The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-09-10
Kansas Home Guards Are Now
5000 Strong.
Eighteen Towns and Counties
Have Organized Units.
HAVE DISTINCTIVE UNIFORMS
Regular Army Designs Will Not
Be Adopted.
Troops Are Subject To Orders
of the Governor.

Practically 5000 men are at this
time enrolled in home guard organi-
cations in Kansas. according to an
nouncement today by Col. Jonathan
d. Norton, government disbursing
agent and in charge of home guard
organization work in this state. Daily
demands for local organizations prom
Use to increase the home guard en-
listments to double the present
strength in a few weeks. Eighteen
towns and counties have already ap-
piled for organization permits and
sixteen organizations have been ap-
proved.
Acting on recommendations by Col
onel Norton, Governor Capper has APP
proved organizations including about
5000 men. Several towns have or
ganized more than one company In
Kansas City organization of a bat
talon has been approved.
Topeka has two companies with
prospects for at least one additional
company. Each company, under the
Kansas organization, includes a mini
mum of IS men and a maximum of
100. In view of the European war
situation, it is probable the strength
of individual companies may be in
creased to a maximum of $50 men.
How To Organize Units.
Under the new government regula-
ton, applications for permission to
organize home guard units are made
thru the sheriff or mayor. In the
larger towns the mayor has made the
application, while communities with
small population have applied thru
the sheriff for a county organiza-
ton. On approval of the organiza-
ton plan, an executive order is issued,
bylaws and necessary blanks for en-
rollment provided. The sheriff or
mayor is in charge of the organiza-
ton.
In Topeka Mayor House didn't de-
sire a military record. He couldn't
see the joy in leading a rocky COM
pany up and down the state house
campus. So he placed Arthur Hargis
in charge of the original Topeka unit.
w. w. Russell will command the sec
ond company.
Local contributions must be rilied
upon to provide uniforms and to meet
other expenses" Colonel Norton said
To-Day Ihere are no state funds
available for this purpose. Arms and
ammunition will be supplied by the
national government eventually, Bonds
for the arms will be required"
Have Distinctive informs.
Regulation uniforms have not been
! adopted. The war department pro-
/ hibits the use of national army uni
forms or duplication of the design used
III A4ollOudl OuLI1IS. Kansas guard
department has suggested a preference
for the national uniform, with slight
alteration in details in order to com
ply with the law. The matter will
be taken up with the war department
by Colonel Norton. AS soon as de-
! cision is received, designs for uni
forms in this state will be announced
Kansas home guardsmen will be
subject to orders of the governor for
service anywhere in the state Eigh-
teen years is the minimum age for en-
istment in the service.
Approved organizations and com
handing officers include: Topeka
Arthur Hargis and w. w. Russell
Kansas City, Mayor H. A Mendenhall;
Benton, Mayor c. w. Nea.; Stockton,
Sheriff Chill Neal; Protection, Mayor
w. E. Snyder; Belleville, Sheriff A T.
Hungtington; Independence. Sheriff
Backus; Hutchinson, Mayor F. w
| Cook; Kingman, Sheriff James A
Blon; Athol, Mayor George W. Doug
las; Sedan, Sheriff John A. Hines;
Hugoton. Sheriff S. c. Thomas; Man
kato, Sheriff D. w. Henderson; Doug
las. Mayor D. w. Farnsworth. New
organizations in Salina and in Mar
| shall county are awaiting official ap-
/ prevail by the governor.