davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-08-06
ressmen Who Have Sent Their Sons

within the next year. What they have
felt, other fathers and mothers Will
feel And on whether they face 1t as
bravely as have these men, who have
given their sons, and sacrifice with the
same Willingness largely depends the
success of the war. For, even though
the draft take SON regardless of his
parents wishes, his parents attitude
Will mean much to his fighting spirit,
to his bravery and his power to endure
hardships when he goes away to battle
for the land of his birth.
with this fact in MIND, several repre-
sentatives whose sons already are in
the army or the navy or are preparing
for one branch of the service have told
something of their boys, the circum-
stances surrounding their proffer OF
services and the parental emotions they
experienced when Johnnie went march
ing away.
When man gives his only two sons
to his country he certainly should have
first place in any story regarding a sac
rifce for war. And that is why Repre-
sentative Mark r. Bacon of Wyandotte
Mich, takes first place here. His two
boys. Milton E., twenty-one years old
and John B. F.. twenty-five years otd.
have signified their willingness to fight
and now are training for entrance into
Uncle Sans service.
If ever two boys had cause for not
entering the service. they did. Their
father is wealthy manufacturer, and
they might have remained behind, en-
Joyed the luxuries of life. and. possibly,
escaped the draft. They chose the oppo-
site course shortly after 1t became ap-
parent that there was to be war. John,
who is in training for the Officers Re-
serve Corps, was employed as a chemist
in plant near Pittsburgh. and was ad-
vancing rapidly He had gone there de-
liberately to learn If there was any
thing to him." Then he decided to try
for entrance to the army. Throwing up
his place. he hied for a training camp.
Milton wants to be an aviator. Ever
since he saw an aeroplane at San Diego
several years ago. his father said. he
has wanted to fly. And now he is flying
In school preparatory to entering the
army flying corps. He was sopho-
more at Yale, of which school his
brother is graduate. when the war
broke out.
"Of course, I didn't want them to CO."
Mr.. Bacon remarked briefly, in discuss
ing their departure, but they were anx-
ious to enlist, and. naturally. 1 made no
objection"
Speaker Clark, whose son, Bennett
Is in training at Fort Myer. expressed
my sentiments here on the floor" Rep
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-08-06

he saw his father, who was a captain in
the Spanish-American war. march
away
Being a soldier, the son and the
grandson of a soldier, young Greene
is not long on words about his fighting
81 have gone" was the word he sent
home last summer, when, as q member
of the Yale artillery, he was sworn into
the federal service for duty on the
Mexican border. His parents have
seen little OF him since then.
II was willing that my boy should
go; he would have had to go anyhow"
Representative Taylor of Colorado re-
marked philosophically, in speaking of
his son. Edward T., jr., going to the
officers Reserve Corps training camp.
Mr.. Taylor had an opportunity to
send his son to West Point, but not
desiring him to follow a military ca
reer, he did not accept it. The day
war was declared, however, the boy
began making arrangements to go. and
his father did not object. Early in
life the representative had a desire
himself to go to West Point He tried
in competitive examination with fifty
six other boys at Leavenworth, Kan,
and Brig. Gen. Joseph Il. Kuhn, then
Joe" Kuhn, beat him out.
If you want to make Democratic
Leader Kitchin fighting mad just call
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-08-06

