The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1903-08-17
MAKES HIN soRE.
Because Oklahoma National Guard
Has Been Turned Down.

taiANd tiht tue OhituDInd National
Guard will not participate in the an
nuai maneuvers at TT. Riley this fall
This Is indeed a bitter disappoint
ment to the men OF Oklahoma's gal.
liant First Regiment The regiment
did not get to go last year and based
great hopes this year but were doomed
to disappointment There Is nothing
that will tend to make the National
Guardsman proficient as contact with
the regulars. He observes what regu-
lations disclplinarians OF the regular
army compel the soldier to conform to
and learns in the frst place that dis.
cipline, obedience and allegiance are
essential to good soldiery He further
observes that the military is no play
thing. no need for the idler to apply,
no place 10 ie sluggard The main
value Of the cont s. Nth the regulars
require is the lesson ne learns about
drill. He watches the drill sergeant
patiently perform the foot movements.
he witnesses the captain put the COM
pany through the company drIll, he OBJ
serves the major handle the battalion
movements, he sees the regimental
evolutions executed at the colonePs
command. and then after these stages
OF military functions are passed he
wonderingily gazes az the brigadier
general bring a brigade of men under
the military drills and at the sound of
the scul-stirring FIFE and drum corps.
The guardsman observes that the
regulars attain high standard Of per.
fection and he is inspired to attain
the same standard OF proficiency. The
whole OF the National Guard. Ameri-
cans that they are. resolve that the
next time that they come in contact
with the regulars that their organiza-
tion will put up drill that will be
credit to their state or territory. It
promotes an interest in the military
and everyone IS beneftted no ono
loses.
Oklahoma has a regiment that she
can be proud Of It would be a credit !
to any state. They are not simply for
full dress purposes but If duty calls
them they are ready to respond to
arst call Of the bugle and be Of use to
the call, When the spanlsh.American
war broke out the full dress militia
man Of the east "t5olx to the woods" !
and the brave, resolute Oklahoman to /
the field OF action II was all that the |
authorities could do to keep the okla /
homans from mobbing the recruiting I
officers because they could not enlist /
them. The brave rough riders, whose (
names will so down on the pages Of \
history as a credit to their state, their
country and the military. heroes Of
time. we're made up of such men as J
fill the ranks of our guard.
At st. Louis during the dedication
New York militiaman. arrayed in all
the gold lace and fnery that money /
could afford. made some remark about
an Oklahoma boys plain, worn blue
uniform. The Oklahoman replied, /
"Yes. you can outdress us but we can
whip hi out of you"
The soldiers of the National Guard /
Of Oklahoma are men that are men, !
It is strange that the organization
holds together. The equipment and
ordnance are very poor. the legisla-
ture does not provide sufficiently for
the maintenance, the battery is not
equioped with guns. and the band i'm
properly cared for, yet the Oklahoma
Cavalry band at McKinley's inaugural
and at lthe dedication OF the Worlds
Fair distinguished the organization
and was credit to the territory The
band is becoming known ali over the (
United States and acquiring reputa.
tion. The people take an interest in
tne guard why should the legislature
not? This spring when nearly all the |
states had large appropriations to
transport their militia TO the dedIca-
tion. the Oklahoma legislature was too
busy with grating and boodling failed |
to appropriate a cent to our guard. It
was merely a matter of time enough |
to apprise the people OF the fact, until I
the money was spontaneously subscrib- /
ed If the legislature Of the territory
would not appropriate funds to go to
the dedication it merely looks to out
siders that the regiment was Of no
consequence and was not worth the
consideration. Now the people are
sore on the war department for omit
ting Oklahoma when probably the
greatest reason for the omission was
the legislature
National ouardsman.