South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-08-25
HOME GUARD IS
ABOUT FINISHED
Mass Meeting at Century Re-
suits in Several New
Members.

Of the ST Joseph county nome
guards was held last night in the
Century theater. and many addition
al applications for mem bership were
received, although great many
who attended had already turned in
their applications. The attendance.
however. was greatly reduced by the
disagreeable weather. The Wooden
Co. band enlivened the air with pa
triotic music before the meeting.
NJ w. Mix. vice chairman OF the
county council Of defense. presided
and first introduced Rev. ]. A. Bur
nett. d. D., president Of tho local
chapter Of the Red Cross DR.. Bur-
nett called attention 20 tho good
work that has been and Is being
done by the local organization. OF
which he is the head. as we'll a. tho
other branches of the organization
throughout the country. He paid "A
glowing tribute 70 the women OF the
| city who are faithfully and earnestly
giving their time and labor 90 sew
| ing for the Red Cross. Since that
work had been started by the ladies,
who meet Wednesday, Thursday and
Friday afternoons each week. he
said ne had paid a visit 20 the quar-
/ tiers at the city hall and was greatly
{ pleased with the spirit IN which the
women had taken hold OF tho work,
The speaker cited the importance
OF the home guard movement, stat
! ing that Il is the only thing left for
us 70 do since the withdrawal OF the
national guard. I'VE cannot tell
what the demands or obligations may
I be as a result OF their leaving" he
said I'VE may be called upon To
defend ourselves and homes, and
those who can DO their part in the
war in this way are rendering ar I'm
portant service 10 the community,
state and nation. Those who have
( been called IN the draft and rejected
| for some cause or other. and those
who must otherwise remain ut home
can do no more patriotic service
than TO join this organization, I APP
| peal 20 you in behalf OF the city and
county and our institutions 10 take
/ your part I'm defending them. / can't
understand a man whose whole be-
! ing doesn't respond 20 such an OPP
pOrtunity as this. We have our parts
to perform I'm this war. and there Ia
no better way 10 do II than 90 be-
come a member OF the home guard"
Charles Bingham was the next
I speaker 10 be introduced He said
there were two things that he was
1 glad 70 have a chance 10 say One
I is. that he had studied the question
OF the home guards and the more he
thought OF IL the more he realized
/ the Importance and necessity OF such
/ an organization. The national
guard is used a. a police guard In
times OF food. riots, great fires or
other disasters that are too large 10
/ be handled by the regular police
authorities, and il Is for the purpose
Of taking the place of the former
! organization that the home guards
are being formed. We are now con-
| fronted by the most acute and
! stressful times that this country has
ever had. and we are likely
I 20 be confronted with serious situa-
/ tons at home most any time since
I the leaving Of the national guard.
/ that could occur to require the serv-
I ices of such an organization. We
/ better be ready if the call should
come Even though we are never
called 10 service the mere existence
! of such an organization is absolutely
! necessary in these war times. The
Houston race riot Of yesterday is but
an example A military or semi
military organization such as this
may he needed at any time, and il
/ isn't fair 10 yourself, your city. your
state. or your country 20 allow such
condition 10 arise. Times of this
, kind demand some service from all.
There are some whose duty il is to
get into the army. and then there
are others whose duty il is TO re-
main at home. have been rejected
for military service and am willing
to do anything here that I can just
the same. There Is no question as TO
anyone not owing a duty 10 their
, country II is an honor. a duty and
a patriotic service as we'll 20 belong
20 an organization of this kind. To
those who are drafted. let me say
that by joining the home guards they
will be getting an experience before
called 10 the army that will be eX-
tremely valuable 20 them"
Majors Dennis and Calvert Of
South Bend were present and ex-
planned the various phases of the or
ganization. all OF which has been
published before. Mai. Dennis said
that the administers would receive
their first instructions next Monday
night. At the opening Of the latter's
( talk he made reference 70 point
brought out by Mr.. Bingham. who
stated he had heard a man speak
slightingly OF the home guards Mai
/ Dennis was very plain spoken in his
! opinion Of such a man, saying that
! that type OF man was AS low as a
/ snakes belly and not worthy OF the
! slightest respect from his fellow
! man He spoke OF the great physi-
/ cal benefits 20 be derived froal be-
! longing 20 any military organization.
and also explained that II il becomes
necessary for any company 10 be
called 10 active duty that they re-
ceive the same pay from the state