The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1905-10-04
WEDNESDAY. OCT. 4, 1905.
ADJu1ANT GEN. DRAIN
EXPRESSES SURPRISE
Says His Actions Have Been at Least
Anticipated by the State
Newspapers.

Throughout the state there is the
greatest interest just now in nation
al guard circles regarding the course
to be followed by Adjutant James A.
Drain, and he will be very busy
man If he does all it has been claimed
he intends to do. When asked in
regard to the report recently pub
lished that he was about to resign
as adjutant general to accept con-
sular appointment in South Ameri-
ca, General James A. Drain, who re-
turned recently from the east, said:
II hae seen the newspaper articles
referred to, and they have been a
great surprise to me. l am not an
applicant for a consular appointment
in South America, and do not expect
to go there in that capacity. 1t will
be time enough to talk about who
will succeed me as adjutant general
when I have resigned.
In regard to the proposed changes
in the organization of the Second
infantry regiment, you may say that
no one has any authority to give out
information upon this subject. No
with respect to the appointment
of any other officer to succeed Col
onel George B. Lamping in command
Of the Second infantry it should be
borne in mind that under the present
law and the policy of this department
no one can be appointed TO succeed
any other officer of the national
guard at the expiration of his term
of Office until such officer has been
examined for reappointment and
failed in his examination. Colonel
Lamping's term of Office expires
some time this fall. When it does
expire he will be ordered before a
board for examination. If he passes
the examination he will be recommis-
stoned If he does not he will be
discharged. Each officer of the ma
tional guard of Washington, from the
colonel down to the Junior second
lieutenant, stands on the same foot
ing in this respect.
Their commissions are practical
ly for life so long as they are able to
pass the examinations every four
years. l am sorry that any question
of appointments or changes has been
made the subject of comment with
political coloring. We have tried to
eliminate politics from the national
guard. 1t is not possible to attain
to the degree of efficiency which we
seek, if political considerations are
allowed to have any weight in the
choice, retention Or promotion of Off
GERS. We have really efficient ma
tional guard, and to keep it so it's
affairs must be administered without
political bias.
Il am very greatly pleased with
the showing made by the Washing
ton rifle team at Seagirt against the
best shots in the United States, If
not in the world" the adjutant con-
tinued. THE company team match,
which was won by our men, was one
of the most fiercely fought events in
the competition. Seventeen teams
were entered, the army and navy, as
well as 'varsities, being represented.
Five of the best men from the entire
navy team were transferred to one
ship that they might shoot in this
match, but the navy team finished
third. The team from the National
guard of the District of Columbia,
which finished second to the Wash
1ngton team, had won this match five
years in succession, and was consid-
cred invincible. Two men on it were
of the "All-American team" which
shot against and beat the world at
Bisley, England, in 1903.
I'm the several matches the Wash
ingtOn team, at one time or another,
beat every other team shooting ex-
cept three, namely, New ork, United
States infantry and Irpitod Ctofac -, n
rine corps"