The Washington times., 1906-01-22
SOLDIER NOT MADE
IN SINGLE NIGHT,
TAT 7 TELLS GUARD
Militia Needed Flesh to
Cover Bones of Regu-
lar Army.
STATE MILITARY MEETS
Representatives From Every
Commonwealth Presided
Over by Dick.
STATE MILITARY MEETS

The Interstate National Guard As
sociation met In annual convention Ia |
the banquet hall Of the Arlington at 10 |
o'clock this morning. The delegates ]
were welcomed, on behalf of the ma i
tionaI Government by Secretary Of War
William II. Taft. and on behalf of The !
city OF Washington by Gen. George H !
HarFies, commanding the National /
CT ard OF the District Of Columbia
Seated on the platform with the pre- |
siding officer was Assistant Secretary
Of War oliver, and among the visitors
present were Gen. Andrew Burt and
Gen Chambers McKibbln. retired Of
fcers Of the regular army. The eTs-
trance Of the Secretary OF War was
followed by an outburst Of applause.
which continued as he began 70 speak
Pennsylvania Has Most.
General Charles Dick. Of Ohio, presi-
dent OF the association. called the con
vention 20 order. The banner delegs-
I!on was that Of Pennsylvania. which
was made up of twenty merlbers.
Illinois followed with fourteen delegates.
and Ohio came third with ten dele
gates.
In addition the following States were
represented; Arkansas, California,
Connections. Delaware. Florida. Indiana.
Iowa. Kansas. Kentucky. Louisiana.
Maryland. Massachusetts. Michigan.
Minnesota Nebraska. New Jersey. New
York. North Carolina. Ohio. Oregon.
South Carolina. Texas. and Vermont.
For Militia Bills.
The report of the chairna- Of tn e~e-
cutive committee Gen. james A igta4.i
OF Washington was read By the secre-
tary. General Drain reported that the
sentiment in Congress was becoming ia
vorable 10 the passage Of the bill now
pending. which appropriates a million
dollars for the equipment Of the na-
tlonal guard and the creation OF rife
ranges II was recommended the mem
bers OF the State delegations be In
structed TO interview the Senators and
Representatives in Congress from their
States and endeavor 10 secure their sup
port OF the bill
The report also recommended various
changes IN the bylaws OF the associa-
ton. which were reserved for further
consideration. A committee on legisla-
tion was named 10 take charge Of mat
ters affecting the association and the
national guard. now pending in Con-
gress. 4 committee on resolutions was
also named.
Taft Speaks.
Secretary Taft said the army of the
United States-the regular army-is
nothing but skeleton; upon which.
should emergency arise, must be placed
the flesh of the national guard.
Congress long ago should have
taken the steps, it has now taken. TO
roo crsf4F Hra vra1a q
guard and TO incorporate ii to some de-
gree with the regular establishment.
The country in this respect has not
lived up 10 its reputation for practical
good sense
"A practical soldier cannot be made
in week The widespread assumption
10 this effect rests u9On the theory that
because. in the civil war. we made the
best armies in the world by four years
Of the hardest sort of hard work, we
can make other armies, Just as good
over night"
The Secretary said the President and
the war Department were earnestly in
favor of the encoura cement of the ma
uonal guard and would do everything
possible 70 add to its efficiency. He
paid high tribute To General Oliver,
who also delivered brief address.
AS 10 Ohio.
Secretary Taft could not STAY with
the meeting. but he left il in a pleasant
humor- The Ohio campaign was for
gotten In the midst of the general good
feeling. Said the Secretary as a. part
ing shot.
i congratulate you upon having Gen
eral Dick as your presiding officer His
efficiency while a member of the lower
house in securing the passage of the
Dick militia bin Is sufficient guarantee
that if YOU want anything from Con
gress. he is the man to help you get
General Dick made brief response to
the addresses OF Secretary Taft. Assist
ant Secretary Oliver. and General Har-
rles. lie declared II 10 be the duty of
every national guardsman to be pre-
pared for the call OF duty. and the
special and incumbent duty of the con-
VenuOn TO do everything possible to-
ward the attainment Of the end He
acknowledged gratefully the sympathy
encourag cement, and active aid OF the
National Administration in this ambi-
tion.
ITO be armed and equipped and ready
for war" said General Dick. lis the
surest guarantee of continued peace. /
do not consider il any departure from
the traditional attitude OF this country
toward peace that We should do every
thing possible to maintain a yigilant and
efficient body of citiZen-soldiers in evar,-
State in this Union"
AT 2:30 o'clock this afternoon the dele
gates 10 the convention We're received
by the President in the East room of
The White House. The presentati
we're made by General Dick President
Roosevelt expressed his warm interest
In the reforms for which the association
stands and in the general welfare of the
national guard.
The sessions VIII be continued this af-
ternoon and for several DAYS Important
matters Will engage the dele4afes' ar
tention during their stav in the city. not
the least OF which will be a concerted
effort TO secure from Congress needed
appropria tons for the increase of ma
tional guard militia