The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-12-06

The National Guard will ask the iegis-
lature that assemblies in January Tor an
appropriation large enough TO properly
maintain the guard. 10 provide uniforms
and 10 enable them TO hold an shcdnp-
ment az least once in two years.
a general meeting of the officers or the
National Guard was held at the Armory
in this city on Monday evening, Novem-
Der 80, In pursuance OF cali Tor a meet
ing issued by the Seattle officers.
About twenty-five officers from differ
ent parts of the state attended. Spokane
Tacoma, Port Townsend. Seattle and 9TH
er places being represented. Many letters
from officers who were unable 10 attend
were read.
The following resolution was intro
duced, discussed and unanimously
adopted:
Whereas, The National Guard OF
Washington is volunteer force. COM
posed. at present. OF about seyenty-fi
officers and 500 enlisted men:
The members drill an average of three
hours each week in the year and are al
ways ready 10 leave their homes and
their business at any sacrifice and re-
spond TO call from the authorities to pre-
serve order and protect life and the prop
erty of the citizens of the state.
"A considerable portion of the expense
of maintaining the force is contributed by
the men themselves as monthly dues.
reward of any kind, except when they are
called out for regular duty.
The call TO duty often results in loss
OF employment or pecuniary loss or some
kind TO the members.
The only cost 10 the state for this
force is the rent of the halls where they
keep their arms and meet for drill. and
the uniforms and arms for the enlisted
men, a part OF the cost or which latter
is borne by the national government.
The officers furnish their own uniforms
and equipments at an expense OF from 500
TO $50 each, in addition TO their time and
energies.
The only motive of the men who enlist
In the National Guard is to serve the
state. and to learn something or military
discipline TO be of use hereafter II the
country should be in trouble. There are
no rewards, often considerable sacrlnces,
and sometimes, strange TO say, GerIsion.
Guard as a military force trained and
ready for service in case OF war, and
considering ii only as police force FOR
the state. ii gives the least expensive and
most efficient service the people receive
from any source.
THE annual expense of maintaining the
force, and doing it well and as ii should
be. would be less than the cost OF main
tanning the police force of the single city
of Seattle.
I'm almost every year since the Guard
was organized. in 1856. it has been called
out for service. 1t has always responded
promptly and has restored order in ev-
cry instance with little or no bloodshed.
and has saved many thousands or dollars
worth of property TO the citizens. II mas
restored order when the posse comitatus
and deputy sheriffs have failed. Indeed
the presence of deputy sheriffs has OFTEN
excited hostility and aggravated the dis
turbances. This was notably the case AT
the Franklin mine riots, in 1881, when
many people were killed before the ar
rival of the Guard, and deputy sherlns
were wholly unable to restore order. Inc
-, ri a. -
fires in Seattle and Spokane were inValu-
able.
THE latest service rendered, that OF the
detachment on the Columbia river ths
past summer, saved life and property, ana
IL is not an unfair estimate TO say tnat
this detachment alone saved properly Tor
the citizens of the state equal in value TO
the entire cost of the Guard Tor nVe
years. II protected the people from armed
rioters from another state and enabled
them to t4rry on their lawful occupa-
tions.
tanning a National Guard is Illustrated by
comparatively recent occurrences IN other
states. In Idaho, during the great Occur
d Alene riots. large section OF the state
was for months in a condition of utter
lawlessness. The state and county au-
thorities were unable TO cope with tne
disturbance They had only one COM
pany of the National Guard. and that
poorly equipped. Deputy sherlffs were
noweriess. and the authorities We're mail
iy forced to call on the president Tor
troops and order was restored only AFTER
great loss of life and property.
an the state OF Tennessee. which had
neglected to maintain its National Guard.
they had in the mining districts prolonged
and serious trouble which amounted al
most to war, greatly TO the discredit OF
the state. large number or the state
convicts were set free by rioters. state
property was destroyed, and before the
disturbances were settled the state had
raised almost an army, many companies
of volunteers being formed throughout
the state, altogether causing vast ex-
pense. The state of Tennessee has since
reorganized it's Guard and literally pro-
vided for its maintenance.
at is a difficult matter 10 get recruits
and keep up the discipline of the force
with ragged uniforms, poor equipments
and no encampments. where the men may
be brought together for instruction ana
discipline.
the last two years have been insufficient
20 properly maintain the Guard there
fore be II
legislature TO assemble next January. an
appropriation sufficient TO properly mann
tain the Guard 10 provide Them with UNI
forms. and to enable them 10 hoio an en-
campment at least once III TWO years.
be IL further
Resolved. That We pledge ourselves TO
use SUCH influence as We may nave WIN
the members Of the Legislature ana with
citizens generally. TO the end that the
National Guard may receive proper recog-
milton: be IL further
Resolved That a copy OF these reso-
lutions be furnished the newspapers OF
the state for publication. that copy he
sent 10 each member Of the legislature.
and that company captains be asked TO
have the same read 10 their companies. IN
order that the co-opera ton Of the enlist
"a men may be obtained 20 procure the
ends desired"
A resolution indorsing the admlnistra-
ton OF Adit. Gen. +. A. Bouteile for
economy and the reforms he has intro
duced. Was adopted. The expressions
were unanimous that Gen. Bouteiie has
made an admirable sdfutant general.
resolution declaring il TO he the sense
OF the officers and of the entire force that
appointments and promotions should he
made from members Of the Guard was
unanimously carried. II was pointed out
that the force serves without pay. and 1T
some expense and much labor, and al
most their only incentive Is the hope and
ambition 10 rise In the service.
There was an excellent spirit OF loyalty
and cooperation with the new admiais-
tratlon shown BY all.