The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1906-01-26
OUR NATIONAL GUARD
President Talked to Soldier
Delegates at White House.
NUST LEARN TO MARCH AID SHOOT
Forty-thrcc states aud Territories
Represented at Congress Of state
Miiitia-Itooscvclt Fnvors Tests
a. In Actual War.

WASHINGTON. Jan. 23. - Forty
three states and territories were repre-
scented by ~ delegates no the annual
meeting of the Interstate National
Guard association. Pennsylvania sent
| twenty delegates. Illinois fourteen and
Ohio tcn these being tho largest state
delegations Senator Charles A. Dick
of Ohio the head of the organization.
presided. President Roosevelt. Sccre-
tary TAFT Assistant Secretary OF War
Oliver. General George II. Harrics.
commanding thc District of Columbia
national guarl, and Senator Dick were
among the speakers.
President Roosevelt spoke to the del
ccates in the east room of the White
House lle impressed upon them the
necessity of lnstructing their com
manls IN target practice and original
initiative as individual soldiers Later
the delegates were introduced individ-
ualy TO the president
The president spoke as follows:
u trust il is hardly necessary for me
10 say what % genuine pleasure It IS 10
mo to greet this organization ! have
been a member OF the national guard
myself, and both at the time when ]
was governor (as the present assistant
secretary Of war can say and since
have been president and even when
was assistant secretary of the navy
have always done all that in me lay TO
further the interests Of the national |
guard.
81 have good many things on hand. |
but one of the things that are interest |
ing me most at present Senator Dick,
is the encouragement Of rifle practice |
In the national guard / want 20 have |
it understood. gentlemen that l do not |
care anything like as much for how |
your regiments march and perform pa
rade ground and armory maneuvers as
I care for how they are Instructed I'm
the work that would make them valua-
bic as soldiers ln time of war. / ear
ncstly hope that the national guard
and, Mr. Taft, the regular army also.
especially the regular army, will more
and more have the kind OF instruction
that will make il second nature for the
man who marches 70 march fully
equipped as be would be IN time Of
war.
III he is trained TO march that way
be VIII not throw away his equipment
The first time De goes 10 war; otherwise
be Will do It. ] want TO see the average
national guardsman know how to shoot
we'll I want 10 see the fund that we
nave for rifle practice distributed
lmong the several state organizations
partly at least with reference 10 the
way IN which those state organizations
promote craftsmanship ! want 10 see
DE young fellow who has been through
he national guard have received a
raining which Will make him able TO
10 bis work in time of war if the need
omes.
"ln great Industrial civilization
uch as ours we may just as well face
Dc fact TINT there IS constant ten
rncy To DO away Wlth 90 eliminate.
hose qualities which make q mum a
God soldier. II should De the steady
bjcct Of every legislator, Of every ok
cutivc officer and, above an. of you
cntcmen who have % do with the
ational guard, 10 try % encourage
hose qualities. 90 try 20 countcract
lo tendency toward their elimination.
"We have such a small regular army d
hat you men of the national guard
ave upon you q heavy responsibility. J.
want 90 say that, while it is lncum-
ont upon you 90 take your duties sen-
lsly and DO them with all your heart.
you do even that you DO more good
, the nation than any equal body Of
tizcns 20 be- found I'm our country"