The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-01-15
IN A new COUP
Home Guard Faction Organizes
a New Company.
1t Will Be a Rival of the Har-
gis Organization.
WANT REAL SOLDIERS, TOO
Official Communication Issued
by Humphreys.
Much Will Depend on Action
of HargiS Tonight.
a New Company.

T. ID. Humphreys. commander of
the Topeka home guards, has pulled
off a coup that would do credit to
generaissimo of life long experience
in maneuvering forces and making
and unmaking commands, according
to the belief of certain members of the
local protective military organization.
According to Commander Humphreys,
the executive committee of the home
guards has just completed plans that
Will make the orga nization a real mil
ltary factor, able to cope with any
complications that may arise and ca
pable of guarding Topeka property as
the home guards of the past never
could have done.
Humphreys announces today in
signed communication that a second
company of home guards has been
organized, to be known as Company B,
and that it will be the aim of the lead
ers of this unit to enlist as many men
as possible who have had army exper-
fence and who know more than the
mere fundamentals of guarding.
Hargis Given Commission.
Company A, the original home
guard unit that has been under the
direction of Captain Art Hargis is to
continue intact-that is, if Captain
Hargis is able to keep it together.
But Humphreys expects most of the
real soldiers to desert Captain Hargis's
command and join the new organiZa-
ton that will be led by Captain Pearl
b. Hamlin. It seems that the fate of
the two companies will depend largely
upon the pulling and persuasive pow
ers'' of the two leaders and that the
one who is capable of mastering the
largest force will come out victorious
and will claim the proud honor of be-
ing ready to answer the call when the
Germans come and valiant warriors
are needed to turn them back before
they cross the Kansas avenue bridge
with their fivebrands and their fright
fitness.
1t is asserted that Captain Hargis's
company is now sadly in need of rein
forcements and that unless they are
drought up" within a short time the
top sergeant will be able to keep a
roster of his men on cigarette paper
or a postage stamp if cigarette papers
are not to be had. Captain Hargis
has not had more than sixteen men
out at drill any night for more than
a month, it is asserted.
Will Hargis Accept?
However, no official act has been
taken to deprive the Spanish war vet
eran of his command. On the other
hand,s the executive committee of the
home guards, at a recent meeting,
elected Captain Hargis captain of his
company presumably he was acting
without official sanction before this
step was lakeland tonight the eX-
ecutive committee awaits develop
ments to learn whether or not he will
accept this commission. The eXecu
tive committee, it is understood, has
heard nothing from Cautain Hargis
since it honored him with his commits
sion, but if he appears at the drill hall
tonight to take charge of his company
the committee will take this as of
fetal notice that he has accepted the
commission. If he does not appear, it
will be presumed that he has ignored
the signal honor thrust upon him and
that he has retreated temporarily for
strategic reasons.
In order to make the rivalry be-
tween Captain Hargis and Captain
Hamlin as keen as possible, it seems,
the promoters of the Hamlin company
have opened recruiting offices in ri
val drug store and will begin to push
enlistments at once. The new COM
pany is scheduled to hold its first drill
Monday,n might. E. C, Gilligan has been
named first lieutenant of the new
company.
The official communication issued