Evening star., 1917-01-14
D. c. MEN WANT TOBE
At HOME march )
Are Rejoicing at Chairman Harper's
Efforts to Get Them Here for
Inauguration.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
DISTRICT NATIONAL GUARD CAMP
Campt Wilson. San Antonio, Tex, Jan.
uary 13.-The information that Robert
N. Harper, chairman Of the inaugural
committee. is making an effort to get
the District National Guard units back
to Washington in time to participate In
the inaugural parade has brought JOY
to the hearts of the militiamen from
the National Capital who are stationed
here. Everybody is hoping that he will
be successful in the undertaking and
that before long orders will be issued
for the Sd District Infantry and Troop
A, District Cavalry, to return home to
be mustered out of the federal service.
The District militiamen feel they
should be permitted to take part in the
great parade up Pennsylvania avenue
on March 5 since they have a closer
connection with the President of the
United States than any other militia
organization. The President Is their
comma nder in chief, he signs the COM
missions given their officers and they
constitute the home guard" of the
city, where the President makes his
residence during his term of office. The
militiamen point out that the success
or failure of a great demonstration in
the form of a parade following the
swearing in of the President depends
on the efforts of residents of Washing
ton who have volunteered to shoulder
the responsibility of such great un-
dertaking. and tina tthe District Of CO.
lumbia National Guard units should be
present to claim the important position
in the great line of marchers which
thev a lwavS have been accorded,
Feel They Have Done Their Share.
The District militiamen feel they have
done their bit" in the borderland and
think 1t is now time for them to be or
dered home so that they may resume
their civilian status again. The fact
that militia regiments are being re-
moved from the border to this camp for
no reason other than to keep full di-
vision of troops here indicates to them
that the services of militiamen on the
border no longer are needed. Gen.
Funston. commanding the Southern De-
partment, has announced that he pro-
poses to keep the force at this camp as
near to full division strength as posi-
BILE, and that to do SO regiments will be
brought from the border to replace any
that are ordered home from here. Re-
Gently a Minnesota regiment was
brought up from Llano Grande 70 oc-
cupy the site vacated by one OF the
Wisconsin regiments which was or
dered home.
Having made quite a name for them
selves in San Antonio as singers, Dis
trict militiamen are now turning their
attention to dancing. The Sd District
Infantry Quartet has made such hit
with its singing that its services are
constantly in demand at entertainments
of various kinds and now 1t looks as
il laurels also are to be won In the art
of dancing. AZ a. dance held by
dancing academy of San Antonio sew
eral nights ago II. 8. Kopp Of Company
E and Henry D. Smith Of the Machine
Gun Company Of the Sd District In
fantry gave an exhibition of fox trot-
ting and other dance steps which won
great applause for them. They have
received scores OF requests for instruc-
tion in some Of the steps which they
presented and arrangements now are
being made to have them perform al
one Of the big hotels of the city.