The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-08-23
Mrs Marye standing at left.

soon be exhausted, however and pro-
vision must be made for the further
manufacture of Krag ammunition at
the Frankford arsenal If the rifle
club movement is to be encouraged.
Promoting Clubs.
When the new law went into eft
feet. the organization Of these clubs
Rifle Association of America. which
had already done considerable work
in the promotion OF rife training
among the citizens Of the country,
and the war department since that
time has equipped 1877 clubs with
1,O16 rifles and issued to them for
practice 643, $50 rounds of ammuni-
ton. In addition to this, there has
been 915 rifles and 470 carbines.
besides $3.50 cartridges issued to
school cadet corps. the same law
having authorized such issue.
Rifle training of citizens in this
country had become almost an un-
known factor up to about ten years
ago. when the National Rifle Associa-
ton of America began serious pro-
paganda for revival of the sport,
having in view the benefit which
would be derived from the standpoint
of national defense. The association
appealed to prominent men of the
land for cooperation and every ma
teria1 assistance from ex-Presfde
Roosevelt and Taft, ex-senator Root,
ex-Secretary OF the Navy Meyers.
Colonel Robert NJ. Thompson. ex-
Secretaries Of War Dickinson and
Wright, Robert Bacon, Seth Low,
Herbert 8. Hadley. John r. Drexel,
George Westinghouse, Judge E. 81.
Gary, and many other prominent
;nent of the country. In view Of the
present almost universal demand for
a better state Of preparation. the
association Is agNSn appealing for aid
to expend its work. especially among
the schools and colleges. Its plans
include modified Swiss system Of
rife training for the young men Of
the country.
Swiss System Discussed.
There has been considerable dis
cussion in the newspapers regard |
Ing the Swiss system OF training for |
national defense and some of our
foremost military writers have ad, [
vocated the adoption Of this system
overlooking the fact that the condl. I
tons In the United States are far
Inherent from those In the little old
republic among the Alps.
sixteen years of age to forty-five % /
issued an army rife, ammunition
and equipment which he takes to his
home and keeps subject to q call
from his country to report to the
co1ors. Can you imagine for minute
how such law would work out in
this country? What great boon
1t would be to the I. w. w. and
similar trouble making organizationsI
Of men OF foreign birth
who cannot understand our system
Of Democratic government. Further
more. the fundamental principle oil
the Swiss system is rife training and
every male In the republic. unless dis.
qualified by disability. must flre hts
number of cartridges every
year. This shooting is principally
done on Sunday. Even If we mad
ranges available in this country, in j
no country, no where except In the
liberal minded West would the men
be allowed to engage In rife shooting
on Sunday, although golf, baseball,
and such sports are allowed full
sway.
Will Not Work.
No-the Swiss system would never
work In this free republic. National
ism hand in hand with patriotism isI
not cultivated to such an extent in
the United States as 1t is in the eoun-
4,{a- 30 s.lyUIA an man horn y