Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-04-05
COL. HALL CITES
ATLANT IA RIOTS
IN MILITIA PLEA
Calls Upon Business Men to Rally
to Support of Fast DwindIing
Fifth Regiment.
TROOPS PROVED WORTH"
"When Atlanta Needs Military
Force 1t Needs 1t Mighty
Bad" Says Officer.

The fight to retain the Fifth Regi-
ment of the Georgia National Guard
in Atlanta will be continued with re-
newed vigor following the enthusi-
astic Endorsement given the move
ment by a number of prominent bust
ness men. The Chamber of Com
merce, working with a committee
named by the militia authorities, has
taken the matter in hand and intends
doing everything in its power to pre-
vent the disbanding Of the regiment
through lack Of support by the city.
| Right now the companies have less
than their normal quota of men, and
the expiration Of a few more enlist
ments will result in the disbanding
of the Fifth, leaving Atlanta without
military protection.
Colonel Orville H. Hall commands
of the Fifth, issued a statement Sa.-
urday night in which he reviewed the
work of the Fifth and asked the peo-
pie of Atlanta for their support. He
said:
BY COL. ORVILLE HALL.
Atlanta is the only city south of
Baltimore which has full regiment
of militia. This is a distinction, but
II Is not Of this that want to talk.
l want to show the business men of
Atlanta that from purely cold
blooded business standpoint there is
no better investment they can make
than to encourage their employees TO
belong TO the militia.
Cites Riot as Reason.
The value Of the militia in At
lanta Is not theoretical 1t was prov
en- in the time of the big riot. The
presence Of regiment of militia IN
Atlanta, investigation shows is taken
into consideration when big outside
insurance companies or capitalists IN
vest great sums in Atlanta
The only thing that Atlanta has TO
subscribe to keep this regiment in
tact is the paltry $1,000 from the city
and the time which employers permi,
their men to have off for special duty
and for the annual ten days in camp.
IN most instances the ten days camp
is accepted by the employee as his va
cation time.
The only time when man is ac-
tually called from his work is for two
or three parades and for very occa-
sional emergency duty in time of riot
or for the protection Of prisoners.
During the past year | recall only
three occasions when the men were
specially called on-one for the
Memorial Day parade. another for the
Corn Show parade and another was
for the protection of the courts at the
trial at Cummings. The Memorial
Day parade and Corn Show brought
hundreds Of out of-town visitors to
Atlanta who patronize Atlanta stores
, and Atlanta industries.
Plans Big Club.
81 am confident that business men
In Atlanta who have made II difficult
for their employees to be members Of
the militia has not stopped to take
these facts into consideration. II the
militia asked that the men be given
regular time off for drill every week
or every month, it would be a differ
ent proposition, but the men are will
ing to use their own time at night for
the work.
1--WE are trying more and more %
make our armory a high class club
but minus the liquor features, mind
you-apd we hope eventually to in
stall more adequate baths. swim
ming pool. gymnasium and reading
room. With what we already have, l
believe any young man is made bet
ter and more valuable employee by
the training he gets in the militia. 1t
inculcates ideas Of soldierly obedience
in him. 1t makes him red blooded
and healthy.
- want the business men OF Attain
ia to think about this proposition.
want them to remember that when
they do need the militia, they need It
mighty bad"