The Indianapolis journal., 1902-09-07
A NATIONAL GUN CLUB
ORGANIZATION TO CONTROL THE
SPORT IN UNITED STATES.
John NJ. Lilly Is President, and In
dianapoIis Is to BE Headquarters
uniform Code of Rules.
With the increase in the number of gun

With the increase in the number of gun
clubs, well as in the number of trap
shooters recorded within the past few years.
it has been growing more and more appar-
ent that there should be some governing or
controlling body to take charge of the
sport, eradicate whatever unpleasant fea-
lures there might be connected with it,
formulate shooting rules. and. in fact, gen.
orally to do all that could be done to foster
the sport. One or two attempts have been
made to organize and carry on such a gov
erning body but the country seems to have
been found to be too large to admit of this,
or else the shooters themselves have been
too apathetic, for every such scheme pro-
NOTED to date has fallen to the ground.
The nearest approach to any recognized
governing body that has met with complete
success is the Interstate Association, an or
ganization composed of gun. ammunition
and sportsmen's supply houses of New
York and other cities. As the result of
holding tournaments at different points
throughout the country the good work this
association has done has met with absolute
approval, and its trap-shooting rules and
its definitions of what constitutes a profess
sional, and, per contra, an amateur.
well thought of that they have been adopt
ed by probably 80 per cent of all gun clubs.
The Interstate Association, however, does
not control any clubs neither does 1t pro-
fess to do so. 1t was organized for busi-
ness reasons solely-to stimulate public In
terest in trap shooting-and has reached out
no further
Within the past year, however, John NJ.
Lilly, well-known and popular citizen of
indianapolis, has been devoting much
thought and time to a scheme for a ma
tional Gun Club an organization which.
according to it's constitution, has been
formed to increase the national and state
establishment of national and state game
preserves; to foster and promote the sports
OF trap and wing shooting and to extend
the acquaintance and friendship among
shooters throughout the United States: to
establish local associations in every State
and Territory in the Union and to familiar
ize the youth OF the country with the use
of firearms. to the end that they may be
prepared for their countrys needs
The headquarters of the organization are
permanent and are located at Indiana's 3
capital but local branches will be formed
in different States just as quickly as any
one State furnishes the requisite number
Of members-twenty-f These branch or
ganizations will have control of trapshoot-
ing affairs far as possible in their re-
spective States, but will refer all difficulties
of any nature which may arise TO the main
Office where they will be decided by the
general council body which, with the
president and the secretary-treasurer
forms the real governing power in the club
AS members of this general council Mr.
Lilly has associated with him such capable
men as Hon. u. "A. Marshall, of Keithsburg,
ILL.,; e. II. Tripp, of indianapolis; John
Parker, of Detroit; j. A. r. Elliott, of Kan
sas City; H. ]. Lyons of Louisville: Rolla
o. Heikes, of Dayton, o.; John J. HalIo-
well, Of Philadelphia; Charles w. Budd of
Des Moines. Ia. Richard Merrill. of MIL
waukee. Wis. and Edward Banks. of New
York city. The general council has power
to add TO its number, but in addition to
those named above it has also as members
at large Messrs. Emil Werk and Du Bray
OF Cincinnati; b. Waters and ID. +. Pride,
OF New York: c. p. Richards and Emmer-
son Hough. OF Chicago: w. r. Hobart, of
Newark, N. j.; Harvey McMurchy, OF Full
ton. n. Y; Col. A. G.. Courtney of Syra-
cuse N. Y. and VIII K. Park, of Phila-
delphia.
The fee for membership which clears all
Indebtedness of each member until JAN l.
1904, is 81. after which date the annual fee
will be reduced one-half. making 1t 81 only.
While the National Gun Club is unques-
tionably the outcome of its presidents hard
work. and while il is TO his unceasing labor
in its behalf that the successful launching
of a tropshooters' governing body must be
credited. II Is President Lilly's wish that
the fact should not be lost sight of that the
scheme as now laid down first originated
with Jack Parker. the famous tropshooter
of Detroit, who has neld so many wonder
fully successful tournaments on Des Chree-
Choskee island, and who Is known in the
Indians" as Chief Des Chreechoskee. Mr..
Parker. feeling he had no time to devote
to the work. urged Mr. Lilly to take hold
Of the scheme and carry 1t to q successful
conclusion