The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-27

NOT A HOLIDAY ORGANIZATION.
The National Guard of Indiana, now
holding its annual encampment as required
by law, is not a mere holiday organization,
1t has rendered service both to the State
and the Nation. Fortunately. the occasions
have not been numerous when it has been
| necessary To call out the militia TO enforce
the laws or suppress disorder within the
State, but they have occurred, and may
occur again. During Governor Matthews's
term of office from 1898 to 1897 1t became
necessary to call out a portion of the
militia on three different occasions The
! first was to suppress the notorious prize
fights at Roby, i'm Lake county. The scan
dial became so great and the local authori-
| ties were SO powerless to suppress it that
on Sept 4. 1885, the Governor dispatched the
adjutant general with thirteen companies
| from the Second, Third and Fourth Regi-
ments to put receiver, who had been ap-
pointed. in possession of the property and
TO arrest the principals, the seconds and
all the participants in the fights. The
| crowd dispersed before the troops reached
4
months later, in the summer OF 1894, a coal
miners strike in Clay and adjacent counties
| got so far beyond the control of the local
authorities and so menacing to property
that the Governor ordered the adjutant
/ general with nine companies OF the guard
to Cannelsburg, Daviess county, and little
later he ordered six companies Of the First
ID
van county. These troops were in service
twenty days before order was restored.
They were sent in compliance with the re-
quest of the local authorities of Daviess
and Sullivan counties. Finally, during the
| great railroad strike of July, 1894. when
| lawlessness became rampant at some points
in northern Indiana and the local authori-
ties had to call for help, the Governor or
dered the adjutant general. with fifteen
companies of infantry and detachment Of
Battery A Artillery, to Hammond, Lake
county, where a collision had already &C.
CURED between United States troops and
rioters. The arrival of the militia restored
order, but they were kept on duty for some
time; new companies being ordered from
lieved. In each of these cases the military
arm Of the government was only brought
into use under the strict requirements of
the law, and the troops were used to aid
protect and assist the civil authorities in
the discharge Of their duties and the en-
forcement of law. The occasions were all
serious, and public opinion fully justified
three campaigns cost the State s52 SO7. of
which sH,sl7.49 was for per diem of SOL
diers. s5.547.6S was for railroad transporta-
ton, camp and miscellaneous expenses. The
next Legislature did not hesitate to make
an appropriation covering all of these ex-
penses. In his annual message of 1895
Governor Matthews complimented the
troops, officers and men, for their effective
service, and said:
Conditions may arise among our people
and under our institutions when it becomes
absolutely necessary to exercise the
stronger arm OF government 1t has been
clearly demonstrated that a thoroughly or
ganized and weil-discipiined militia may at
times be as necessary In maintaining the
supremacy of the law, the safety of we'll
organized society and the well-being of the
State as any other department of the gov
many OF the best young men of the State,
coming from all trades, professions and oc-
equations. They devote much of their time
to training and perfecting themselves in
this school, When called upon to- serve the
State they respond cheerrully. On each
occasion when 1t has become necessary to
call them into action their soldierly bearing,
gentlemanly conduct courteous behavior
and brave yet tolerant spirit has commend
ed them to their fellow-citizens.
Such a record as this, made nearly ten
years ago, is worth remembering by the
Guard Of to-day. The more recent record
made by troops ordered out to quell the riot
at Evansville is equally honorable When
the war with Spain began the Indiana
Guard furnished four regiments of infantry
and two batteries OK artillery, and it was
not their fault that they did not all see
active service. The Third Regiment of the
Guard was mustered in as the One-hun-
nd-fifty-seventh Indiana Volunteer
Infantry. with fifty officers and 1857 en-.
listed men; the Second Regiment of the
Guard was mustered in as the One-hun.
dred-and-f ifty-eighth Regiment, with fifty
officers and 1.292 men; the First Regiment
Of the Guard was mustered in as the One
: hundred-and-fifty-n with fifty-one Off
GERS and 1873 enlisted men, and the Fourth
: Regiment Of the Guard was mustered III
as the Observation-Disclosures with fift,
officers and 1.264 enlisted men. 1t will b,
seen, therefore. that the Indiana Nationa
Guard has a record for state and nationa
service of which its members may we'll fee
proud. and which every citizen of the Stat,
: should recognize with gratitude and pride
In proportion to its numbers and the appro
priation made by the State for its supper
it is believed it is not surpassed In moral,
and efficiency by the National Guard of an,
= other State.