The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-05-22
Gov. HIGGINS
WOULD UPbU|LO
STATE MILITIA

The Brigade Officers association OF the
Rhode Island National Guard held it's fifth
annual meeting and banquet at the Wei
lingron last evening
Gov. Higgins. who was unanimously
elected TO honory membership. was one
OF the guests OF the evening. and over 200
members and guests OF the association
were present
Maj. j. C.. w. Brooks Of Fort Greble.
the principal speaker. told of the coming
encampment OF the State Guards and also
detailed the outline of the duties the com
panies would have TO perform. He gave an
interesting account Of the firing OF the big
guns Gov. Higgins extolled the neces-
sity OF building up the State Militia
A committee TO arrange for the changing
OF the name OF the association so that
IL will coincide with the name of the
Rhode Island National Guard was ap-
pointed as follows: Col r w. Matteson,
Col James H. McGann and Maj William
a. Maynard These officers for the com
ing year were also elected at the business
meeting: President, Capt. Charles IL
Weaver; vice president. Maj. =. A.
Sweeney: secretary and treasurer, Lieut..
IL. VI. Holmes: board of executives, Maj.
Alexander Johnson, Capt. Walter s. Cat
chell. Capt. f. NJ Clark and Capt.
Charles Rittman
II was voted that the association put
itself on record as favorlng the removal
OF the state seal from their caps and put
ting in its place the national emblem
The secretarys and the treasurer's re-
ports gave the following data: As active
members. "A past members. five honorary
one died during the year; receipts for the
year $s2.23, and expenses $947, leaving
a balance OF So. rs.
O1 A tNa 4 cfe
introduced Gov Higgins, who spoke upon
the necessity Of strengthening the State
Militia, and OF the great benefit such or
ganiZations were To the country. He said:
II am firmly resolved TO use my limited
power for the upbuilding and encourage
ment OF the State Militia ! am not one
of those sentimentalists who want TO dis
arm the country and 10 give UP all pre-
parations for war. While / do not want
to see a war or even fight. / believe we
should be prepared to put UP as good a
fight. II not better one. than any other
country.
The militia in this state is sadly in
need Of many things, among them uni
forms and equipment. l believe that we
should have them, and at once. Efforts
are now being made in this regard. and
while / do not know how much they will
cost or how long We must walt. yet we are
going 10 have them sooner or later"
Col. Walter Howe told OF the needs OF
the regular army. following the lines of
the Governor. His plea was for recruits
and for more pay TO all concerned.
An entertainment was given by a corn-
pany OF men and women.
Seated at the head table were Toast
master. Col George A. Forsythe; Gov.
Higgins, Capt c. c. Gray. Maj. J. c. w.
Brooks. Adjt. Gen. F. NJ. SaclSett, Col.
Walter w. Howe. Col. F. w. Matteson.
Maj. William A. Maynard, Lieut. Il. 8.
Raines Capt. F. N. Cooke. Capt. F. A.
Cook. Maj. Charles w. Abbot. Jr., Col.
Arthur V. Warfeld, Col. James II. Nc
Gam and Gen. Herbert s. Tanner. The
retiring officers of the association were:
President Col George A. Forsyth: vice
president. Capt c. Fl. Weaver; secretary
and treasurer. f. NJ. Holmes.