The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-01-23
INDIANIANS HONORED
IN THE ORGANIZATION OF A COAST
DEFENSE ASSOCIATION.
Gen. Lew Wallace Made One of the
Member Executive Committee.

TAMPA, Fla, Jan. 22.-The south Allan
tic and gulf States harbor and coast de-
fense and Improvement convention finished
its work this afternoon. A permanent Ma
tonal Coast Defense Association was
,..lhLe,i. with the following officers: Presi-
dent Gen. Horace Porter New York; sec
retary, Col. James A Frye, Massachusetts;
vice presidents, Gen. John b. Gordon OF
Georgia Gen. Lew Wallace of Indiana, A
X. Mcclure of Pennsylvania, Gen. r. A.
Alger of Michigan, NJ. III. De Young of
California, William Miller of Florida, John
c. Ropes of Massachusetts. National COM
mittee-Frank Q. Brown, Massachusetts; A.
A. Wiley, Florida; Capt j. h. O'Brien,
Florida; S. G.. McLendon, Georgia; Major
Defrees, Indiana; A. ID. Wetherell Illi-
nois; w. b. Haldeman. Kentucky; j. w.
Dupree Louisiana; L. G. Babb, Minnesota;
K. A. McAlpin, New York; c. w. Dewey,
North Carolina: S. +. Stebins, North Da-
kCta; W. r. Thompson, Pennsylvania; j.
A Hemphill. South Carolina; Harry Wells.
Vermont. The following resolutions were
adopted:
Resolved. That this convention deems it
patriotic duty TO urgently request Con-
gress to provide iy law for the improve
inents and reforms an the army as set forth
in the army ieurgS lization bill, ana that "a
president OF the senate ana 10 the speaker
of tie House OF Representatives or the
United States. Asking 10; an early consider
ation of this subject by the two houses of
Congress.
."kesolved, That it is the sense of this
convention that the annual appropriation
for the state militia of the United States
should be increased and distributed pro
rata as provided by law, and that the
Springfield rifles turned in by the United
States army should be issued TO the militia
or national guards of the various States
and that the arms now in ..ieir possession
should be turned in to the government.
Resolved, That this convention earnest
ly presents to the attention of the legis-
| wherein are located works of the United
States erected for the defense of the coast,
the urgent necessity of adding 10 the exist
ing force of the militia or national guards
of each State such batteries, battalions or
regiments of fort garrison artillery as may
serve in the several cases as a trained re-
serve ready for the instant reinforcement
of the regular fort artillery of the United
States.
Resolved, That assistance should be rem
dered to the several seacoaSt States in the
development in said militia or national
guards of a reserve OF coast artillery, by
suitable legislative enactment on the part
Resolved, That the States upon our sea-
board and those lying upon the great lakes
of the north are urged and encouraged to
foster this arm of our volunteer defense.
Resolved. That this convention suggests
| that the secretary of the navy detail TO
1 tdCn Oldit hdNdi AtctlfV ~ va
| vessel or torpedo boat, or both. for the in
struction of the naval reserve at such sea-
sons of the year as may be decided upon as
| best for the interests of the service.
Resolved. That to provide for coast de-
| fense it is imperative that the strength of
| the navy of the United States shall be
| steadily increased by the yearly addition
| of fighting ships and torpedo boats until
| the force shall be adequate to meet the
emergencies of a state of war; and.
Resolved, That this convention appre-
cates the necessity of immediate protection
! to the seaboard of our country and the inn
portance of defending all points liable TO in
vasion by hostile forces: therefore. IL most
earnestly urges upon our representatives in
| Congress the necessity for immediate ap-
propriations sufficient TO carry out the plans
| formulated by the War Department. and
further urges that these appropriations be
made available at once, to the end that the
| plans of the department may be completed
| without delay"