The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-05-01
Respect for the State Militia

Respect for the State Militia
A few shallow Drained individuals in this
city, with little patriotism and less sense for the
proprieties, have been trying to ridicule members
of the Richmond company of the state militia
These men believe it sign of greatness to insult
members of Company K with ridicule, calling
them raw recruits" Tin soldiers" and rockies
The ridcule in itself does harm, for the
Richmond mtiamen are too big to heed the
slurs The motive. however, that prompts
this abuse is inimica to the loyal spirit and pa
triotsm of the community, and for that reason
must be condemned Reformative measures are
available to cure the street corner scoffers.
If some of these spineless critics OF the
guardsmen had one-thousandth part OF the pa
triotism of the men whom they are ridiculing
they would be members of Company and not
street corner loafers and yelping slackers. The
very fact that members of Company are drill
ing for the protection of the homes of Rich
mond, including those of their critics, puts them
on a level infinitely above the men who are try
ing to say funny things about them.
A survey of the personnel of the company
shows that it is made up of business and profess
sional men, and sturdy workers in the shops
many of them sacrificing willingly Of their time
and money to do their bit to help win the war
1t is CALLING to them to hear the cheap criticism
and belittling abuse of gutter snipes and wearers
of the white feather.
The government values highly the service of
the militia units and for this reason protects
them from ridicule and abuse. Some of the men
who have taken filings at the Richmond militia
company might profit by studying Section 46 OF
T of TrIio
Whoever shall unlawfully modest, insult or
abuse any officer or enlisted men OF the militia
while in the performance of his military duty,
shall be deemed guilty of misdemeanor and on
conviction thereof shall be fined in any sum not
to exceed five hundred dollars ($5OO) or imprls-
onment in the county jail for not more than six
(6) months, or both, and it shall be lawful TOR any
officer of the militia on duty Herewith, to arrest
or cause the arrest of any persons so offending,
and detain such person in custody until his arrest
can be procured by civil authority. person,
who either by himself or with another, willfully
deprives member of the militia of his employ
ment, or prevents his being employed by himself
or another, or obstructs or annoys said member
of said militia or his employer, in respect of his
trade, business or employment, because SAID
member of said militia is such member, per-
SuaQeS any person lIOIIi eIlIiStHlcHI III CAS oeu
militia by threat of injury to him in case he shall
so enlist in respect of his employment, trade or
business shall be deemed guilty of a misdemean-
or and on conviction thereof shall be fined in any
sum not to exceed five hundred ($5OO) dollars.
No association or corporation, constituted or or
gained for the purpose of promoting the sue
cess of the trade. employment or business of the
members thereof shall by any constitution, rule,
bylaw, resolution, vote, or regulation, discrmi
nate against any member of the militia Of the
State of Indiana, because of such membership in
respect Of the eligibility of such member of the
said militia to membership in such association or
corporation or in respect to his lights to retain
said last mentioned membership. it being the
purpose of this section to protect a member of
the said militia from disadvantage in his means
of livelihood and liberty therein, but not to give
him any preference advantage on account of
his membership of said militia. A person who
aids in enforcing any such provisions against a
member of the said militia with the intent to dis
criminate against him because Of such member
ship, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor
and on conviction thereof shall be fined in any
sum not exceeding one thousand dollars Isl ,OOO)
Human Material as the Junkers Use 1t
Associated Press dispatches yesterday said
+Lo inf %od ho cx,,bo a.