The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-10
GENERAL CANTONS VIEWS.
HE Is HERE.LookING AFTER PROP.
ERrY OF MILITIA.
AIS" Gathering Data rs tn the Ef-
hciency of the Companies Now
orsanisfng. with View 10 En-

AdJt Gen. Canton arrived IN Seattle
from Olympia at go last evening on his
way to the eastern part OF the state. The
especial errand on which the general 10
now here. as he told a Post-Inieiigeneer
reporter last evening. Is 10 look up thu
militia property left behind by the officers
OF the guard when they departed hurried
iy in answer 10 the cali sor troops This
property consists largely OF camp para
phernalia. and. as a protection to the Of
ficers and their bondsmen. Gen. Canton
is now on tour through the state Ia
arrange for It's safe and proper CUSTODY.
he viii so east over the Great Northern
this afternoon. Gen. Canton said:
i am also gathering data as 10 the re-
speetive efficiency of the various bodies
now organizing throughout the state with
View 10 entering the service when tho
second call for troops shall be thrown
open. My department will then rnaks
recommendations 10 the governor. and se-
lections VIII follow. Those counties which
Tor existing reasons. were given the best
snow IN furnishing troops for the first
call will not be drawn from as freely al
those who were compelled TO take less corr
splcuous places in the list OF quotas. Ii
is only fair that the last named should
nave fuller representation IN the second
call than the others
After the details OF the second call sra
received by the adjutant generals depart
Fnent thorough reorganization OF tina
national Guard will he IN order No guard
exists now. but 1t will not be long after
the time / have mentioned when. I have
every reason to believe. the state will
nave guard OF which II will be proud.
The Tact IL. the war spirit has become SO
rampant In Washington that the whoIa
people are up In arms-speakiug not figur-
atively, but actually. Twenty-Five organ
izations. comprising 2.soc representative
citizens from many ranks of life, have
been formed within the state and are now
actually drilling for service. The rivalry
amongst these - 80 great that the highest
eWciency viii result. SO that II vii! be
easily possible TO make up a regiment
from their ranks which viii compare most
favorably with any state militia In thu
country. For il Is readily seen that 10 nick
regiment or 1000 men from 2Se0 well
drilled applicants. only the choice OF tho
lot need be taken. No. cannot say posi-
lively that Washington will not be called
upon 10 furnish more than one regiment
but do not consider 1t probable that a
larger force Will ha taken. knowing this.
the captains elected by the various organ
izattons referred to are on the lockout for
and any others stand a poor chance OF
getting into the dr.ii.'
Asked IL he had anything 10 say In a
general way of the Washington troops
now under arms. Gen. Canton replied;
From inquiries made and from all re-
ports out. the Washington boys are known
to be among the best drilled troops i'm
camp at San Francisco. They are up To
the mark In every way. But they hava
one grievance-they want 10 see active
service either In the Philippines, Cuba or
Porto Rico, and the sooner the chance il
given them the happier they will be-"
Gen. Canton declined 10 express a view
as To whether or when they woilid re sent
to the front In discussing the movement
to establish naval militia, he said:
by all means X Is an excellent mova
ana highly important one. am heartily
In favor or the coast line states forming
naval reserves. too much cannot be said
in favor OF H. 1 think the government
should furnish troop ship FOR two or
three weeks onca year. to he used 10
give the militia practice and instruction
under capable naval officers / know ~
no other way 10 give them that drill which
Is necessary to make efficient nisrines. A
small gunboat would answer tho purpose
exactly. In my opinion each coast una
state should have a naval militia from
400 10 SOD strong. or enough TO man one
batfleshsp. No. / can see no reasonable
reason why the government should reject
the offer or the association now in COURSE
OF organization here IN Seattle Some 80
the ships must be running snort OF ma
rinss. though, or course. the navy YARD
supply Is not yet exhausted