records lost at that time have never been
replaced. So when war was declared
Secretary Lane was quick to realize the
Importance of safeguarding his buildings
and was more than ready to rely upon
the members of the Home Club Rifle Club
to do the work.
or greatest Importance in connection
with the action being taken by the civil
that they all know how to shoot: every
member affiliated with the N. r. A. Is
said to be as good a shot as the average
private in the army or navy.
X X
Rifle shooting is not "pastime" which
appeals to those not having a serious in
tention. For the most part its devotees
are business men who from sheer love of
rife shooting are willing to travel several
miles from town to the range, men, who,
for the sake of the smell of the powder,
are willing to overcome the obstacles
surrounding the establishment of full
charge range, free from any chance of do
Ing damage to property or persons by
bullet Not only can every man who has
taken the trouble to join rifle club, or
the N. r. A., as an individual member,
shoot as well as the average private, but
at least go per cent are marksmen or bet
ter
tional Rifle Association awards lapel
buttons to those qualifying as marks
men, sharpshooters or experts. Two
courses of fire may be shot in winning
these decorations-one modified army
course, the other n modification of the
course used in the navy. That means
that men who have won honors as n. r.
A. members can enter the army or navy
as experienced shots and not have to
"unlearn all they ever knew"
Twenty shots slow fire and the same
number rapid fire, with total possible
score of 200, is called for in the modi-
fed navy course. In both slow and
rapid fire five shots each are fired prone,
kneeling, squatting and standing. To
gain the marksman standing a score of
$50 is necessary, with seventy five
points won in rapid fire. To become a
sharpshooter a similar score only Is
necessary the difference being in the
distance at which slow fire is shot, as
we'll as the requirements as regards
position. For rapid fire skirmish run
is substituted, also consisting of twenty
shots.
Instead of firing at 200 yards, as is
done in the marksman course. he who
would win distinction as an expert rifle
man must shoot from 500 yards in both
slow and rapid fire. In rapid fire the
shooter has to change position with
each shot. Forty shots comprise the
entire course for experts. with a score
of lao necessary out of possible 200.
In the modified army course the same
course of fire is used for all classes, the
score determining the qualification to
which the shooter is entitled. Thirty
shots are fired, ten at 900 yards, ten at
500 and ten at 500 yards; all shots slow
fire, prone position. Twenty shots are
required in rapid fire at 200 and 800
yards. For qualification as a marksman,
out of a possible $50 it is necessary to
score 100; for sharpshooter, 100, and for
expert, 210.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-08-06

says he does not know why he ever
was placed on the committee, but he
works, and works hard, and that might
be one explanation.
One of 243 members of a certain sec
tion of the Pennsylvania National
Guard selected for training for the
of Representative Temple of Pennsyl-
vania. He had four years service in
the guard and recently was on the
Mexican border.
IT am not particular to see the boy
exposed to danger" his father said,
but I didn't want to see him be a
Stacker Hence, when the time came
for him to go, couldn't object"
Some day, over in France, when Gen.
Pershing gets homesicls and wants to
talk with some of TIE boys about the
yesteryear, the chances are he will
summon Capt. NJ. c. Shallenberger son
of Representative Shallenberger of Ne
braska, and gas while with him. For,
be it known, Shallenberger the younger
is one of the original members of Per-
shing's Rifles, former organization of
the University OF Nebraska, where
Pershing was military instructor and
young Shallenberger was student.
After graduation from college, Shall
lenberger Joined the National Guard,
and frequently went about the country
shooting at prize events. He was
crack shot. and stands high in National
Guard circles. He also is a famous polo
player. Latterly he was in Mexico, and
of recent date sailed for somewhere in
the war zone.
Representative Shallenberger is rath-
er glad. he says, inasmuch as the boy
had to go to war, that he went among
the first.
II didn't want my boy to be a SOL
der" Shallenberger said, but wasn't
the kind that would declare I didn't
raise him to be one. I wanted him to
be lawyer, there being none in, the
family. But when he drifted into army
life I certainly put no stone in his
way.
Nov that he Is going to see service
presume he Is. because I
heard from him recently that he would
leave soon-I am. glad he is going
across early The first troops abroad,
in my opinion, will get the best possi-
BILE training, while later 1t may be nee
essary to throw the boys into the fight
ing without such thorough prepara-
tion."
Representative Shallenberger was
greatly opposed to the selective draft
bill in the House. He made n stirring
speech against it and part of the time
conducted the fight for the Dent volun-
teer bill.
Somewhere on the high seas is Colin
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-08-06

him a pacifist. A lot of folks do that,
at long range, and get away with It.
He isn't a pacifist, though he fought
the present war, and he wants folks to
know it.
1t was natural, therefore. when his
boy, Mills, went to war, that Mr..
Kitchin approved the step.
"Kick?' he inquired, laughing loudly.
IT should say not. That boy comes
from fighting stock"
Young Kitchin and c. H. England, the
representatives. clerk, slipped one over
on the father when 1t came to making
preparations for the young man to
enter the army, even though they
knew he would approve. They made
all arrangements to get young Kitchin
Into the Fort Myer training camp and
then apprised the father of their steps
He laughed.
Mills Kitchin is twenty-five years old.
He was graduated from the University
of North Carolina and practiced law
and edited a newspaper before he went
into training for the army.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-08-06

