The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-24
SMOKER FOR GUARDSMEN
THEY ARE ENTERTAINED IN THE
EVENING BY COMMERCIAL CLUB.
Gen. I. p. $. Goblin, of Pennsylvania,
Makes Patriotic Address-The
First Business Session Is Held.

Club last night in honor of the National
| Guard Association was a delightfully."- I'M
conventional affair, and was thoroughly ap-
preciated by the city's guests. The rooms
were comfortably crowded with both SOL
der and civilian citizens who have come
from all parts of the United States 4
splendid buffet luncheon was served.
Shortly after s o'clock Adjutant General
Gore introduced Capt. w. E. English as the
president of the Commercial Club and mas
ter of ceremonies for the evening. In ex-
tending welcome to the delegates Captain
English said, in part: Gentlemen of the
military convention, 1 suppose that l am
expected to say few words of greeting
to you in a double capacity, both as the
president of the Commercial Club that now
has the honor to entertain you in its rooms,
and member of the staff of the chief
executive of the great State of Indiana. AS
president of this organization, representing
in part the business interests and the bust
ness men of the city of indianapolis, de-
sire to say that it appreciates the honor
which you have done the city of Indian
apolis in selecting it for your place of meet
ing. 1t is an especially appropriate time
l think. for the gathering of this repre-
sentative body, representing the military
arm of the great States of this Union. Two
years ago we were given an object lesson I'm
the requirements as to equipment and fit
ness and opportunity and drill in connec-
ton with the National Guard of the States
or the Union. Before that time there were
many men in our legislative halls. both
state and national, who were opposed to
| liberal appropriation for the National
Guard from honest motives and good in
| tentions, who, l believe, have been con-
vinced by the events following the Span
| ish-American war that there should be
spirit of greater liberality displayed toward
the National Guard that it may be encour-
aged and built up and prepared for these
emergencies that are likely to arise at any
time. Therefore L say L believe 1t Is an
opportune time that a movement should be
made for more liberal appropriations, not
only on the part of the national govern
ment, but on the part of the legislatures or
the various States
At the conclusion of President English's
address he introduced as the next speaker
Mr.. d. NJ. Parry, who, in short speech,
extended a welcome to the delegates, in
which he expressed the hope that the
National Guard Association would pass
resolution making Indianapolis its future
headquarters.
PATRIOTIC SPEAKER.
President English then called upon Gen.
| J. p. S. Goblin, Lieutenant Governor of
| Pennsylvania, who succeeded in arousing
the enthusiasm of his audience by his
patriotic references to the citizen soldier.
| He said in part: From the position which
| the American Nation has taken upon Gods
| foot-stool. there is a more imperative OBJ
| legation from the American citizen than
20 CrtSt oil n
advancement in the science of warfare.
| You remember that John Bright, the great
English statesman during the war of the
rebellion said: If these cousins of
across the Atlantic ever get together and
act in unison, in forty years there won't
| be gun fired in the word without their
consent. He was prophet. Has not the
period almost arrived? And yet we are
peaceful people; we don't want war; we
may interfere where there Is something
which we call humanity involved. but at
| the bottom of it all was the fact thai our
humanity was largely developed by me
| fact that nearly three hundred American
sailors and soldiers were basely sacrificed
| in the harbor of Havana. We have no
clashlng with the regular army. We have
no fear of the regular army. 1t is in
stitution of the national government. The
National Guard Is the institution OF the
State, and of the people of the State, and
| in all our legislation what We ask and all
we ask, is a recognition of proper de-
gree of the spirit of cordiality between
the regular army and the National Guard
| of the State. What we ask and what we
| insist upon is that the preparation made
by the individual guardsmen and the in
dividual States shall be recognized by the
national government as preparing men for
warfare, when warfare exists and when
there is necessity for ii, and
we do ask that when the citizen SOL
| der of any State is placed in the field to
| follow the flag, he shall be as well prepared
| for battle as the man he is asked to meet
| in battle
Others who responded to the call of
| President English were: Gen. j. c. Over
| myer, of Colorado; Gen. II. s. Clark. of
Illinois; Col. w. H. Whiteman, of New
Mexico; Admiral George Brown, of In
diana; Gen. Thos. j. Stewart, of Penn
| sylvania; Capt. b. NJ. Shaffner of Illinois;
| Maj. Shaler, of Indianapolis; Col. Theodore
| Townsend. of Delaware; Maj. John 1. Mar
tin, of Missouri.