The Washington herald., 1911-01-12

The labor unions strongly oppose the
| instruction of rifle shooting Of school
| boys was made emphatic at the annual
meeting of the board of directors of the
National Rifle Association Of America
| last night at the New willard Hotel,
| when directors replied to charges that the
| instruction was fostering a spirit of mill
| tarism and qualifying young men to
shoot straight, who some day might use
the knowledge against striking union
men.
| The directors took the stand that this
work bears no military feature further
| than fitting young men to be efficient
| volunteers.
AS long as the policy in this country
is against a large standing army and
reliance upon volunteers to fight our
wars. some means. they declared. must
be taken to make the prospective volun-
teers partially efficient Statistics have
shown in the past, the directors assert
ed, that 20 per cent Of such volunteers
are young men under twenty-one years
of age.
They further replied to the charges of
the labor unions that rife shooting is a
sport deserving Of the consideration Of
all athletic school bodies on account of
its character building propensities which
incline the boy to good habits, makes
him self-reliant and manly in his bearing
and more physically able through the
outdoor life.
Adjutant generals of a score of States
representatives of the army, navy. Ma
rine Corps and civilian rifle associations
attended the meeting over which Lieut.
Gen. John C. Bates, L. S. A. retired,
president of the association. presided.
The report of Lieut.. Albert S. Jones,
secretary. showed a prosperous state of
affairs-all debts being paid, with a sur
plus on hand in the treasury. A large
increase also was reported in membership.
This membership now includes. state
branches, 30; National Guard regiments
affiliated, "a: civilian rifle clubs, 9S: COL
lege and university clubs, IS. and school
boy clubs, IS, making total of S93.
Will Promote Rifle Shooting.
Plans for the future promotion of rife
shooting in the public schools were dis
cussed, and the board went on record in
favor of establishing a large national
range near Washington. Resolutions were
adopted petitioning Congress to appropri-
oNc tLc iNSSSSsaS ~ No~SA eAc NOst
Of sending State teams to the national
matches each year. The object Of this
legislation is to equalize the burden of
expense which now falls upon the States
farthest away from the point where che
are held.
The proposition looking to the installa-
ton and management by the association
Of a model rife gallery in connection with
the headquarters OF the association in
received favorable consid-
Grafton. 1t was decided to incorporate in
the annual programme a new event. to
be known as the United States match,
provided a trophy can be secured This
match is designed for the purpose of
the superiority in rife
shooting between the four different
branches of Uncle Sans service, the
regular army, the navy. the Marine
Corps, and the organized military.
The offer of the United States Marine
Corps to trophy to be competed for by !
teams of enlisted men from the regular |
service and the National Guard of the !
different States was accepted. 1t also |
was voted to add a trophy to the cham |
oionship company match, and the execu- |
i've committee was authorized to take |
such action it deemed advisable for OBJ |
aiming such trophy. The secretary an
the acceptance Of a trophy for |
shooting, presented by |
of the Columbia University Rifle |
Team.
The new Officers elected for the coming year are
Is follows: Lieut. Gen. John C. Bates. U. s. A. |
etirei. president tre-electedi: Gen. C. r. Board
nan, first vice president, Wisconsin; Hon James
Dickinson. second vice president; Adj. Gen. Charles
iaither. third vice president; Gen. Carl A. Wagner.
Inspector general Of Michigan. treasurer; Lieut. Al
'ert S. Jones, secretary tre-eectedl.
Additional members Of the executive committee
iected are: Brig. Gen. James A. Drain. ordnance
ffcer, State of Washington: Col. Joseph Ganard.
fifteenth United States Cavalry; Gen. Elliott q.