Olympic Rife and Revolver Club of
San Francisco, one of the largest shoot
ing organizations on the Pacific coast
that many of the members, including
some of the best shots in the west,
have enlisted in the army and navy
Down in Texas the Pecos City Rifle
Club, a few days after the declaration
of war, held n mass meeting. The city
was divided into wards and every able
bodied man in the city was enrolled
ping a drillground and acting as in
structor.
At about the same time the Pecos
City Club was thus employed the men
of the Lamar (Col.) Rifle Club were
asking themselves what they could do
to help their country. They found
their answer in the holding of a patri-
otic rally, aided by city officials. Start
ing with n parade, the rally ended with
huge mass meeting, at which the
purposes of the army and navy and
the duty of the citizen to his country
were set forth The club members fol-
lowed this up by taking a military CEN
were willing to enlist at once, with
their previous military experience, and
also those ready to serve at such time
as their services were vitality needed
And then the Rife Club boys under
took the task of teaching all those po-
tential recruits the use of the rifle. The
result of this was that in the eight
days which followed fifty-seven of the
recruits out of the many who enlisted
were accepted and sworn into the
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-08-06

Mountain Rife Club and father of the
rif1emen's movement in Montana. Not
only is he one of the best target shots
in America, but a big game hunter as
well. At the opening of the Spanish
war he raised a company of cavalry.
k*
Many of the best known rife shots of
the country have offered their services
as individuals, not waiting for the or
carnations to which they belong to
oHer theirs as a whole. From Alabama
came an offer from T. X. Lee, one of the
pest Known civilian shots in the country
today "Tack-hole" Lee. as he is known
among the shooting fraternity, is not
only the holder of many worlds records
Tor rifle shooting, but recently won the
lnterclub civilian gallery competition
staged by the National Rife Associa-
lon. Mr.. Lee made the high individual
score 1893 out of possible 1000, which
incidentally is the second time he has
made that score, firing ten matches of
twenty shots each The competition con-
sisted of one match each week for ten
weeks. Even more recently Mr.. Lee
scored ninety-eight consecutive bulls
eyes, shooting prone. This feat, which
required nearly two hours was done at
distance of seventy-ive feet, the bulls
eye being a one-third of an inch circle
Mr.. Lee is a member of the Birmingham
Athletic Rifle Club and Revolver Asso-
citation.
Capt Herbert Mcbride of Indianapolis,
Ind, member of the N. r. A., Is an
other OF the best known shots in the
United States. He was one of the first
100000 troops sent across by Canada,
having enlisted as a private. He be-
came known as a machine gun expert
winning two French and one British
medals, as we'll as the rank of captain
He has just returned to the United
states to offer his services to his own
country.
Let him who doubts the ability of the
civilian rifleman to render aid to his gov
ernment seek entrance into any of the
buildings belonging to the Department of
the Interior. Uniformed in khaki, stand
Ing motionless at the entrance, with rife
at rest, stands member of the Home
Club Rifle Nub. Ono of the first depart
ments after the War. State and Navy, to
refuse admittance to all save those on
necessary business, the Department of
the Interior gave to the members of her
civilian rifle club the task of guarding her
doors. Similar duty is now being per-
formed by the rifle club of the Treasury
Depart 1ent.
No better example of the spirit of the
civilian rifiemen of the country is to be
found than that set by the Home Club
Rifle Club. Weeks before war was de-
clared all plans had been made and per-
fected, and simultaneously with the sign
Ing of the war declaration the guard went
on duty. Nor was it merely the enthusi-
asm of its members which prompted the
action. for Secretary Lane stands squarely
behind their work. All the men forming
the guard are clerks in the department
and have been relieved from clerical work
to perform guard duty, three shifts
guarding the patent office day and night
The patent office was destroyed by fire
after the battle of Bladensburg, when
the British marched on the capital and
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-08-06

