New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-30
Rebukes Association That
Dodged Question of
u. S. Control
O'Ryan Hears Own
Actions Censured
Convention Adjourned Be-
fore Soldier Guests Ar
rived; Protest Followed

Two thousand representatives of the
rsnk and file Of the National Guard
adopted without dissent yesterday and
with a shout of "aye," which threatened
inc roof of the list Regiment armory,
4 resolution declaring for universal
military training under exclusive Fed
eral control.
The meeting itself, the enthusiasm
and the resolution were all in the
nature Of rebuke TO the convention
Of the National Guard Association,
which had adjourned sine die two hours
before in the same place, and 20 Major
General John F. Organ, who had domi-
mated the convention.
The convention, just before adjourn
irg. had adopted a set of resolutions
favOring universal compulsory training,
but so worded as to dodge the issue of
scme haste before hearing from the
advocates of Federal control and de-
spite an arrangement by which these
advocates were TO address il in open
forum at o'clock yesterday afternoon.
The latter included Herbert /. Sat
terlee. former Assistant Secretary of
War; Colonel Willard l.. Fisk, Of the
7th Regiment; Major Francis G. Lam
don, of the Universal Service Commit
tee Of Veterans. National Guard and
Naval Militia Of New York; Captain
Herbert Barry. of Squadron A, and
other men Of prominence.
Mr.. Satterlee and his as ociates had
sent out 5000 post cards to officers and
men Of the National Guard, past and
present, inviting them to attend at >
o'clock and take part. But when these
officers and men arrived the convention
lad taken the action which they had
come to oppose and had passed into
history. Nevertheless, the meeting was
oiganized and proceeded TO business.
Organ Hears Straight Talk
General Organ, it was observed, took
seat with the rest and heard some
straight talk from Robert f. Eweli, a
first lieutenant in the 10Th Regiment.
II served for eight mon his on the
Mexican border" said Lieutenant
Evell, "and l know, and eve Y officer
and enlisted man knows, that a system
which made necessary the carving out
Of the Brownsville district OF az anti
fetal military sector, so that or major
general might have the chance to cxer-
else his rank. is wrong"
Cheers from almost every one among
his Two thousand auditors interrupted
the speaker. In a moment he continued:
II say every officer knows this, but
mean every officer who can submerge
his own personal interests and can bear
to see his own rank disappear in the
abolition OF an utterly wrong system"
Again the audience applauded, in the
midst Of which the young officer lef:
the platform and resumed his seat in
the hall. There were few present who
cid not recall that on the border last
fall General O'Ryan had ordered the
18th Regiment O. pass in review before
hin a second time because 1T had done
20 with its flags furled the first time.
and that following this humiliation all
The officers Of the regiment had re
signed
Misunderstanding. He Says
Adjutant General J. c. X. Foster, of
Florida, who had presided at the con-
'ention, remained behind 10 explain
that an early adjournment mad been
decided upon, not 20 choke of the ad
'ocsies Of Federal control, but TO per-
nit the delegates to hurry home TO
their commands. which had been or
oered 10 mobilize. lie made his cx-
plsnation in person 10 an informal
group comprising Mr.. Satterlee, Major
Landon and a number Of newspape
men and Junior officers. Remon-
siTances and counter explanations fol-
owed, until finally Mr. Satterlec de-
eioed 10 call the whole thing misnn-
Outstanding.
ne did so when ne had convened has
meeting, but there were harsher names
lor u in the private conversation OF
ms auditors. They felt tricked, aud
i1kec freely Of "steam-roller methods
and the politicians Of the Guard" wrc
we're afraid 20 lose their jobs They
spplauded every reference 20 Universal
framing under exclusive Federal con
ifoi," and booed the one apologist for
zoe resolutions passed by the cOnven-
hon and for General Organ, their
sgthor
Colonel Fisk Of he 7th struek'a re-
iponsiye chord when he said:
! love the Guard; ! love my regl-
mfnt ] am told that universal milf
AZ training and service mean the
epllerati0n Of the National Guard.
eont believe that - necessary; but II
Y - necessary, why should that be al
owed 70 stand in the way Of a broad
esemprehensiye military policy for the
United Ststeg7"