Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-14
DECIDES ON NEW PLAN
National Rifle Association
Changes Its Procedure.
DIRECTORS HOLD Meeting
Matches Not to Be EARNED Out to
State Organizations.
EXPANDS THE MEMBERSHIP
Marine Corps and Frank Stanton
Donors of Trophies-Annual
Election of officers.
EXPANDS THE MEMBERSHIP

Rifle Association Will not be farmed out
10 state associations for profit, either to
state associations or to the national as
sociation itself The expenses of future
matches are to be paid out of the treas
ury OF the association, and all money
derived from entrance fees, etc. shall.
after the payment of expenses. be offered
ny the association as additional prize
money.
The foregoing was An important ques-
toned settled by the board OF directors
of the National Rife Association, which
met at the New Willard Hotel yesterday
afternoon. There was a warm debate on
the subject and 1t was decided that If
the arrangement agreed on should be i'm
practicable the matches for 1909 should
be abandoned. II the plan can be sue
ccssfully carried out it is estimated that
the prize money will be increased by at
least $4,000.
Causes Lively Debate.
The discussion on the change of system
regarding the matches was brought about
by the introduction of a resolution in
troduced by Gen. James A. Drain, presi-
dent of the organization. The debate
was lively. the most prominent speakers
being Gems. Drain. Critchfield, Spencer
The resolution also provided that the
executive officer of the national matches,
which are shot under the auspices of the
national board for the promotion of rife
practice, and who Is always an officer of
the regular army, should also be the
executive officer Of the National Rife
Association matches, and that the lat
ter matches should be shot during the
week Immediately preceding or following
the national matches.
To Expand Membership.
To expand the membership of the board
of directors the bylaws were amended so
as to include as directors all adjutants
general Of the states and territories who
are not already members of the board, and
each state association was authorized to
appoint as directors an officer from the
general staff and one each from the in
fantry and cavalry, and the Secretary Of
of1cer from the Navy and one from the
Marine Corps. This action will increase
the membership Of the board from 40 to
100
new class of members, to be known as
annual MEMBERS, was provided Any
citizen of the United States is eligible to
such membership on the annual payment
OF 81. Gen. Drain, who. in his annual
report, presented the phenomenal growth
of the association during the two years of
MS management. recommended the action
In glowing terms.
New Life Members.
During the past two years 15O life men,
bers were added, including President
Roosevelt. President-elect Taft. Secretary
Root, Assistant Secretary Of State Bacon,
Secretary of the Navy Newberry, Cor
nehus n. Bliss, Ambassador Henry White,
ambassador I. ]. O'Brien. Senator F. o.
Briggs, James A. Stillman. Col. John
Jacob Astor, James A. Drexel, August Bel
mont, Secretary of War Wright, Assistant
Secretary of the Navy Satterlee, Clifford
Pinchot and Larz Anderson The an
nouncement that Postmaster General
Meyer became a patron by giving $500
was received with applause.
zen. Drain also announced that Robert
L. bacon, assistant secretary of state, had
OF TO be one of twenty men to give
@oWO eacn 10 FOUND an endowment fund
OF 100000 to enable the association to
properly carry on its work, and Gen.
Drain stated that he expected to secure
the other nineteen donors before the end
showed that the association is without
depts and has a balance in the treasury.
Donors Of Trophies.
The United States Marine Corps, through
its commandment, Maj. Gen. Elliott, Of
Iered TO the association magnificent per-
manent trophy for an individual match of
N"Nhey SHolS coCl Of anu l,VUU yarOS
the money having been subscribed by the
omcers OF the corps Frank Stanton of
New York, and Atlantic Nine Michigan,
a life member of the association, offered a
handsome trophy for an individual match
at extreme long ranges, allowing the use
OF the telescope. The match will probably
be shot at LOO Or LOO yards and will
be the first Of its kind in this country
The following officers were elected for
the current year: President Gen James
"A U
rason Riggs of Maryland; second vice
president. Gen. A. B. Critchfield of Ohio;
third vice president. j. Amory Haskell
New York; treasurer, Maj. E.. l.. Isbell,
Connecticut: secretary, Lieut.. Albert s.
Jones, Washington. and additional mem
bers of the executive committee, Gen
William T. McGurrn of Michigan Gen.
j. c. r. Foster of Florida, Col. Thomas
Talbot of Massachusetts and Gen. w. P.
Hail. U.SA.
Transfer of Matches.
On motion of Gen. Critchfeld the execu-
tive committee was directed to consider.
and if deemed practicable and advisable.
to prepare plans for the transfer of all
matches, organizations and other things
now done by the National Rifle Associa-
ton TO the national board for the pro-
motion of rifle practice, and report at the
next annual meeting Of the board.
The board went on record. on motion of
Col. Miller, In 1aSOr OF all expenses OF
teams participating in the national match
being paid by the government
The report of Lieut. Albert s. Jones,
secretary of the association. shows a total
membership of twenty-nine state assOcia-
tions. seventy-nine regiments. thirty nine
separate military organizations. seventy
two rife clubs, fifteen college clubs and
twenty nine schoolboy clubs, being an in
crease for the year of nine state associa-
lions. twenty-five regiments, twelve sepa-
rate military organizations. thirteen rifle
clubs ten college clubs and nineteen sepa-
rate clubs.
Victory Of American Team.
Lieut. Jones refers in his report to the
victory of the American team in the
Olympic matches and to that of the I'd
Washington Infantry over the Duke of
Connaughts Own Rifles at American
Lake. Wash. Invitations have been sent
to twenty countries to send teams to
the United States for an international
contest in September. 1909. A three
cornered miniature rifle match will be
shot during the winter with England
Australia and America as contestants
Among those who took part in the
discussions yesterday were Gen. William
F. Hall. U.S.A.; Gen. A b. Critchfield
Ohio; Gen. A. c. Kelley. adjutant gen.
eral Colorado; Gen. William T. McCur-
rim adjutant general. Michigan: Gen
George H. Harries. District of Column
bia Gen. B. w. Spencer, New Jersey:
Gen Arthur Fridge. adtutant general.
Mississippi: Gen. James A. Drain. Dis