resentative Gordon of Ohio, whose son,
Walter Scott. is in training for the
Officers Reserve Corps, said. He said
that his son wanted to enlist and that
he agreed and that he would not have
1t any other way.
MY boy went to Johns Hopkins Uni
versity for four years. After that he
entered Kenyon College. He had been
there two years when the war broke
out. Then he wanted to enlist and
helped him all l could.
This was my view of the situation.
1 did not want him to go to war, of
course. No man wants to see his son
in danger. But we are az war with
a great power. We need to combat
that power our best-trained men.
If my boy is trained-as he is, in mill
tary tactics-it is his duty to go and
do his best. and 1t certainly is not
my duty to try to discourage him.
THAT is why my boy is trying out
for the army He talked some of GO
ing on a submarine chaser, but L dis
suaded him from that. He knows mill
tary tactics and he should give the
best he has to his country"
Representative Gordon, by the way
Is one OF the real fighters of the House
himself. A member of the military af-
fairs committee, he is eagerly, earnest
ly working on military problems at all
times. In self-deprecating way he
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-08-06
A Sneer.

NORMAN DE A. WHITEHoUsE.
IN chairman of the New York state
suffrage party, said in Newport of the
recent Rhode Island victory:
Between all factions a more ami
able spirit will now prevail. In the
past the spirit one encountered was
like that which was shown to the sum-
mer girl.
This girl, delighted with the sea-
shore trip that lay before her, said,
with a giggle:
eff while I'm away get ten pro-
posals that will be tender, won't it?'
"Yes,' said her disillusioned married
sister, and If you get one proposal it
will be a wonder"
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-08-06

wiae undesirable, Each one. however, is capable
OF doing something.
If it IS desired we can furnish twenty or
more expert rihemen who be used to train
recruits in the Of the army rifle.
III you can use any of our men please feel
free TO command.
Yours truly,
c. G. CRossMAN. President.
To quote other letters would be to
repeat the same spirit, almost the
same words. From the Atlantic to the
Pacific, from Maine to Florida, has
come word that the men to whom Uncle
Sam has loaned rifles want to "do
something for the country" and that
the President is to feel free to COM
mand."
But the methods taken by many of
the clubs differ. From the Greater
Omaha Rife and Revolver Club word
was sent to President Wilson that they
were organizing complete regiment
of volunteers for foreign service, to
be at his disposal. From Detroit, Mich,
came word, through DR.. S. E. Sanderson,
president of the Michigan State Rife
that all ranges and equip
ment controlled by that association, to-
gether with the services of many ex-
pert rihemen, were at the command of
the government. At meeting of the
Marion, Ohio, Rife Club, that body was
rendered to the President, ito be used
IN any way the President sees fit" The
Harrisburg. Pa, Rife Club. among the
largest In the country, also rendered
It's services.
Word has been received from the
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-08-06

Campbell, an enlisted man, son of Rep
resentative Campbell of Kansas, a lad
nineteen years old. His father doesn't
know just where he is, but, wherever
he is. his fathers heart is with him and
he wants him to fight with all his
might for the country.
I'm glad that as long as he was de-
termined to go he went without being
drafted" Mr.. Campbell said There
isn't much any one can say when his
boy wants to go to war. He told his
mother and me one night that he was
going. So we discussed 1t pro and con
and the next morning we went to the
train with him and he went away. It's
mighty serious thing, and you feel
serious, tell you, when your boy goes
away"
\
stick with the job, now that you're
In 1t. even If you come out with nothing
but a corporaPs warrant" Representa-
tive Greene of Vermont wrote his boy
Richard, who is at Plattsburg training
for the Officers Corps.
Fighting comes naturally to young
Greene. His father and grandfather be-
fore him fought for their flag. The boy
probably remembers how as a little tad
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-08-06
Warped Morals.

