Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-03-20
ARMORY ECHOES.
All the Local Companies Have
Plenty Of Work.
BATTERY BIS ELECTION.
New Officers are Capt. Lewis
and Second Lieut.. Boswell.
P. \. Hurley offers the Infantry compa-
MES a Trophy for Rifle Shooting
The Whist Trophy Gets Here
General Notes.

Work! Work! Work! has been the
order among the miitiamen for some
weeks past, all in preparation for the
annual state inspections which will be
held before May 1, but on what date the
men do not know at present. The
Worcester companies have always been
noted for the high percentage attained
at these inspections, and it is not I'M
likely, in view of the preparation, that
any of them will be below their stan
dard. The Emmett Guards have always
been regarded as the banner command
IN the 9Th, and Battery B has held the
some standing in comparison with the
other batteries of the state. In the I'd
regiment, the City Guards, Light In
fantry and Wellington Rifles are among
the topnotchers. This year there is
great rivalry among the companies and
each will do its utmost to attain
higher position than the others The
men all take an interest and pride in
their companies, and each individual
will do his utmost to place his company
high. 1t is doubtful if there are mill
tiamen in the state better schooled in
everything pertaining to their duties
than those who make up the four in
fantry and one artillery companies in
this city.
At this time, when there seems
likelihood that troops may be called into
active service, this preparation which
the men are undergoing would have it's
effects Seriously, however, the mem
oers OF the militia do not expect a call,
but should one come, the response
would be quick and the work done would
compare with that of the regulars. The
possibility of trouble with Spain has
caused much argument among those
outside the militia in regard to the pow
ers of the president in calling out troops
Col. George B. Davis, deputy judge ad-
Vocate general of the army, last week
settled all arguments by his ruling. 1t
was to the effect that the president has
the power TO call out any particular
company without communicating with
the governor of the state, although it
is unlikely that he would pursue such a
policy Another perplexing question to
many is whether firemen are exempt
from military duty. There is a statute
which eXempts firemen from military
duty, but it works only in cases where
a member of the militia has Joined after
he was member of the fire department
In case a member of the militia joined
the fire department, he is liable to mill
tary duty as his becoming a member of
the fire department does not nullify his
oath at enlistment These questions are
not bothering the militiamen, as they
are ready to stand by their oath, and
none of them would cite fire department
duty as an excuse not to go with their
comrades.
The event Of the week in local circles
was the election in Battery 3, held Sat
urday night, to fill tine vacancy caused
by the retirement of Capt. Joseph Bruso
Jr. The election was presided over by
Maj. L. N. Duchesney of Lawrence,
commander of the first battalion, light
artillery who was accompanied by
Lieut.. H. B. Clapp, paymaster and mus
tertng officer of the battalion. The cleo
ton was almost perfunctory affair,
the members of the company having de-
cided on the new commander at a eau
Gus held a week ago last Wednesday
At That caucus but one candidate was
mentioned for the office, and he was
Second Lieut.. William A. Lewis BY
some it was supposed the name of
Senior First Lieut.. H W. Haynes would
be presented as a candidate, but no
mention was made of his name, and the
unanimous choice was for Lieut. Lewis.
AT that caucus there We're SO men pres
ent, and at the election Saturday night
very nearly that number cast ballots
for Lieut. Lewis.
OF an enrolment of IA men, 81 attend
ed the election. The vote cast for cap
tain was as follows:
Second Lieut.. w. A. Lewis ............53
Senior First Lieut.. H. w. Haynes ~. 2
Blank
The announcement was received with
manifestations of pleasure by the men
and Capt. Lewis was heartily congratu-
lated. Major Duchesney then ordered
an election to fill the vacancy in the
second lieutenancy, caused by the pro-
motion. This. too was settled at the
caucus, and the company repeated it's
action at that time and unanimously
elected First Sergt Arthur H Boswell
to the office. The announcement of the
ballot was followed by hearty applause
on the part of the men and the new
officers hand was well shaken. The
new officers We're ordered to appear be-
fore the examining board at the state
house next Wednesday, by Maj
Duchesney, and then the meeting ad-
journed. After adjournment the mem
bers of the company enjoyed fragrant
Havanas at the expense of the new
officers. Capt. Lewis was the recipient
of a box of handsome pinks from H. B.
Watts of Leicester, a friend of the COM