The Washington herald., 1909-11-14

The negro battalion OF the Washington
High School Cadets will shoot on the
Congress Heights Range of the Ma
tional Guard OF the District OF Column
bia. next Saturday. There will be about
seventy-fve boys all told from both the
NJ and the Armstrong schools Lieut..
Col. James Z. Bell. retired, inspector OF
small arms practice, y. G. ID. C., VIII be
the executive officer. The shooting will
be under the auspices Of the National
Rife Association Of America The boys
viii use the gun with which they are
armed the Krag-Jorgensen model Of lSss'
and the fun service load. Several inter-
estlng events have been arranged, and the
shooting for the national marksmen's
reserve button issued by the War De-
partment win he one of the features OF
the shooting.
II the weather conditions on Satur-
day are such as 10 be unfavorable for
the holding Of the shoot, il Will be post
poned until Friday. November Is. When
the shoot of the schOOlbOys was held
week AFRO yesterday, many negro students
were present. but were unable 20 com
pete, owing 70 the large numbers con-
testing. Lieut. A. s. Jones' retired.
secretary OF the National Rife Associa-
ton. then decided TO have a separate day
for the negro students, with the result
OF obtaining the use Of the Congress
Heights range for November % or NO
vember IS
Owing 20 the tendency Of some of
Washington's business houses 10 dress
some of their employees In uniforms
closely resembling that Of the army. an
agitation has begun IN militia circles,
and finds an echo IN army and navy
quarters. TO have a law PASSED by Con
gress prohibiting it in the District OF
Columbia
During the present year the States
OF washington. Montana. and Oregon
have passed such a law. as have other
States In past years. In general, the
law OF each state provides that no one
except a member Of the army the navy.
the Reyenue-cutter Service. the For
est Service. and veterans and soldiers
homes shall wear a uniform, or any
part Of a uniform OF such services. or
resembling IT,. Disobedience entails a
heavy fine and Jail sentence.
These laws do not apply, however, 20
actors while In the performance Of their
profession on the stage in play where
military uniforms are necessary, nor do
they apply 20 members of the uniform
rank OF civic societies. parading or ia
their lodge rooms In time Of active
service Of any OF the named military
bodies. however. no member Of a civic or
ganizauou IS permitted 10 appear IN pub
| Tic in uniform.
The laws passed by Washington. Mon
tana. and Oregon were reproduced IN
/ circulars and sent out by the War De
partment 10 all posts and to all National
Guard organizations. If the agitation be-
gun here materializes, the War Depart
ment will give It's approval 20 the pas
sage OF such a law by Congress appiica-
BILE 20 the District OF Columbia
An example Of the misuse Of the uni
/ form has been received by the Bureau Of
! Navigation. Navy Department, in re-
port from Lieut. William Y. Tomb, Z. 5.
! y. in charge OF the naval recruiting sta
I ton 81 Denver. Colo. OF the arrest IN
that city by the local police Of man
who was making himself conspicuous,
and who was attired IN the uniform OF
an enlisted man OF the navy. This man
turned out 10 nave had no connection
whatever with the service but repre-
scented that he had purchased the uniform
| from a discharged bluejacket He was first
noticed in the procession which celebrated
President Tafrs visit 10 Denver. and on
other occasions attracted attention on
account OF his mlsbehavior. There was
no special charge under which the man
could be held. and there being no law in
that State which makes IL a punishable
/ onense 10 wear the uniform OF the milf
/ tary-naval service, the man was permitted
/ 20 20 HIS way. He could not even be adj
monished not TO wear the uniform. IN
CidentS OF this kind are constantly coming
TO the attention OF the naval authorities,
and each case emphasizes the need OF
/ legislation which shall protect the uni
! form from indiscriminate use, especially
as those who thus don II are most likely
| TO gain unfavOrable notice. and so reflect
| discreditably, however Unjustly, upon the
! service personnel
| Sergt. Louis c. Vogt. chief OF the first
section Of the First Battery, Field Ar
tinery OF the District militia, has applied