The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-12-14
IF DICK BILL PASSES
FIRST REGIMENT WILL TAKE IN
OLYMPIAN' CONTESTS.
so THINK MANY MILITARY MEN
ASSURANCES FROM OFFICIALS OF
GAMES.

Are willing to Cooperate With
don Receives Encouraging Letter.
Is Anxious to Have Savannah Rep
resented at the Games-Bearing
of the Dick Bill on the Plan.
would Probably Mean the MObiIi-
xation of the National Guard in
Close Proximity.
In their effort to promote enthusi-
asm and do all in their power to the
end that Savannah may be represented
nv at least a part Of a regiment at
the Olympian Games of 1904, the Of
f1cers of the First Regiment of In
fantry are receiving the hearty CO.
oneration of the officers of the Olym-
man Games Association, from whom
thew have numerous assurances.
These communications are very graft
fving in their general tone, to the Of
Acers. They denote that the under
taking will not in all probability be
TOO great a one for the regiment to
attempt. and that the officers of the
great games are as anxious for the
regiment to attend as are those who
are fostering the plan. In addition
10 the communications received from
them, many circulars and pamphlets
containing abundant information have
been sent.
want Savannah Troops.
Col. G. A. Gordon is in receipt of a
communication, in answer to letter
written by him to Mr.. Stanley McCor-
mick. third vice president of the In
10 10
sonaI friend of Col. Gordon, which let
Ter was referred to President Henry j.
Furber. In this communication, he
says:
ut Is the purpose of our organtza-
tion to particularly accentuate the mil
itary feature of our programme. and
we would esteem it a great honor il
we were favored with the presence OF
the First Georgia Infantry. AS to the
time of the year at which the Olymp-
ian games will take place, though Sep
tember has been very seriously con-
sidered, it is possible that the opening
may be earlier Such a plan certainly
would be considered If more consistent
with the convenience of military or
CARNATIONS throughout the country
Il will state at the present moment
owing to the complications which have
arisen between st. Louis and Chicago
in consequence of the poStponement Of
the Louisiana Purchase Exposition
there is a possibility that the Olyrnp-
ian games which were to have taker
place in Chicago in 1904, either may
be transferred to st. Louis. or held II
this city in 1905. This matter will be
decided soon. / sincerely trust thai
your beautiful and progressive city
may be largely represented at the con-
tests"
VIII he Given i'm July.
The references in the letter relative
to the time at which the games are tt
be held. was made in answer to thu
position taken by Col. Gordon in hi
communication, in which he stated tina
a much larger attendance of the mill
tary could be obtained by holding tn
games in July, rather than In Septein
Der, as now proposed. the time wher
there is great activity in commercial
circles. and when crops are being har
vested not only in the South, bu
throughout almost the entire country
All the letters received indicate tina
the military feature OF the games vii
overshadow the others. The movemen
has been Endorsed by all of the lead
ing military men of the country, in
Guiding President Roosevelt. The In
terstate National Guard Association
unqualified Endorsement. 1t is know
that influence will be brought to bea
on the President to order the Nationa
Guard, or large part of it, to an en-
campment to be held near the seem
of the games.
The passage Of the Dick bin, the fat
of which will be decided by the Sen
ate in a few days, has an importan
bearing on the situation. There is lit
Il a 49, he %
of the bill that it will pass. The Pres
ident himself, as well as the Secretar,
of War and others high in army cir
Giles, assisted in draughting the instru
ment which is along the lines laid on
in the Presidents message. 1t has al
ready passed the Lower House by
vote of $50 to %. and the Executiv
Committee of the International Nation
al Guard Association. after a careful
poll of the Senate. has reported tina
there is little doubt that the bill vii
lass.
The bill would have an importan
bearing upon the mobilization of troop
in the future, and the part which
Georgia would play in the annual en-
campments provided for in the act
provided the state subscribed to tn
provisions of the bill. If the state sub
scrbes to these conditions, the expens
incident 10 the encamDfnenL VIII
borne by Uncle Sam. If the provision
are not subscribed to. the government
appropriation of $4,000, now operative
will be withdrawn.
Should the bill be passed the Pres
ident may order all or any part of tn
National Guard to any military pos
he desires. 1t is thought that, in vieN
OF the desire of the government I
make the games a success, and be
cause of the excellent military training
that may be had at them. Presiden
Roosevelt will order a large part 0
the National Guard to encamp in clos
Proximity to the International Games
There is strong influence behind tn
project. and its supporters are san
guine of its success.
Pay for the Soldiers.
In case the First Regiment is abb
TO attend the games it will receive tn
same pay, subsistence and transporta
ton as is provided for the officers ant
men Of the regular army, to be pai'
out OF the appropriation of the regula
army. The commander of the post
which the encampment is ordered vii
be the commanding officer Of the en-
campment, II matters not what is tn
rank Of the commanding officer OF tn
militia temporarily encamped.
Besides the contests In athletics 10
military contestants, the contests II
military proficiency and in marksnan
snip and In workmanship, militarl
conventions viii be held. In hi
branch opportunity Will be given mill
49, aasaA - -