Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-14

honor and legitimate one to win place
on that team year after year. Ihere are put
few marksmen who could retain their skill
to that extent. and such men deserve dlstln-
guished recognition rather than discourage
ment.
"To keep alive interest in many sports 1t
has been thought necessary to handlcap
certain successful contestants; this pract1ce
is more generally followed in local organl-
cations where the patronage is essential TO
maintain them. but 1t Is unWlse ana IN
healthful for any organization, for 1t oars
individuals of superior skill and permits
those of less skill to appear to the world as
the most skillful.
1.-The national match was created to bring
together In contest the best military MARKS
men in the United States. including those OF
the army and navy, the marine corps and
the volunteers. A man must be an excellent
marksman to gain a place on any state
team which contests in this match better
one If he is Of the successful team and a
particularly fine one to be able to win his
place on the successful team year after
year. If, however skilled marksmen are to
be barred as soon as they develop skill
enough to win the national match, the very
object Of the match will be defeated, and
the winning of the national trophy Will not
mean what it purports to mean.
Perpetual Skill in Workmanship.
THE idea seems to prevail that some In
dividuals, states and organizations Will hold
perpetual skill in rifle craftsmanship Ihls
is a mistake The history of military
craftsmanship in this country proves IT.
Famous marksmen have their day and drop
from the van; the marksmen of the army
were once in the lead; then followed the
states of California, Michigan, Pennsyl-
wanna, Massachusetts, New YORK, Georgia
New Jersey and the District of Columpla,
each holding the former national trophies
for varying periods, but finally having them
won from them. 1t has been so from the
beginning of military rifle shooting con-
tests in the United States until the present
time and 1t will always be so. The ma
tional trophy will not be won by one team
continually, no matter who constitutes the
team. Repeated success in team rifle shoot-
ing is likely to be followed by disastrous
failure, and many veteran rif1emen regard
continuous success with the same team OF
riflemen more difficult than with one which
has previously been defeated.
But the chief objection to barring rifle
men who have been members of a success
full team In the national match is Its bad
moral effect The winning of the trophy is
supposed to represent superior markSman-
ship, but it would not mean that with GER
tain men barred for no other reason imam
because they are believed to be able to de-
feat other marksmen. Skilled marksmen
are properly barred from tyro matches, but
in national match, open to all who COM
ply with equitable rules, to bar previous
winners seems unmlitary, unwise, and not
calculated to promote rifle practice
Notes.
On his own application, Sergeant Richard
]. Downey, Company G. I'd Regiment, has
been honorably discharged.
Upon the recommendation Of the principal
musician, William A. Duvall Corps of
Field Music, Private Julius H. Ritter has
been appointed a sergeant of that orSanl-
cation.
First Lieutenant S. F. Shreve, Second
Lieutenant John II. Shreve and Sergeant
Ralph Alderman have been elected captain,
first and second lieutenants, respectively, in
Company b. 1St Regiment. They have been
ordered to report for examination NoVem-
Der Is.
First Lieutenant Pinckney w. Smith, In
spector of rifle practice. LIST Battalion, has
been nominated by the commanding gen
eral for the position of first lieutenant and
quartermaster of the same battalion, vice
Lieut.. A. NJ. MuZZy, deceased.
I'd Regiment, Privates Edward M. Beaton,
Walter r. Moreland and Joseph ]. Torrens
have been dishonorably discharged.
Privates Harry Mop Bogue. Charles w.
Hester, Morris G. Hogeland and Paul Key
Ser, all of Company l, list Regiment, have
been honorably discharged because of re-
moval from the District of Columbia.