The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-01-31
AFTER STATE SHOOT
RIFLE ASSOCIATION WILL ENLIST
AID OF PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS.
SAVANNAH MUST HAVE IT.
COMMITTEE OF PROMINENT CITI-
ZENS TO WAIT ON GOVERNOR.

the Observation-Disclosures AssOcin-
ton Has Acted-COmmittee to
Wait on Gov. Terrell Win he Com
posed of Members of Rifle ASsOcia-
tiOn, Board of Trade, Cotton Ex-
change and City Government.
Charter Has Been Adopted.
A movement, having as its end the
securing of the next state shoot at
Savannah, to be held at the same time
with an interstate contest, under the
auspices of the Interstate Military Ri
fie Association, has been launched by
the Executive Committee of the asso-
citation. The prospects are bright for
securing the shoot, and there is little
doubt now that the next shoot will be
held here.
The Retail Merchants Association
has already Endorsed the movement, its
action having been transmitted to the
rifle association, and received with APP
probation. The next step, which will
be made in a few days, will be to re-
quest the Cotton Exchange and the
Board of Trade to pass resolutions
urging the appointment of a committee
to go to Atlanta and wait on the Gov
ernor. This committee, according to
the present plan, will be composed of
members of the three organizations
named. together with members of the
rifle association, and representatives of
the city government.
Circulars will be printed at once, and
sent to all parts of the state and to
all neighboring states, in which rea-
sons will be given and arguments adj
vanced in favor of holding the shoot
in Savannah, and why the various
companies in this and other states
should participate in the shoot.
Want shoot Here.
Assurances have been received from
all parts of the state in support in get
ting the state shoot at Savannah. The
officers say they believe the Avondale
Range to be superior to any other, and
that they will do all in their power to-
ward securing the shoot for that range.
Among the most encouraging letters
received are those from Maj. John ID.
Little of Atlanta, Lieut.. Il. n. Hopkins
of the Fourth Infantry and Maj r. L..
Wylly of the Fourth Infantry.
The chances of obtaining the shoot
are now brighter than they have ever
been, provided sufficient effort is made
to secure it. The Executive Commit
tee of the association have gone TO
work in earnest, and request that all
citizens of Savannah aid them in their
efforts. Many prominent citizens have
promised their support to the move
ment, recognizing that 1t is one which
will benefit the city generally.
These matters were to have been
brought before the meeting of the as
ISOLATION last night at the Guards
Armory, but owing to the time consum-
ed in routine business. and the conse
quent latenesS of the hour, II was not
done. The Executive Committee is,
however, invested with power to make
all necessary arrangements and pro-
coed with the movement already
launched without the further action of
the members of the association.
The meeting was largely attended not
only by the military and those interest
ed in rifle practice, but by many prom
inent citizens as we'll. While nothing
but routine business was conducted
from the discussion relative to the
adoption of the various sections of the
charter and bylaws of the association,
IT could be easily discerned that the
scope of the association is designed to
be a wide one. and its aims and pur-
poses comprehensive. The meeting was
presided over by it's president, Gen. w.
w. Gordon. Post Adjutant w. Z.
Coney acting as secretary.
A Charter Adopted.
The charter of the association was
read and adopted, and Col. G. IT. Cam
was authorized to obtain an order of
incorporation. The charter will be filed
to-day in the Superior Court. 1t was
in the discussion of the charter that
the sense of the meeting relative to
the powers of the new association was
made known. There being no provision
in the charter for the purchase, sale
and mortgaging of realty, it was, on
motion of Capt. Stephens decided to
incorporate such a provision.
In my opinion" said Capt. Steph-
ems, in the discussion on this point,
the time will soon come when some
one, or some organization, will have
to purchase the Avondale Range, and
1t might be that this association will
want to acquire the title. In that
event 1t is necessary that the charter
contain the power to buy, sell and
mortgage. We cannot tell what the
future has in store, and it is better to
make provisions for any contingency"
Objects of the AssOciation
Another point of Importance pre-
sented itself in the discussion of the
paragraph of the charter relative to
the objects of the association In this
it was provided that the association
should manage interstate shoots and
other competitions between military
organizations. Objection was made to
the circumscription of the province of
the association to the management of
military competitions. In answer to
this, Col Cam said that the charter
was purposely so worded.
Within the last month 1 have re-
ceived two communications from the
general government, which were re-
ferred to me by the Adjutant General.
one of which made inquiry as to the
number of ranges in the state, their
equipment and the opportunities of en-
largement. while the other asked for
information to be submitted to a
board which has been appointed nv
the War Department to investigate the
practicability of having the govern
ment appropriate an amount toward
the maintenance of the range i'm re-
turn for which the regulars would be
allowed the use of it."
Government May Help.
Col. Cam said that it is within the
range of probability that this board
VIII determine upon such a plan, and
that the general government will APP
proprlate substantial amount toward
the maintenance of the range The
whole tendency of the War Depart
!nent. ne said, was towarS the extern