The Savannah morning news., 1903-05-09
OBEAR ON DICK BILL
INSPECTOR GENERAL OF GEORGIA
STATE TROOPS SAYS
MEASURE is A GOOD ONE.
HAS NO DOUBT THAT GEORGIA
WILL SUBSCRIBE TO CONDITIONS.

Col. Obear Arrived in savannah Yes
teFday Morning Accompanied
Mini. French on the Inspection OF
the Chatham Artillery-WiII Go
with Him to Hagan To-day, Where
Cavalry Troop Under Probation
VIII BE Inspected-He Talks of
Encampment, State Shoot and
National Guard Convention.
Col. w. G. Obear, inspector general
of Georgia State Troops, arrived in the
city yesterday morning to assist Maj.
Francis H. French, United States in
spector of the state troops, in his in
spection of several of the commands.
He assisted in the inspection of the
Chatham Artillery last night, rendering
valuable aid in giving information rel
ative to equipment. etc. He will &C
company Maj. French to Hagan to-day
to the inspection of the Meldrim TAFT
nall Guards, which command is now
on probation in the state service.
The inspection of the Chatham Ar
NAACly was III every ICSPCCl St1LlSldC-
tory, there being but two members of
the command who did not face the In
spector. The equipment and arma-
ment of the company was found to be
in excellent shape, and the records of
the command well kept. An inventory
of all of the property was taken, the
officers being engaged until midnight
in the task.
Anent the Dick Bill.
Col. Obear is enthusiastic over the
Dick militia bill, and thinks that there
is no doubt that all of the companies
will subscribe to it's conditions when
its true import is made known. He
says that much of the talk against it's
adoption is occasioned by unfamiliar
ity with it's provisions.
You then think that the state troops
will enlist under the new militia bill?"
he was asked.
They'll either do that or get out of
business" he answered.
What about the argument that is
urged against it to the effect that I'M
der it the exigeney of having a ne
gro commander in charge of white
troops might arise?" he was asked.
THAT didn't seem to worry your
boys in 1898 in the Spanish American
War;" he answered, when the condi-
ton was just as apt to have arisen.
The provisions of the Dick bill are
much the same as those which have
existed since 1895. There is nothing
radical in the measure AS a matter
of fact, the Governor has more pow
er, and the exigency you speak of is
less apt to arise in its administration
than under present conditions
do you think that the President is
given too much power? Might not
trouble arise by the exercise of the
power to send National Guardsmen
from one state into another to quell
Disturbances" he was asked.
Discussion Born of Ignorance.
81 see that point has been raised.
That is another case where unfamiliari-
ty with the provisions of the Dick bill
causes useless discussion. The bill dis
tinctly provides that the President may
call out the National Guard of one
state for service in another only after
he has exhausted all resources at his
command In other words, the regu-
lars would be the first called into ssrV-
ice, and if their aid was not adequate,
then the National Guardsmen would he
called out, first in the state where the
disturbance exists, and then in adjoin-
ing states, If necessary"
Suppose one state subscribed to the
conditions of the bill, and another ore
did not what would be the result then;
would there exist two different organi-
cations of the National Guard, on diff
ferent footings?"
mo. There is no doubt about the
Dick bill being adopted in Georgia.
Those companies whose men will not
enlist under the terms of the bill will
just have to go out of buSiness-that'S
ALL"
Convention in Atlanta.
Col. Obear was asked about the res
olution passed by the Interstate Ma
tional Guard Convention at Columbus,
requesting Congress to allow pay to
the men who attend the twenty-four
drills prescribed each year by the Dick
bill. He said that he thought there
was little doubt of the enactment of
such a law in the near future. but he
thought that the remuneration would
be small, an amount which would de-
fray the expenses incident to regular
participation in the drills, or a little
more.
Col. Obear is Georgias representa-
tive on the Executive Board of the In
terstate National Guard Association.
He will return to Atlanta tonight, and
will be one of the principal movants
in the plan to form a National Guard
Association in Georgia, for the purpose
of cooperating with the Interstate AS
ISOLATION and for securing proper leg
islation. The convention of all of the
officers in the state will be held at the
Capitol building on Tuesday, the same
day on which the Advisory Board
meets.
Col. Obear when asked about the en-
campment, said that he thought it was
out of the question to have it at Chic
IL