A day: day '
Those Russian revolutionary social
lists who ask for peace with Germany
peace with kaiserism and autocracy at
the allies expense-have warped NOR
ais.
They're as bad as the husband whose
wife said:
Cook has burned the bacon, dear.
She's so young and inexperienced Will
you be satisfied with a kiss for break
fast?"
"'Sure,' said the man. Call her In"
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-08-06

service. of their country. Lamar num-
bers about 5000 inhabitants.
A rifle club of men just past military
age is being organized at. Vandergrift,
Pa with the object of educating in
marksmanship all men who can be in
duced to join, and the performance of
duties as n home guard.
The term 'home guard" has spread
throughout the United States. No COM
munity too tiny nor city too vast but
what there comes word that the men
who are too old to do their bit" at the
front are preparing to do the work
which will be found for those forced
to stay behind. To give n roster of
the towns and cities in which home
guard had been organized would be TO
press into service the postal guide, for
legion are their names.
In Montana alone every rifle club of
the state has come together, number
ing some 1900 shots, for purposes of
home guard work for the men past
military age. At their head is Capt. d.
Gay Stivers, president of the Rocky
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-08-06
Special Correspondence

WASHINGTON, D. c., 1917.
~ LACKER fathers are unknown in
S the House of Representatives.
n Men who first voted for war
W. on Germany are backing up
their votes with sacrifices of their own
flesh and blood. Sacrificing it will
ingly, too, though it breaks their
hearts. because they feel there is moth
ing else for them to do in this, the
country's gravest hour of peril.
Almost score of representatives
already have given their sons to the
service of the army or the navy. Many
more have boys who are planning to
go TO the front or on the seas with the
fleet
OF the total number who have given
their boys to the colors not one today
says he is sorry. Without exception,
of course they dislike to see them go,
but when the crucial moment came
when the son asked for his parents
final word, none of the representatives
failed his country's flag.
The test to which these representa-
tives have been put is one which will
be repeated in many American homes
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-08-06

Special Correspondence
WASHINGTON. D. c.. 1917.
01 7HEN, during piping time of
NAH peace" the United States is
WAY sued to civilians the Krag
" rifle, retired as obsolete by
the advent of the Springfield. the seed
of a practical preparedness, which is
now being harvested a thousand fold,
was sown.
At the time the issuance of the rifles
was sanctioned by Congress-, which
placed within reach of every able-bod-
led citizen a service rifle and 120 car
tridges for practice every year, many
cynics asked: What good will 1t do?
What Will the government receive in
return?"
America has been a participant in the
world war only three months. Yet al
ready is the answer apparent in these
facts.
X x
Through the issuance of the obsolete
Krag, there are now in the United States
more than 100 900 men, many of military
age who are more proficient with the
service arm than is the average recruit
at the end of six months training. Many
of them are not only marksmen, but quail
fled sharpshooters and expert rlfiemen,
fully equipped to step out as practical
fighting men, learned in the art of
straight shooting, or, what is far more
important from a military standpoint,
equipped to become instructors in any
schools of musketry the War Department
may establish.
similar situation existed in England
in August, 1914. A few months after the
war practically every civilian rifleman in
the empire was doing a Bit of far more
valuable service than what he could have
accomplished as private in the ranks,
for England Immediately availed herself
of the many civilian ranges, installed
thereon corps of instructors drawn from
civilian ranks and with this machinery be-
gan at once to graduate trained marks
men into her foreign trenches.
But while this fact alone is of the ut
most Importance, the rifle club members
of the country, while waiting for the gov
ernment to outline the part they will ul-
timately play in the great conflict, have
not been idle.
Home guards" have sprung into
being over night as a result of the eff
forts of rifle clubs. Corps Of expert
enced marksmen have volunteered as
guards to public buildings throughout
the country, notably at the United
States Department of the Interior at
Washington.
Recruiting drives and patriotic rail-
lies have been engineered, and ranges