The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-11
ON REGULAR ARMY BASIS
PLAN FOR REoRGANIzING THE MILL
TIA OF INDIANA.
A Bill Is Being Prepared for the Next
Legislature The Fea-
lures of 1t.

Apropos Of the decision of the Governor
to reorganize the State militia on entirely
new lines, Adjutant General Gore yesterday
furnished some information regarding the
contemplated steps to be taken in effecting
the change. Under an act of the Legisla-
ture, said General Gore, the force and arms
OF the organization are restricted to certain
lines, and 1t is not in the power of the
Governor or any of the State officials to
change 1t. When the statement was given
to the Journal by the Governor regarding
the contemplated increase in the artillery,
he did not mean to convey the idea that
either ne or the military department of the
State intended to do anything other than
urge the ACCESSIBILITY of the change before
the Legislature.
Already bill is being prepared for the
consideration of the Legislature which will
provide fol all the contemplated changes,
and also present ideas on method of le-
cruiting the new guard, which have never
been heretofore. Under the new plan the
whole organization will be changed from
end to end. Instead of allowing each COM
pany to become a social club, and accept
men for no other reason than that they are
good fellows and help to make up a $50
cial set at the State encampments and in
the company quarters, pains will be taken
to make the enlistment of men a serious
matter. The physical standard of the regu-
lar army will be requirements to which the
recruits will have to conform. Boys at
tending public schools will not be accept
able. Each man must be man." fit to
do any kind of duty without suffering from
the hardships which may accompany a COM
paign under adverse circumstances. In
stead of being content with a nondescript
force which can be modified only with diff
ficulty it is the purpose of the bill to make
the militia in reality reserve standing
army, and to this end the federal govern
ment will be asked to appropriate a sum to
be used in paying each man stipulated
sum each year. The advantages of this sys-
tenn over the plan of the State paying each
man per diem for attending the summer
camp of instruction has been made manifest
to the State officials OF course, the State
will expect to pay the men an additional
sum for all the service the troops are called
on to perform for Indiana, but the funda-
mental idea of the new move is to make
the militia body in which the best of the
manhood of the State can enlist and find re-
enumeration enough to pay them in part
for the troubles they may encounter.
Thus the militiamen will practically be
regular soldiers under regular army pay,
with the added advantages of being able to
make a living at their ordinary vocations
beside. The equipment will also be a mat
ter of much thought. Instead of turning
over a certain amount of clothing and arms
to company for distribution among MEM
bers, and paying no further attention to it
except to see that the vouchers are in regu-
lar form, each soldiers equipment will
be looked to as carefully as each COM
pany formerly was The equipment will not
be government property as each man will
be given a clothing allowance. out of which
whatever he draws will be deducted, as is
done among the regulars and the volunteers
in time of war.
While rapid-fire guns will be used in the
batteries, more attention will be paid to
Gatling-gun practice than any other, it be-
ing demonstrated that this gun is of more
value in the ordinary service of State troops
, than any other arm of the service in Quell-
ing riots and other disturbances.
The work on the bill is still in an embry
otto state, but it will be completed in time
for consideration by the coming Legisla-
ture. The hope of the promoters of the plan
is that the result of their own experience in
handling the State troops will be manifest
to the legislators and that the bill will be
passed. the more so as it gives to the State
a more efficient military force without any
additional outlay of money.