The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-01-23
R. |. MILITIA
ARE HON0RED
Ranked Second In the Country
by Secretary Taft.
new YORK HEADS The LIST
Distinction Is Very Gratifying 10 0ffIcsrs
and Men Of The Brigade, as Well as 10
the People Of the State.

BY the annual report OF the secretary
OF war for 1904. IL is learned that the
brigade of Rhode leland militia attained
next TO the highest percentage OF any
state organization in the country in the
spring inspections last year.
That the state OF Rhode Island should
In competition with the whole country
make such a good showing is considered
by the citizen soldiers 10 be a distinct
triumph. especially in view of the fact
that the brigade attained a much higher
figure of merit than many OF the large
states whose militia is the pride and pet
OF the citizens and whose legislatures
support the state troops with large appro-
priations.
The single state which ranked ahead
OF Rhode Island was New York. whose
militia has an interna ational reputation for
efficiency, and which has invariably held
its own in competition with the other
states and territories OF the country. The
margin OF victory for the Empire state
was by no means Ii large one. the figures
being $3.50 per cent for that state. against
s4,27 per cent for Rhode Island. a differ
ence OF less that per cent. Had II not
been for the fact that the last two COM
panies inspected in this state fell down In
attendance Rhode Island would undoubt-
edly have stood at the head Of the list.
the percentages OF the two commands
mentioned being so very much poorer than
those Of the others that the per cent
separating the Empire state and Little
Rhody was lost In this manner.
II WAS PARTICULARLY pleasing to the local
militiamen to know that they beat out
the neighboring state of Massachusetts,
by a handsome margin, that state being
fifth In the list, with 81 per cent The
Massachusetts, militiamen have long
looked on Rhode Island with patron
izing air. which is far from pleasing 10
the soldiers of this state, who are in
clned 10 resent the attitude, OF pretty
good for a little fellow" and II would
hardly be human IL Rhode Island failed
to feel a decided satisfaction over Its
victory. This showing on inspections.
added to the fact that Massachusetts was
beaten by the Rhode Island rife team at
the national shoot at Fort Riley. Ks, In
August. makes the Rhode Island militia
men think they are now I'm a position 10
make themselves heard when the citizens
of any other state begin to laud their
militia.
II was doubtless somewhat OF a sur
prise 10 many OF the states TO read the
report of the secretary OF war and find
that their percentages were below those
of many states which hardly had been
considered at all The ranking Of the 10
leading states was as follows: New York.
$500: Rhode Island. 94.27; Minnesota.
1884; New Jersey, 80 ss; Massachusetts,.
el.59; Connecticut. 1923: North Carolina.
Hap al
s6.72: District OF Columbia. 5000.
From this table IL will be seen that
out OF the first 10 states the east had
seven the middle west. the Pacific coast
one and the south one. Pennsylvania.
whose militia has the reputation Of being
a very efficient body, was 18th. with 1887.
while the state OF Illinois. with a total
strength. officers and men. of over $500,
had but 7o.11 per cent. The average per-
centsge OF the country, with a total mil
itia strength of s47s officers. and 1Os7s7
men. was 1898. against 1856 for the pre-
vious year.
According to this report in relation 10
Rhode Island. the cavalry battalion had
the highest percentage OF attendance,
every man OF both troops and the head
quarters being present The machine gun
battery was second. with 9792 per cent, !
Battery A third with 97.s7; the Second
regiment fOuftn WIN SOLO, Une F1fSt
regiment fifth with 9213. the hospital
corps seventh with S. the first separate
company eighth with s5.05, and the signal
corps last with si62.
The secretary's report shows that az
regards attendance the northern and east
ern states are decidedly ahead Of their
southern neighbors. In this connection
IL is interesting TO compare the several
amounts apportioned TO the states from
the 81 O00. 900 annual militia appropria-
tion. This money Is apportioned accord
ing to representation in congress. and !
the states which have a comparatively in
efficient militia receive In many cases !
much more than those who show good !
return for the money. Many OF the states |
run their militia almost entirely on their !
part Of this appropriat ton. the legisl stures
granting comparatively nothing 70 the
state troops. Rhode Island with a rep |
resen tation In congress OF but four re-
ceived of the appropriation for the pres
ent fiscal year s7.e7a.0s. and showed a
percen tage Of attendance OF e427, while |
Missouri. which received t35. .e05 ss could |
show but sb 80 per cent The same com- |
parisons would hold good with many 81 /
the other southern and western states. |
where the militia IL poorly supported by |
the state legislatures. yet receives enough |
from the government 10 carry on It's /
business.