West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1905-07-13
NATIONAL GUARD NEWS.


will be competed for annually by a
team from each company of the
West Virginia national guard at the
annual encampment. Each com
pany commander is therefore direc-
ted 10 select team of five, COM
posed of officers or men, of their
respective commands, and no one
shall be eligible on this team who
was not a member of the company
at least thirty days prior to the
commencement of the encampment.
The coup" to be awarded each year
to the company making the highest
score, that is, TO the company whose
team makes the highest average
score on all ranges used. The com
petition will be held in accordance
wife the "FIring Regulations OF
Small arms" for the United States
army, and the organized militia of
the United States, 1904.
III. To the individual of the re-
spectiye teams making the highest
average score at all ranges used will
be awarded a suitable medal in
bronze presented by the brigade
/ commander and his staff.
III. To the individual Of the
team representing companies within
the fifth congressional district max
ing the highest average score at all
ranges used, will be awarded the
"Hughes Gold Medal" This med
al will be competed for annually.
Nv. From the teams competing
at the encampment will be selected
team to participate in the national
match to be held at Sea Grit, N. ].
commencing August "a, 1905, under
conditions set forth in general order
No. Al, war department, 1905.
The order is by command OF
Brigadiev General Scott and signed
by c. c. Lewis, Jr., brigade adju.
tant general.
There is movement on foot in
Wheeling to organize a National
Guard company to take the place
of the old Company ga" of Wheel
ing, which was mustered out Of the
service a couple of years ago. Floyd
Picard, a Spanish-American war vet
ran, is at The head of the movement
and it is said that at this time he has
the names of 65 men who have sig
nified their willingness to Join the
company. In few days this list
will be forwarded to the adiutant
general at Charleston with the appli-
cation to organize the company.
Since 1908 Wheeling has had no
National Guard company. For sew
eral years prior to that time Com
pany A was one of the best in the
guard but when the time came to
entrain for the Parkersburg encamp-
ment the company was found to be
in such condition that it was order
ed to remain at home. Immediate
ly after this it was disbanded.
The trouble was that most of the
men belonged to labor organizations
around Wheeling, who have an un-
called for and unreasonable preiu
dice against the National Guard be-
cause they are called out some times
to suppress mob violence in case of
strikes. The Guard never interferes
with anyone or set of men so long
as they are lawablding and behave
themselves. 1t is only when they
become criminals and wholesale
lawbreakers that the wholesale arm
of the law is called upon to take
charge of them and protect the
peace and dignity of the government
and protect the lives and property
of the people.
The report of the annual inspec-
ton of the National Guard of this
state which was made in April this
year by Regular Army officers de-
tailed by the War Department, as
sisted by National Guard officers
detailed at Brigade Headquarters,
has been made public by official cir
cular No. 2, printed and sent out
and in it Company G. of Kingwood
receives about the best all round re-
port of any company in the state.
Here is the report as published from
the official order:
&c" coMPANY-UNsPECTED APRIL
"a, 1859
I. Character of men, excellent.
Zeal, very good. Efficiency, excel
lent. Reliability, good. Close or
der drill, good. Extended order
drill, none on Inspection. Manual
of arms, good. Physique of men,
fine.
2. This Company is the only one
in the First Regiment that has an
armory worthy Of the name. The
officers Of the Company, as well as
the patriotic citizens of Kingwood,
merit the appreciation Of all who
are interested in our militia, for the
commodious, up-to date building
they have dedicated as an armory.
8. Rifles IN perfect condition.
4. Clothing, clean and we'll cared
for.
S. Camp equipage in first class
| condition.
8. Discipline, good. Appearance
Of men, very good all dressed in
blue.
2. Attendance at Inspection, fair.
Sixteen per cent. Of the Company
was absent This is partly explained
by the fact that many Of the men
live several miles outin the country,
and it is difficult for them to get in
to town for night inspection, and
get back home, without losing a day
and a night