Arizona republican., 1915-07-04
BUILDING UP
 RESERVE ARMY
National Rifle Association Organizing Many New Clubs Throughout Coun- try Since Distribution of Krags Was Begun


 ties of the country are all of one ac- cord in urging congress- to provide for a reserve to our established mili- tary forces, the National Rifle As sociation of America is going ahead without the flare of trumpets or financial assistance from congress in the building up of a reserve in this country that will be most efficient. in that it will be trained in so Der cent. of the requisites of an efficient soldier; that is. the ability to handle the rifle and shoot straight.
 The association is doing this through it's organization of rifle clubs throughout the country, especially among civilians A great impetus to the movement was given through the enactment of legislation at the last session of congress authorizing the free issue of Krag rifles and ammU- milton to rifle clubs under rules and regulations approved by the secl etary of war The secretary of war placed the organization of the clubs and dis tribution of the rifles in the hands of the N R. A. which had an eff cient organization with secretaries in every state and was in close touch
  was desired to reach. The splendid military feature of this movement and one that will add considerably to the national defenses is that not only are citizens being organized into clubs and trained in rifle shooting. but the statistics show that about 50 per cent. of the members of these clubs are eN-army and National Guardsmen. 80 that they are not only keeping up their training in rifle shooting, but are already trained in other necessary attributes of a sol dier
 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 that have proved go efficient in Switzerland. is [ to make the rifle club movement really broad and natural in it's scope | by proper appropriations for the 1 building of rifle ranges throughout the country and the purchase of tar get supplies and other paraphernalIa for the carrying on Of rifle training among citizens. When this has been accomplished then will President Wilson really see the consummation of his desire to have d "citizenry trained in the use of arms
 Since the free issue of rifles and ammunition was authorized. the Ma tional Rifle Association has organ | ized 43S clubs. These clubs are not confined to any particular locality. but reach from Maine Go California | It is fact however. that the most successful ones are organized in the west, where there are better facilI
 ties for the acquiring of ranges and
 where the class of young men who compose the membership of the west
 ern 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 Sunday. A great many of these clubs have been organized in | fraternal and patriotic societies. At
 the present time there are organized and affiliated with the N. R. A. 43> clubs with a membership of 1G.62S 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 | the land and assisted in the con 1 struction of the rangeo. believing un-
 
 their men engaged in the healthy
 open-air sport of rifle shooting than | decreasing their efficiency by loafini
 around corner saloons. Recently, rifle clubs have been organized in the 1 United Shoe Machinery Co. the Springfield Telephone Co. the Good year Rubber Co. the Packard Auto mobile Co. the Willys- Overland Au- tomobile Co, the General Electric Co. and several others.
 The military committees of the sen ate and house as well as the gen cral staff of the army are expected to take into consideration the work that is being done along these lines when drawing up their plans for 9 reserve for our army. The work done by these clubs is thoroughly sys tematizsd and would need little re organization to bring them in line i for practical utilization as a reserve.
 New York and Pennsylvania lead for first place in the number of clubs. | each having 39. but New York out ra nks Pennsylvania in club mem 1 bership 1867 to 1547. There are one 1 or more clubs in all the states with | the exception of Mary land and Della ware. The number of clubs and thei. , membership by states follows:
 Alabama. clubs and 37 members; Alaska 1 club, 31 members Arizona | 12 clubs. 557 members; Arkansas clubs. 5O members: California 2I clubs. 795 members; Canal Zone , clubs. 27 members: Colorado, and l 2S2: Connecticut. ' and 3S+: District of Columbia. and 135: Florida, 2 and 127: Porto Rico. 1 and 27s Geor- Gia, 3 and 54 Hawaii, 2 and 52; Idaho. II and 254; Illinois. and 27O: Indiana. II and S11; Iowa, and "29; Kansas. 10 and 247: Kentucky. arf 244: Louisiana, 2 and S7; Maine l and S5; Massachusetts. 22 and SS1: Michigan, IS and 79i: Minnesota, x and 211; Missouri, and 241; Mon tana, 22 and s14; Nebraska, and 26G: Nevada. and 136; New Hamp- shire, and 222; New Jersey. and 177: New Mexico, and 2S0: New |