say that the National Guard Of a state, SO far as
they may be regarded al state troops would
only ind 1t necessary to perform q sort of
quasi police duty within the limits of their
state, which would not be likely to require
them to have full military equipment
Or any great knowledge of the art of
war. In the case also, Of an agricultural COM
munity there Is very little reason why Q state
should need a national guard at all. But when
the state troops are regarded, as they really
are, an adjunct OF the army, which in time Of
war would be called upon Immediately to sup
port our small army and from which must be
drawn the officers who will command the vol
unteers who are to defend the entire country,
then they require q much more expensive
equipment and more extended military instruc-
ton. 1t is therefore only right that the whole
United States should contribute toward the ex-
penses Of this additional equipment and In
structon, as it is required for the benefit of the
entire country.
FROM THE FORMATION OF THE GOVERNMENT.
It is interesting to note that this principle
was settled at the time Of the formation of the
government In 1908 the annual appropria-
ton for the militia was fixed by Thomas Jeffer-
son at 100000. Although the country grew
enormously in wealth and population no in
crease was made in this appropriation until
1885, when. through the exertions of the Ma
tional Guard Association. it was increased by
Congress to &400, ZOO. This sum- however, is
not paid in money, but is issued to the National
Guard of the different states Gin proportion to
their members of Congsess) in arms and mill
tary equipments which they require and which
remain the property of the government. BY
this method double purpose is accomplished
1t takes out Of the arsenals and brings into use
equipments which would otherwise rot or be-
come obsolete from age, and also keeps en-
ployed the government manufactures of arms
and equipments.
IN THE STATES
The National Guard Of the different states are
entirely distinct in their organization. The
governor of each state is, by law, the COM
mander-in-chief. As he is civilian, his adju-
tant general il the real commander In some
states. however. as in New Jersey, his duties
are mostly clerical, and the active command is
assumed by the general officers under the d.
rection OF the governor. The National Guard
Association of the United States is the body
ings of the guard taken. as a whole, as far as
they have any representation. This is q vol
untary association which was formed in 1879
for the purpose of improving the general
efficiency of the National Guard and enabling
1t to act as compact organization in
securing the reforms in legislation di-
rect from Congress. It has in all held SIX
annual conventions, at which the delegates
from the different states give their expert
ences in regard to matters of general interest,
anal No. =
structors, and similar points. These conven-
tions were held in New York in January, 1879;
st. Louis, September. 1879; Philadelphia, 1881;
Cincinnati, 1884, and Washington, December.
1885, and in February, 1890. At these conven-
tions the adjutant generals of each state appoint
hve officers or ex-oficers of the National Guard
as delegates. During the interim between the
meetings the association is controlled by the
officers and executive committee.
The writer of this article has been the presi-
and been reelected without opposition at each
annual meeting. The other officers are:
First vice president-Adjt Gen. Samuel Dali
ton, Boston. Mass.
Second vice president-Gen. Charles ]. An
derson, Richmond, Va.
Corresponding secretary-Col Charles e.
Bridge, New York city.
Recording secretary-Col Fred E. Farms
worth, Detroit, Mich.
Treasurer-CoL Charles J. Bills, Fsirbury,
Neb.
Executive COMMUNICATION New England
states-Adjt. Gen. Henry M. Sprague, Augusta,
Me. From middle states-Gen. Albert Ordway,
Washington. d. q. From southern states
Adjt Gen. Jas. Dodge Glenn Greensboro NC.
From western states-Col. Jas. NJ. Rice, Peoria,
Ill From Pacific states-Gen. Thos. J. Clunie,
NJ. c., Washington, DC. From northwestern
states-Col Chas. d. Curtis, Helena, Mont
At the last convention all the New England,
all the middle states, with the exception of
New Jersey, the delegates from which were
accidentally prevented from coming, all the
western states and such Of the southern states
as have any National Guard were represented
In all more than twenty-six states and terrific
ries, including the District OF Columbia
TIE OLD Law.
Although in 1885, a. stated, the National
Guard Association succeeded in increasing the
appropriation it did not succeed in repeating
the obsolete militia law. This law was passed
In 1895 and has been one Of the standing jokes
Of the century-is might safely be called the
great national joke in perpetuum. By the pro-
visions Of this Law the entire male population
Of the country between the ages Of eighteen
and forty-hve are supposed 10 be members Of
the militia. . fact which will be news 10 thou
sands Of people throughout the United Statss.
furthermors. 4 requires that every man shall