Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-01-08
TO- HOLD ANNUAL SESSION
BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF MA.
TIoNAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION.
Additions to Membership Of the Or.
ganization Noted-Rifle Clubs
to Be Fostered.

Members of the board of directors of
the National Rife Association are assem-
bling in Washington today for the pur-
pose of holding their annual meeting and
election of officers, The business session
of the organization will be held in the
New Willard tonight. There are thirty
six members of the board, representing
| almost an equal number of states. and
one additional member at large, who is
appointed by the President
1t is understood that there is no oppo-
sition to the present officers. and it is
probable all of them will be reelected,
with the exception of the second vice
president. who was made an honorary
director at the last annual meeting of the
association. The officers are: President
Gen James A. Drain; first vice president.
Gen A. b. Critchfield adjutant general
of Ohio; second vice president J. a. Has
keli of New York; third vice president
Gen: Lawrason Riggs. commander of the
National Guard of Maryland; secretary,
Lieut.. Albert S. Jones of New Jersey;
treasurer, Major f. l.. Isbell of New
Haven, Conn: executive committee, Col
Frank X. Patterson of Pennsylvania
Lieut.. Col. Thomas Talbot of Massachu-
sets and Col. NanHolt Nash of Georgia
One of the most important features of
the meeting will be the report of Secre-
tary Jones' which will show that a total
or seVenty-one new organizations, inciud-
ing nine new state rifle associations have
affiliated with the National Rifle Associa-
tion during the past year. The new
state clubs are as follows: Minnesota.
Washington, South Dakota Utah. Texas
oregon, Missouri, California and Mon
tana.
Other Additions.
The other additions to the membership
include twenty-five regimental rife clubs,
five separate military organizations, TWEEN.
ty-two civilian or government rifle clubs,
two college clubs and eleven school boy
clubs. The bylaws were amended only
within the past year so as to admit boys
clubs to membership and it is anticipated
that hundreds of these junior shooting
CLUBS will file applications in the next
year. The secretary's report will show
also that the association gained eighty
two life members during 1907. as COM
pared with sixty during the previous six
years.
Under the head of new business it is eX-
pected the board of directors will take
active steps toward forwarding the move.
ment to foster the organization of rife
clubs among the boys of public high
schools. preparatory and military schools,
and 1t Is among the possibilities TT Con-
gress will be asked to make a small ap-
preparation to cover the expenses of pre-
l1minary work To this end the argument
Will be made that many of the boys in
terested In rifle practice during their
school days upon graduation join the
national guard organizations. and thus
add to the efficiency of the nations auxil-
larry army.
Seven members of the board of directors
of the National Rifle Association are also
members of the national board for the
promotion of rifle practice, seven other
members of which organization are ap-
pointed by the President and seven are
designated from the staff officers of the
regular army. The national board for
the promotion of rifle practice will meet
In the Office of the assistant secretary of
war next Friday, following the session of
its committee on rules tomorrow.