St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-01-11
SOLDIERS IN PEACE.
The Association of the State
National Guards Holds Its
Session.
Various Changes Sugge sted
for Action by the Legis-
latupe.
Gov. Nelson and Col. Mason
Called Out for Short
Speeches.
Interesting Papers on Mill
tary Topics and a Banquet
Finale.

Yesterday afternoon the senate cham
Der was scene of gay uniforms, Shout
derstraps and brass buttons. 1t was the
annual meeting of the national guard
association, and a finer-Iooking company
Of gentlemen has never filled that cham
Der. There were an even Seventy-tiYe
officers present, Maj. e. ID. Libby, presi-
dent of the association, occupying the
chair, and Lieut.. e. NeXsen, secretary,
officiating. The session lasted from 2
O'Clock in the afternoon until in the
evening.
The meeting adjourned after eleeting
officers for the ensuing year Col. c.
Nee. Reeve. of the First regiment, was
elected president; Capt Wright, of
Austin, vice president; Capt. Fred n.
Van Duzee. treasurer: Lieut.. Nexsen
was reelected secretary; Lieut.. Nor
gan, of the United States army, who is
military Instructor at the state univer-
sity, was elected an honorary member
of the association.
The members of the association at
tended in body the SaIYini perform
| ance at the Metropolitan opera house,
! occupying reserved seats III the parquette
circle.
AT II o'clock last evening the ST. Paul
officers Of the state militia rendered the
visitors a banquet at the commercial
club.
Soon after the meeting was called to
order by the president yesterday after
noon and the routine reports of the sec
rotary and treasurer were out of the
way, Gen. Bend, chairman of the com
Z n CT
mendatlons for changes in the military
code as follows:
Legislative Changes.
First-A provision for regiments of
not less than eight nor more than twelve
companies, with the addition of major,
two battalion adjutants, two sergeant
majors; and the aboIishng of the two
general guides. Second-The adoption
Of United States Drill Regulations" in
place of "Upton's Tactics" Third
Changing the Mounted Battalion" to
Battalion of Artillery" Fourth-In-
creasing the allowance for horses for
each battery from $500 to $3.50. Fifth
The inspections to be made by the as
SiStant Inspector general on the general
staff, saving of $500 a year. SiXth-A
bilr to be introduced in the legislature
appropriating $4,000 for the purchase
of 400 oyercoats and 1900 pairs of
blankets.
The report was acted upon by Sec
tons, and adopted throughout with
only few minor changes.
Maj. Fitzgerald, surgeon of the First
regiment, read paper Oh the marching
tour of company b, of Minneapolis, last
summer. He makes some valuable
recommendations as to the physical re-
QuirementS which should govern in the |
recruiting service. He suggested that
committee be appointed TO report
rules for the government of the guard
in those and other particulars. Capts.
AmeS, Wright and Brown, and Maj.
Fitzgerald were appointed such com
mittee.
Here Gen. Bend, Col. Bobleter and
Capt. KnoWlton were selected as a COM
mittee TO call on Gov. Nelson and re-
quest him to address the association. |
The governor was soon escorted into
the room, and was received with great |
applause. He was introduced by Mai. |
Libby as the commander-in-chief of the |
national guard.
The Governor Talks.
Gov. Nelson spoke briefly, and among
other things said:
You are not only we'll known at
home, but also in other states. You
represent not only the true military
spirit, but you represent the best citi-
zenship. The citizens of Minnesota are
proud of you. You are the connecting
link between the present and the terri
bic days of the civil war, and serve to
keep alive the nOblest feelings of patri-
otism and love of country. The citi-
ZenS of free country are not only the
best citizens of the world, but they are
In no A. hn oh nf
tive of the state l welcome you here,
and promise you all the aid | can give
you in making your future as creditable
to yourselves and the state as has been
your past"
Lieut.. George H. Morgan, Third
United States cavalry, who is military
Instructor at the state university, pre-
scented q paper on the corps of military
cadets under his charge, which was
referred 10 the committee on legislation,
as it contained many valuable hints.
Lieut.. c. NJ. Skinner, of st. Peter,
offered a paper on the dee2dence of in
tcreSt in rifle practice. lie recommends
ed the use of lighter cartridges than
the standard, on the shorter ranges and
for the beginners; also the reduction of
the requirements of qualification for
SharpShOoterS and marESmen. The re
coil OF the rifle when GiSeharglng the
standard cartridge is 50 severe that
many people shrink when they attempt
TO shoot at the mark. Considerable
discussion followed the reading of the
| paper.
Lieut. I. c. Clarke, OF saltwater. as
/ SiSlant surgeon OF the First regiment,
| who accompanied Company ID, of St.
| Paul, in its memorable march through
Yellowstone park last summer as Its
CIV -, int q
| ton of the trip. from both medical
/ aud military standpoint.
| Gen, Bend read 4 brIef paper, giving
/ some valuable suggestions tor Su6uTe
I Improvement.
NOre Papers.
Capt. Wright. OF Austin. rea6 an ex-
/ celleNt paper on The Individual Tom
/ PanV." He urges the greatest clreum-
/ SpSetlOO On the part IF the O9iceTS 70
/ preserve high moral tODS in the gUSEi.
When new business Was called. Gen.
/ Send read 4 resolution providing Tor
the creation OF : NSIlOIa, Guard As
SeSSmeDt Life INSURANCE cOmOSnV. Tie
/ general maintained that an Insurance
Of $l,5O0 could be carried al an expense
not 20 exceed $40 year. Alter con-
siderable discussion. the resolution
/ prevailed by = vote of 3 10 %.
\ resolution, offered by Mai. Fitz-
gerald, was adopted, which provides
that bill creating = military corps OF
surgeons be presented 10 the legislature.
Mason Called cut.
Col. Mason, commander of Fort Smell
ing, was observed sitting in a secluded
corner of the chamber, ana Col. Reeve
called upon him for = speech. Col.
Mason responded briefly. He commit
mented the association on its business
like methods. He was glad TO see the
national guard making every effort to
follow the rules and regulations of the
| United States army. The militia of
Minnesota, he observed, has not made
the mistake of several States-the mis-
take OF having lot OF high and purely
ornamental officers. The NJ. n. o.. so
far as be was able TO learn, has no Off
GERS who are not in active service.
A resolution of Capt. Wright was
] aiuan