Evening star., 1895-06-21
Board Of Trade Representatives Down
at Camp Washington.
PRAISE FOR NATIONAL G GUARD
The Officers Association Enjoys a
Pleasant Evening.
PRESS PARADE IN THE CITY
STAFF Correspondence Of The Evening Star.

President b. H. Warner of the board of
trade to The Stars correspondent yester-
day afternoon. and similar expressions
came from other members of the party of
directors of the board who visited Camp
Washington. Met at the wharf by detailed
officers of the generals staff, the repre-
sentatives of business Washington We're
loaded into vehicles and driven directly to
the parade ground. They narrowly escap-
ed missing the ceremony OF the day, be
cause the steamer City of Richmond. on
which they came, was late in arriving. AT
the conclusion of the ceremony OF troop
ing the colors' the party was escorted to
headquarters where a hearty welcome was
extended by Gen. Ordway. Light refresh
ments were served in the lecture tent, and
while the pangs of hunger ard thirst were
being allevated President Warner pre-
cipitated a general oratorical engagement
by making a speech, in which he testified to
the possession of more of a deep and real
practical interest In the District National
Guard than he had ever known prior to
his visit. He had read and seen, he said.
how that the old-time militia was no more,
so far as the capital city was concerned.
and he was delighted to have oppor-
tunity to express to Gen. Ordway and to
the guard generally his appreciation of
the new and sold!erly order of things.
Speaking for the organization over whose
1t would do everything within its power to
encourage and support the brigade in its
endeavors to acquire increased efficiency
The amount of money appropriated annu-
ally for the support of the guard was pal
pably insufficient, and those who saw un-
derstandingly the work that was being
done could not but marvel at the great
amount of good which was being accom-
plished with little encouragement of the
practical sort. Mr.. Warner said he was
perfectly sure In his own mind that the
board OF trade could be depended upon to
do whatever was necessary to assist the
National Guard in securing from Congress
such an appropriation as the brigade de-
served and must have. The presence in the
community of a well-organzed and thor
oughly trained body of men pledged to the
support of the law was most reasSuring to
those who are thoughtful enough to bear in
mind the ever-present possibilities of dis
order. y believer in the citizen soldier. he
hoped sincerely that financial provision
would soon be made which would at least
give the District National Guard the oppor-
tunity afforded the troops Of most of the
states.
Other Speakers.
President Warner then called succesively
upon Messrs. John H. Magruder. F. l..
Moore. John 3. Wight, Thomas Somerville.
Theodore W.Noyes. John Joy Edson. Frank
Hume and A. P Pardon, who responded in
the same spirit which was evident in Mr..
several of the speakers, was SO compre
hensive that it left nothing for them to
say. Generally they testified to an interest
in the National Guard to which they had
been strangers, and they We're all en-
thusiastic over the ceremony of "trooping
the co!ors," whether 1t was regarded from
the military standpoint or from the point
of view of the promoter of love for the
flag. Messrs. William l.. Roose and John
B. Larner did not deliver addresses, they
having escaped as soon as they saw before
them the possibility of being called upon to
contribute to the language of the occasion.
Gen. Ord,vny Replies.
Gen. Ordway's reply was a remarkably
happy cne: it was more-it was instruc-
tive and rich in material for thought
Starting out with the statement that this
ration was founded by the militia and that
its volunteer forces We're the national cor
Ter stone, the general sketched logically
and in te-Se manner the history of the
efforts that have at various times been
made to bring about satisfactory organi-
zation of a militia. He showed in fashion
that defed controversy that the volunteer
soldier was the only one upon whom the
country should depend. for a republic de-
Tended by a hired soldiery would be an
anachronism. The time to make prepara-
tion for the trouble which might develop
at any moment and which SO frequently
came without warning was now, bit de-
VelODJnSII CT CnS NATIONAL CJuaTt Was 1fOI
possible unless the legislative authorities
were sufficiently interested to provide the
necessary funds. Congress appropriated
for the District National Guard sum
equivalent to only little more than s.
per man, while in states like New York ard
Pennsylvania and Massachusetts the per
capita appropriation ranged from $i5 to
$50 per man. 1t was therefore something
Of which the people of the District Of Co
lumbia might we'll be proud that their
troops had done so creditabiy along SO
many lines of military cndeavor At such an
insignificant cost. Elsewhere. when the
National Guard was ordered out for duty.
the men were paid 4 reasonable sum, but
of all the guardsmeI in camp at Fort
Washington not ona received any financial
recompense. Many of them were direct
losers because OF their fidelity to public
duty; considerable proportion of the men
would lose, because of absence from their
civil occupation, at least S25, while others
have been discharged by irata employers
who would. in case trouble should arise. be
among the very first 20 call upon the Ma
tional Guard for protection.
The general urged the encouragement of
the military spirit among young men and
insisted that the young man who, for
few days in each year and during a por-
ton OF his leisure time throughout the re-
mainder of the twelvemonth, devoted him.
self to such military training as was being
given in the District National Guard, was
a more efficient man in every way than he
"
habit of prompt obedience was more sue
cessfrIly taught in military service than
in any other school, so that there was every
probability of the value OF a mans serv-
ices-either as director or a subordinate
being enhanced by a semi-military educa-
ton. Gen. Ordway's remarks were loudly
applauded, and after Maj. Geo. H. Harries
had paid a tribute of respect to those en-
ployers in the District of Columbia who
had given their men leave of absence with
pay during the encampment period, the
speach-making came to an end. The party
was conveyed in wagons to the wharf in
time to catch the o'clock up-river boat.
Dress Parade Here.
Washingtonians who have not been able
to visit the camp to witness dress parade
and the additional ceremony Of "trooping
the colors,'' will doubtless be out in full
force tomorrow afternoon on the ellipse
south Of the White House, where, at 4:30
o'clock, there will be brigade dress parade
and all its usual accompaniment. Follow
ing dress parade the command will march
down Pennsylvania avenue to 9Th street
and thence to the brigade armery, where it
will be dismissed.
Omcers' Association.
"Hurrah! hurrah! we'll ring the jubilee!
Hurrah! hurrah! for the flag that sets you
free.