The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-03-05
Interesting Address on New Nat.
IOnaI Militia Law.
Col. Frank W. Matteson Of the First R:gl.
ment Elected President for the
Ensuing Year.

be OF great value TO the militia in the
future was proven last night by the large
number OF officers and former officers
present, and the great interest taken I'm
the association at the first annual meet
Ing held at the Empire parlors OF the
Trocadero last evening.
The meeting was called 10 order at
o'clock and at that hour lis past and
present officers were In attendance. Of
hcers for the ensuing year were elected as
follows President. Colonel Il. w. Matte
son: vice PRESIDENT Colonel James H.
McGann; secretary and treasurer Cap
| tain Henry &. Cram: executive commit
tee. the president and vice president, Cap-
tsins Charles G. Gray and Charles &.
Rittmsn from the past officers and
Lieutenant Colonel George a. Forsyth
and Captain Charles H. Weaver. Thirty
new members were elected.
At the conclusion of the meeting the
company proceeded 10 the banquet hall
where a splendid dinner was done full
Justice to. The hall was prettily decor
ated with American flags and tin4colored
bunting
, At the head table sat Colonel Frank w
Matteson. Colonel Edward Il. Britton,
| chairman OF the executive committee OF
the Interstate National Guard associa-
tion. and the chief guest and speaker Of
the evening Brigadier General Norbert
IS! Tanner, Adiutant General Il. NJ Sack
EFT. Captain James III. Frier, u. s. A.
Colonel James II. McGann. Captain
Charles II Weaver Lieutenant Colonel
George A. Forsyth. ex-Brigadier General
Charles X. Dennis, Lieutenant Colonel
Arthur " Warneld, Major Bryce ID. Ar
mour Captain Henry c. Cram and Cap
tain @. II. Crooker.
Nearly every active officer I'm the state
was present. the only absentees being A
few from the distant corners OF the state
Captain u. NJ Clark, Captain William
e. Sutherland, Captain Louis Lynch. Ar
thur f. Roberts, Dr. George B. Peck. Col
onel James a. Moran, Captain Frank
Canning. Captain Thomas Delano.
Major John Carter. Lieutenant O. l..
Patt. Jr., Lieutenant Thomas Brady.
Captain Henry Walcott, Lieutenant
Frank o. Allen, Captain charlesC Gray,
Major Il. McSoley. Lieutenant Colonel
Charles r. French Major Giles Easter
brooks. Captain Charles G. Rittman and
Captain Barry.
v'7F' NO POLITICS IN 1T.
= Col Matteson In introducing the speak
: er of the evening spoke briefly OF the OBJ
s Jects OF the association and laid special
stress on the question Of barring politics
entirely from the association, believing
that whatever tho association obtained
for the militia that IL should be done on
night" he said clearly demonstrates
the value and aim OF the new organlsa-
? ton. There are many things that can be
= improved IN the militia laws OF Rhode
Island. and through this organization
much can be done.
The speaker OF the evening was Col.
Edward T.. Britton. a regimentai com
mander of the National Guard Of New
/. York. his subject being the Dick bill, re-
scently passed by congress.
p Colonel Britton was secretary OF the
commission Of which Gen. Dick was pres
ident and II was owing chiefly TO their
united efforts that the important meas
ure was passed. He said In part;
? This subjest IS something that | am
deeply interested in and I shall fully ac-
complish my desire II can make little
more plain the measures Of the Dick bill.
in 1'75 the Continental congress recon-
.mended the formation Of a colonial mill
! tia, one-quarter OF which should be min
ute men. particularly trained for instant
service This was the initial movement.
d 1T is asked what the bill is based on.
3 All these years the militia has been un-
der state control However the Constltu-
ton provides differently. and distinctly
Gays that the Federal government is TO
provide for organizing, arming and dis
: ciplning the militia. and furthermore.
@ NO state shall keep troops or ships OF
war in times OF peace
The bill under which we have existed
as militia UP TO the present time rs "A
drastic one. and contrary 10 the Const-
tuition. Practically every President from
Washington 20 Roosevelt. has recon-
rnended a fostering or The militia. Wash
ington insisted in l779 on n uniform and
effective form for the militia of the
United States Again I'm 1890, when he
urged that to be prepared for war was TO
insure peace. Presidents Monroe and
Jackson also insisted on a national or
ganized militia
Commencing I'm the early i0's militia
companies spraug up. the states taking
charge Of matter that was being neg
lected In the Mexican war thu volunteers
were practically officered by nen trained
IN the early militia compan es. and the
came has held true in the Civil War and
the last war.
''The lessons of the last war have inn
pressed themselves on the general public.
This bill is part OF the remodeling OF the
militia. which has been taken up by the
administration In conjunction with other
reforms The purpose has been to create
order when disorder reigncd The War
College Is another measure To provide
brain for our military operations
THE bill was prepared with the war
department in January. 1902 together
with representatives OF all states and
Territories: mostly tho adjutant generals
and high military officers
IMPORTANT SECTIONS
Colonel Britton took up the bill by
sections. commenting on the most inn
portant ones and on those which were
not clear as TO their effect on the Rhode
Island militia. lie showed where the
liea that tho bill would force the entire
Organization Of the state militia was
~roneous The war department. would. /
said. accept eight company regiments !
I'LL they were Increased 90 ~. no matter |
Nv long that period was. thus permit /
1g the present formation of the Rhode f.
--s and militia TO remain unchanged. and /
u allow the state 10 take advantage /
the law and the appropriation.
IN speaking OF the Krag rifle he said I
~ was today the best gun I'm the world. I
and that the state would make no mis- /
take in arming the militia with g. The
now Springfield gun. he said. was still IN /.
an experimental stage. hut N found su- \
rcrlor 10 the krag would I'm time replace I
that arm I'm the regular army aud the 4