New-York tribune., 1908-01-13
SOME OF THE DELEGATES.

The War Department at Washington. It Is un-
derstood considers the convention as one OF uh-
usual importance. and its delegation Will lnciuo9
T2obort Shaw oliver. Assistant Secretary of the
7a,,a r+r,er,t. Frigadier Generals George b Davis
,,,d " " witherspoon and Lieutenant Colonel
Erasmus NJ Weaver, of the general staff Ac-
cor,iing to returns in the hands OF MAJOR Iehel0I
Tres P Parker of this city. on the local co1nrnlt
tee Of arrangements thirty states and terri'oi'eS
,,d the. District OF Columbia will be represented
Ill, q total of 142 delegates, and he added that
only, two states-South Dakota and Utah-had sent
definite word that they would not ne represeil'eu
The business of the convention will be taken up
At General sessions TO be held during the forenoon
Of each dav in Faneu Hall, while committee meet
inrs will be held at the American House
The deieaa+es will direct their attention closely
n the Dick bill This bill, it is believed. VIII be
modified along these general lines; Flrst-l lat :
The War Department, having power 10 organize
and rroyde for the national guard. should be MADE
.7ois11,, resnonsfble for the maintenance of 1t TO
~ extent of eoupping it, free of cost TO the stare
with arms uniforms and stores; and second that
tho volunteer forces should have enlarged posSiDii
ties and through them become pracucaiS an H.
tegral part of the regular army
II will be proposed, it Is expected tnat each oi-
7ized division of the volunteer militia shall have
one inspector of small arms practice. with the
rank of major; each regiment or infantry OF CAV
airy one Inspector, with the rank OF captain anu
zach separate battalion squadron one inspector
-i+t tho rank of first lieutenant Another change
nroposed in the Dick bill will apply TO Section 3
Ii ,ozy directs that courts martial for the trial
,F o+7rer- and men of the militia when IN lhe
sarzice of the United States shall be composed
Of militia officers only. This. II Is desired, shali
ba so amended as to read: THE majority mem
hership of such courts martial shall be composed
of militia officers
vigorous discussion is predicted on the oues-
,ions growing out of the administration desire
IN utilize the national guard of the important
states for coast defence work, in the absence OF
tts ragr,Iar army reserve other duty. Wash
,,g+o- officials 1t IS understood deem it important
,ba+ certain states should assign permanently a
,,or+ion of their militia organizations to coast de-
fenca work and they understood to be pre-
pared to urge this idea strongly on the NatlonaI
Guard Association
-rbe onAninp session tomorrow, at which Gov
ernor Curtis Guild, jr.. and Mayor George A. HID
hard will extend state and city welcome Is
planned to be sufficiently short to allow Ires
afternoon. during which the Boston committee will
take the visitors about the city and its vicinity N
automobiles and special electric cars. In the even
ing Governor Guild. himself ardent. militiaman,
will entertain the visitors at a dinner in behalf
,f tho commonwealth at the new Algonquin Club
1,,,eedav evening a reception and ball planned
f,r tho delegates in the State Armory at Cam
bridge.
Following the close Of business on Wednesday
when officers will be elected and the next place OF
meeting will be decided on the delegates will visit
Fort Banks, at Winthrop, a few miles to the
northeast of the city. There. by special order from
the War Department. drill with the heavy guns
and Pinch mortars will be- given as demonstra-
ton the volunteer contingent OF the Istsst &C
cor..plisaments in modern gun practice