The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-08-09
JOIN THE HOME GUARDS

T.
Do you realize that the United
States is at war? That there are in
our midst hundreds of thousands of
alien enemies, some of them danger
Gus spies. and that in addition to alien
enemies there are native persons who
for monetary considerations or other
reasons are traitors to the land OF
their birth?
our nation is at war with a strong
and crafty enemy, one full OF re-
sources, and possessing powerful en-
gines of destruction. 1t will not do for
us to underestimate the magnitude
of the conflict in which this country
is now engaged The struggle will not
be confined to the battlefields of Eu-
rope alone. 1t behoOVes us to be ever
watchful at home, to guard against
the hidden dangers in our midst. We
have traitors amongst US who Will at
tempt to wreck and burn property, de-
strOy food StuffS, and pollute the wa
ter supplies
Our nation has called its young
manhood to service, to give their lives,
if necessary, to make the world safe
for democracy.
The Topeka home guards have been
organized under a plan outlined by the
national council of defense and in
dorsed by the Kansas council of de-
feEse and approved by the adjutant
general and by the governor of the
fective strength to protect our city
from any menace lurking within it's
borders, and to assist the city and
county officers in protecting the per-
sons and property of our citizens.
make a special appeal to those who
are not going to the front, especially
to the young men who are exempted
by the draft boards. to join US, and
do their bit" In so doing they will
fulfill in most important sense, both
civic and national duty. He who
is enrolled therein should esteem
membership in the home guards a
most important and dignified priyi-
lege.
Let US who have enrolled be among
the first to respond to every need of
FOUR city, state and nation, let US be
first in relief work for the unfortunate
and first in the protection and defense
of society.
We have many of the first people of
the city already enrolled. Five full
squads turned out to drill Tuesday eve
ming in the state house grounds under
the instruction of Art Hargis, recently
from the officers training camp at
Fort Riley. Men from all classes of
society were there to do their bit
Business men. newspaper men, artists,
county officials, machinists, clerks
students, lawyers, laborers, retired
farmers, ex-city officials, among
them j. B. Billiard, and others. Topeka
and Shawnee county should have
thousand members in their home
guard. There should be eight or ten
companies. Just realize the protec-
ton afforded by one thousand men
well drilled, ready to protect our COM
munity and uphold the ideas of our
land
Should it be necessary to call out
the home guard to do guard duty, if
we were thousand strong, no one
man would have to sacrifice from his
business or calling more than four
hours a week for such duty, or more
than twenty-four hours a month.
We drill twice a week-Tuesday and
Thursday evenings. We assemble at
the north steps of the state house at
1880 p. m. Our next drill will be
on Thursday Every male citizen of
Shawnee county of good character
and over 6 years of age is eligible for
membership. We have no maximum
age limit. Come and join us.
Aside from the benefits to be OBJ
tanned from the drills, the physical
exercises that we have for about nalf
an hour at each meeting will be found
to be beneficial to all men, regard less
of their age.
Enrollments may be made at the
following places:
Art Hargis, 935 Kansas Ave.
Tom Powell, 532 Kansas Ave
E. A. Firner, 112 East Sixth St
Harry A. Hardy, ia East Fifth st.
T. D. Humphreys, sol Jackson St.
T D. HUMPHREYS.
President Topeka Home Guards
Crawford Building. sol Jackson