Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-11
NEWS OF THE LOCAL
NATIONAL GUARDSMEN

force in the year 1885 was regarded as UNI
necessarily and uselessly vexatious and
purdensome generally. Therefore, an adj
dress was issued the 18th of September
the year mentioned. to the citizens of
washington city by "a number of your
feliow-citizens." which is of interest to the
local National Guardsmen of today.
After referring to the fact that the sys-
tenn was burdensome the address set forth
that on that occasion the fellow-citizens re-
ferred to are well pleased that the laws
on that subject have been permitted to
slumber for so many years. are neverthe-
less as we'll convinced of the propriety and
expediency of keeping up an embodied
force of citizen soldiers of limited extent,
under the character and for the purpose of
the City Guard, TO be composed of the most
respectable and discreet individuals of all
classes, who have for their common bond
of union the ties of family, and friends,
and property. They believe that the cir
cumstances of the present times furnished
to rejecting minds sufficient motives and
reasons to sustain them in their views as
above expressed, and being willing and
anxious themselves for the organization of
a battalion of uniformed volunteer troops,
to be denominated City Guards, they beg
leave to present the subject to the serious
consideration of their fellow-citizens, and
to ask their cooperation.
1.-The course which they propose to adopt
is first, to enroll all those embraced in the
foregoing designation, who may be dis
posed to unite in the object, as well those
above, as those below, the period of life
which exempts them from militia duty
the former to be arranged corps OF re-
serve, ard exempted from the muSterS for
training and exercise, and to be considered
as honorary members; the latter to
be arranged in companies of equal
numbers, as far as may be practicable, I'M
der such field and company officers as may
receive the appreciation of a majority of
the corps; to have constitution and by
laws for regulating the concerns of the
corps and to seat, from the proper author
tiles, a legal organization as an independ-
ent portion of any general militia system
which now exists or which may hereafter
be adopted
For the purpose of ascertaining the
sense of the community, on subject OF
such importance, subscription papers will
be presented to the citizens for the enroll
ment of those who may be willing to unite,
not for the purpose of frivolous military
parade but for real usefulness in time of
need
1.-THE adoption of the khaki uniform for
the United States army, even for police or
fatigue duty, was a mistake, because IT Is
the ugliest attire ever put on civilized
man." the Ohio State Journal says. Its
color if color 1t might be called, is the
dismalest that could be concocted by
spoiled taste. 1t is hard to imagine that
any respect for the soldier was ever in
volved in the selection of that dreary cos
tune If ii was chosen, in the first place,
as a uniform that would not show the dirt,
the purpose was without any sense, because
the garment was as dirty looking as 1t
co.ld he to start with The idea of dress
ing the defenders of the nation in a garb
that couldn't be madeato look any dirtier,
contained a flavor of disrespect to the
army, If not of disloyalty to the country.
1.-The people incline to have measure of
pride for the army. They associate with 1t
acts of devotion and courage Its heroism
adorns the pages of history. But all this
glory has been won by the boys in blue.
This is the color that blends with heroic
memories. And now, to dispel the splendid
visions of the past, by interposng the
American soldier in ranks of muddy yellow,
smatters of sacrilege.
LET US get back to the blue We want a
color that has meaning to it. We want
an army whose very appearance carries a
sentiment True blue are words that fit |
each other. Since the adoption of the dirtyst
yellow there have been more assertions |
from the army than ever before. So the |
reports indicate. This shows a lack of |
respect for the uniform the soldiers have |
to wear. 1t is no wonder. The yellow uni |
form has no fine associations. 1t awakes |
no sentiment. 1t chils ones patriotism"
Captain Charles ]. Fox, LIST Battery, Field |
Artillery, has been detailed as a member of I
the brigade board of examination for the |
examination of officers of the 1st Battery, |
Field Artillery.