The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-24


guard. but for the sake OF the government.
which depended on II in times of need.
Al the conclusion OF the presidents adj
dress the roll was called, which showed the
following officers TO be present:
Generals-J. n. Reece, z. II. Barr, A.
Holiday. William Clendenin, James K.
Gore. w. II. Byers, William ]. Mckee. II.
l. Pittinger, j. G. Overmyer, William Hen
ry, George c. Lambert. w. B. Brent, J. W.
NJ Appleton.
Majors-E. Morgan, John Martin. j. t.
Hume.
Colonels-C. E. Bleyer, H. S. Dietsch.
George L. Pittinger, ID. J. Foster, w. n.
p. barrow. j. r. Lincoln, L. E. Bennett,
Daniel Moriarty. A. l.. Huston, j. =. Smith,
George b. Donavin.
Captains-E. ]. Dimmick. B. NJ. Shaffer,
r. II. Harding.
Lieutenants-J. r. Klein and q. w. Pit
finger.
GEN w. B. BENDS PAPER.
At the afternoon session. which convened
promptly at o'clock, Gen. w. B. Bend. of
Minnesota, read a specially prepared paper
| on:
I'm what way can the National Guard be
| modified so as to make it an effective re-
| serve for the regular army in both war and
peace?" He said. in part: lowing to the
| insignificant allowance of the general gov
eminent, the National Guard was not sup
piled with modern arms, and few of the
| States had camp equipage, save few
| tents, and consequently they could not
| furnish troops thoroughly prepared to
take the field. delay ensued from this,
and these causes, for sometime naturally
lessened the value of the volunteers, and
necessitated long occupation of camps or
instruction, thereby giving apparent JuStl-
| fication to the remarks which were current
in 1898, that the National Guard was of no
| more value for actual service than would
| be an equal number of raw recruits As
matter of fact, the National Guard was far
| more effective than would have been an
equal number of green organizations. and
some of the regiments rendered efficient
service on foreign soil, but the guard suf-
| fered from the evils which have enumer
ated, and was unable to make the records
which its friends expected il TO make. Had
| the war not ended as suddenly as 1t did, the
National Guard regiments which spent sew
| eral months in camp in the Southern
| States would have shown what the citizen
soldiery do when 1T is weighted down
| by politics, and by a parsimony which does
| not permit the keeping on hand of adequate
military supply. for the green officers were
rapidly acquiring knowledge from their fell
| lows, and arms and clothing were at last
furnished to the men
1.-The weak points in the present Nat .onal
| Guard system have been shown TO be: %
| The absence OF authority in the Prestlen;
| to issue orders to the National Guard di-
rect, or TO use it outside of the United
| States: co the difference existing between
| the organization of the National Guard and
| that of the army; 90 the power of the Gov
L
| to interfere with discipline. and the alb
| sence In some States of a requirement that
| candidates for commissions mist Lass
| good examination or be rejected; D poor
| arms and insufficient clothing and field
| equipage.
wisdom must be learned by experience;
| we have had the experience, and we shall
| have no one but ourselves to blame If we
| failed to profit by it. 1t is generally
| acknowledged that in time of peace the
regular army should number at least 10000
| men. Some think That 100000 is nearer the
| mark, but in either case, we rlust have
| reserve force of 10000 mon which will at
1 all times be in such a condition that it can
| be modified at short notice. rIow to Sc
| cure such force is the problem before us,
| and 1t must be conceded that in the Ma
| tional Guard, properly handled and reeu-
| lated, the only solution can &c found.
| LAS II will be necessary ID furnish the
| National Guard with magazine rifles and
| breach loading field pieces to replace the
| Anticipated weapons with which 1T is now
| armed, the appropriation required TO carry
out this act the first year Will be about 81
| 5000 900 for arms and equipment and Sl.S1l, eco
| for the per capita allowance, or s4, 100000 in
| all. There is no question that ali the States
| will apply for the recognition of their Ma
| tional Guards, as by so doing they will re-
| ceive material assistance in its Inainte-
| nance, and if they do not they Will lose
| their present allowance States which have
/ given their guard adequate support will I've
| relieved of part of their burden, and
States which through poverty, parsimcny
| or indifference. have not done so, will have
an incentive to do their duty end will un-
| questionatiy do it, yH' - '''@
| A GENERAL DISCUSSION.
| At the conclusion of General Bends pa
per the president announced that the SUBJ
ject suggested by the paper was open for
| a general discussion, and many of the dele
| gates promptly responded. Gen. J. p. 1.
Goblin, of Pennsylvania, said he was
1
| a reserve for the regular army and insisted
| that if the government would do better by
| the States in the way of equipment they
would be able to take care of their own
| state guard.
| Captain Curtis, of New York, former
| Indianapolitan, insisted that the National
| Guard was being poorly treated by the
government and said the best way to over
| come this was to get in the arena with the
| politicians for 1T is through them the Ma
| tional Guard must hope for better legisla
ton.
| Major ]. r. Morton, of Missouri said he
| wished to indorse the sentiment expressed
| by Captain Curtis as he had long ago per-
ceived the necessity. of the politicians as
| allies. General Barry, of Nebraska, said
| he would heartily indorse any measure the
| convention might agree upon to further the
interests of the National Guard Associa-
| ton.
| A resolution offered by Lieut. j. r. Kline
| to pay the doctor bills of all enlisted volun-
| teer soldiers up until the time they are
| mustered out was unanimously adopted.
| All bills that have been prepared to be
| submitted to the consideration of the as
ISOLATION for adoption and afterwards pre-
| Sented to the next Congress, were referred
| to the following committees: Gen. j. G.
| Overmyer, California; Col. Theodore Town
| send, Delaware; Gen. II. S. Clark, Illinois;
Gen. J. X. Gore, Indiana; Gen. NJ. H. By
| ers, Iowa; Gen. Allen Juanel, louisiana;
| Gen. Geo. G. Lambert: Gen. William Henry,
/ Mississippi; Major John L. Martin, Mis-
| souri,; Capt. r. III. Harding, New York;
| Gen. p. Fl. Barry, Nebraska: Col. w. p.
| barrow, Ohio; Gen. Thomas ]. Stewart,
| Pennsylvania; Gen. j. w. M. Appleton,
| West Virginia: Col. w. II. Whiteman, New
| Mexico.
| The meeting then adjourned until 10
| o'clock this morning in order to allow the
| committee sufficient time for the consider
] alton of the bills submitted.
The List of Delegates.
| The following is a complete list OF the
/ delegates present, but there are many
Il t.~A-