The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-08-25
Because He Was Father of
Naval Reserve Bill.
Former Maukatonian Put Up a
Good Fight for Measure.
The Training Ship Fern Is at
The Duluth Harbor.

The Duluth News Tribune says that
Senator T. NJ. Pugh of the fifth Mime
sofa district, is an admiral by virtue of
having been the father of the late Naval
Reserve bill, which became law April
81, 1899, and anybody who addresses
him as such will be talking as strictly
by the card, as if they called him sena-
tor.
The arrival of the training ship Fern
in Duluth harbor makes everything re-
1ating to the creation of the Minnesota
naval reserves of special interest at this
time. The good fight put up by Sem
ator Pugh in behalf of the bill is well
remembered by his colleagues and by ev-
cry other person who follows the pro
ceedincs of the session of the state leg
islature i'm the winter of 1899. Repre-
sentative jackson, then chairman of the
committee on appropriations, fought the
measure with all his power in the house,
but the delegation representing the Du-
luth district was loyal and influential,
and the measure passed that division
of the legislature.
Mr.. jacobson succeeded in rallying
considerable opposition, and used the
argument that the bill, if passed, would
be followed by bills calling for appro
priations. and this he was opposed to
Senator Fitzpatrick, of Winona. was
wont to refer to 'Pughs toy navy"
and tried to kill the measure with ridi-
Guile.
The National Guard used its influence
at first to defeat the bill, entertaining
the idea that its own appropriation
might have to be divided with the new
candidate for recognition. Senator
Pugh, who enjoys wide acquaintance
throughout the state, worked valiantly
and all the time had the support of the
Duluth delegation.
The Minnesota Naval Reserve law
was Immediately followed by the organi-
cation of the present two divisions in
Duluth. The reserves were short of
funds, as the bill providing for their
organization did not carry any appro
priation, but now they are well provided
for. At the last session of the legis-
lature bill providing for an appropria-
ton of $500 for the fiscal year ending
July l.. 1906, and for the same amount
for each year thereafter, was passed.
This continuous appropriation makes the
naval reserves secure, and has caused
the members to feel new interest in
their work.
The appropriation was obtained on the
assurance that the naval reserves of Du-
luth would be able to get the Fern for
practice ship. The promise of the
ship by the government was a strong
card in the efforts to get the appro-
priation. Without the ship it is prob
able that no such liberal appropriation
could have been secured, and without
the ship, also, the best results could not
have been obtained by the reserves.
The National Guard and the Naval
Reserves long ago reached an under
standing, and are now in perfect har-
mony. 1t has been realized by every
BODY that the naval reserves has come
to stay, and that they will not exist
to the detriment in any way of the Ma
tional Guard.
The governor of the state is com,
mander in chief of the Minnesota Naval
Reserves. and he will order the annual
two weeks cruise provided for in the
bill that created the reserves, also fix
the date of the cruise.