The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1915-06-29
UP STRONG
RIFLE RESERVE
No Flare of Trumpets, But Ma
tionaI Association Is Pro-
ducing the Results
(Press Service National Board To-
Promotion Of Rifle Practice.)

WnlIe the IeaOlnS military dOlIAoAA
ties of the country are all Of one &C
cord in urging Congress to provide
for a reserve to u established mill
tary forces, the National Rifle Asso-
citation of America is going ahead
without the flare Of trumpets or finan-
cial assistance from Congress in the
building up of a reserve in this coun-
try tha will be most efficient in that
it will be trained in 80 per cent OF
the requisites Of an efficient soldier;
that is. the ability to handle the rifle
and shoot straight. The National
Rifle Association is doing lis through
it's organization Of rifle clubs through
GU the country, especially among
civilians.
Movement Gets Impetus.
A great impetus to the movement
was given through the enactment OF
legislation at the last session Of Con-
gress authorizing the free issue OF
"Krag' rifles and ammunition to rifle
clubs under rules and regulations APP
proved by the Secretary Of Val. The
Secretary of War placed the organi-
zation of the clubs and distribution
Of the rifles in the hands Of the N.
r. A., which had an efficient organ
| zatiOn with secretaries in every State
| and was in close touch with the class
Of citizens whom it was desired to
| reach The splendid military feature
of this movement and one that will
add considerably to the national de-
lenses is that not only are citizens be-
ing organized into clubs and trained
in rifle shooting but the statistics show
that about 60 per cent Of the mem-
| bers of these clubs are eX-army and
l National 7 rHc on ca that thew q rn
not only keeping up their training
in rifle shooting but are already
| trained In other necessary attributes
| Of a soldier. All that is necessary for
| Congress to do to secure an efficient
reserve for the regular services and
one that would be along the lines
thu have proved SO efficient in
movement really broad and national
in it's scope by proper appropriations
for the building Of rifle ranges
throughout the country and the pur-
chase Of target supplies and other
paraphernalia for the carrying OF of
rifle training among citizens. When
this has been accomplished then will
President Wilson really see the con-
summation Of his desire to have a
"c~itizenry trained in the use Of arms"
Many New Clubs Organized.
Since the free Issue Of rifles and am
munition was authorized the National
Rife Association has organized 438
clubs. These clubs are not confined
to any particular locality but reach
from Maine to California, It Is a
fact however that the most success
ful ones are organized in the West
where there are better facilities for
the acquiring Of ranges and where the
class Of young men who compose the
membership Of the Western clubs are
not that class to whom golf and tennis
appeals. A great aid also to success
in these Western clubs is their being
allowed to do their training on Sun
day. A great many of these clubs
have been organized in fraternal and
patriotic societies. At the present
time there axe organized and affiliated
with the N. r. A. 438 clubs with a
membership Of 1s.ez$.
One feature of this movement has
: been the organization of numerous
! clubs by the employees Of large indus
= trial corporations. In some cases the
, employers themselves have donated
e the land and assisted in the construc.
. ton OF the ranges believing undoubt-
. edly that it was better to have thei,
men engaged in the healthy open al,
: sport OF rifle shooting than decreas.
l ing their efficiency by loafng AROUND
corner saloons.
Work Well Systematized.
e Inc Military Committees of tn,
senate and House as we'll as the Gen
eral Staff Of the Army might well TAX
INTO consideration the work that &
d being done along these lines whe1
e drawing up their plans for a resery,
Tor u army. The work done b,
! these clubs is thoroughly systema
t!zed n would need little reorganiza
h ton TO bring them in line for practi
1 ~ ~
Y. New York and PENNSYLVANIA lea,
le Tor first place in the number of club
81 each having 80, but New York out
ID ranks Pennsylvania in club member
snip. 1857 to 1547. There are one o
% more clubs in all the States with tn
exception of Maryland and Delaware
" The number Of clubs and their men.
le ship by States follows.