The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-12-18


~RS City stating that a bill
VEIN had been introduced into
VG/l the United States senate
M ] ] " ]: !: !!
~ by Mr.. Mitchell, OF Ore
M gon, providing for an ex-
SNt penditure of 81, 500 600 for
MtA the mobilization Of 5000
III I'M militiamen at the Worlds
SnA}E fair, under the auspices
OF the general govern.
rent, and for placing them, by volunteering,
under the orders of the United States for the
SPACE Of fifteen days. The sum recommended,
is should be noticed by anxious miiitiamen in
but so for each man, scarcely enough for pay
and rations for the fifteen days. leaving the
question of transportation to and from Chicago
and incidentals entirely out of sight This
column Is not the place for discussion, yet it
may not seem out of place to suggest, frst, that
snch bill is extremely unlikely to become Law.
owing to late political complications, and second.
that 1t is extremely doubtful whether it would be
the best policy In the long run to have the gen.
sral government interfere in the affairs OF the
militia OF the state at all. The United States
government, a 10 well known, maintains no
militia and has not for many years attempted
70 do so, though the old general militia law OF
i7s2 is still on the statute books unrepealed
The sentiment in favor Of the maintenance OF
strong and weli-disciplined militia by the states
themselves, entirely independent OF the general
government, ia believed to be growing. when
each community and state in the nation 10
thoroughly trained in the habit and practice OF
2 selfdefense and the maintenance OF law and
order In the first instance without calling on
Sxtraneous aid the conditions will be best for
life and property. This is the real spirit in
which military men should regard the citizen
eoldiery ana it should extend to everything af-
iecting the militia, its discipline, maintenance
End everything connected Herewith. On the
cther hand should the states themselves bear
the expense of mobili zation at some point to be
agreed upon, the best OF results would be likely
to follow from experience gained and friendly
rivalry excited. Let the states send their own
militia TO Chicago.
About That Tacoma Challenge.
Some little amusement has been caused by q
challenge" issued by Sergt. Scott, of Company
G, Of Tacoma, directed to any company in the
First regiment, Seattle aud Olympia preferred,
challenging any squad to q drill for the cham.
ponship OF the regiment and threatening to
claim the same if it be not accepted by January
L The challenge, it will be observed. appears to
emanate from a sergeant. As a matter OF fact.
sergeant is not the commander OF a squad
any more than a colonel ia. The corporal is the
commander of asquad. 1t is entirely possible
under the wording of tho challenge as pub
lshed, to pick out q choice lot OF men, put
them in a squad under the command of q
higher and more experienced officer
than a corporal. that is to say, "a
sergeant and then send them out
q squad. In the Seattle companies the regu-
lar squads are made up of men of all degrees of
experience and skill in drilling, under the com.
rand OF their proper corporals. If the 'chal-
hnge is addressed to any squad that can be
picked In Seattle. to be commanded by a ser
rant, as Sergt Scott would seem to indicate he
vpuId do with sshis squad" then the am titious
fscoman will hnd plenty OF takers Otherwise
hwiii be impossible to accept the "challenge,"
q least until 1t be worded in such a way that it
10 In military shape and can be understood in
accordsnce with military usagea