Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1919-08-29
ARMORY BOARD VOTES $4,000
TO STEVENS COUNTY ARMORY
Action Follows Decision of the State Military
Regiment Intact and Ask War Department Recognize
ALI

Ine state ArmOry Board has grant
ed Company KS application for aid
and has appropriated $4,000 for an
armory in Morris. The action took
place at a meeting of the board at
which the officers of the 5th regi-
ment and many delegates from Nor
ris were persent. The drive for the
$4,000 for the memorial building
will be resumed by F. A Hancock,
chairman of the Stevens County Mem
orial Finance committee as soon as
he returns to Morris from Veblen,
S. D., this week.
The hearing on the proposed dis
memberment of the 5th Infantry and
the location of all headquarters con-
troll in the Twin Cities was held be-
fore the State Military Board in St.
Paul on Saturday morning. Repre-
sentatives of all interested factions
pleaded their cases. Delegates and
officers from the small cities of the
state made a spendid showing ac-
cording to those present. The resolu-
tion drawn up by members of the
Morris Commercial Club was read.
In the afternoon executive session of
the State Military Board the 5th
regiment had two votes out of the
four on the board by peculiar coin
cidence. When General Harrison,
chairman did not appear for the
meeting Colonel G. A. Lewis of the
5th was advanced to chairman.
This made it logical to put Lieuten-
ant Colonel Miller also Of the 5th on
the board, leaving Colonel George c.
Bookstaver of the 9Th Infantry and
Colonel H. A. Bellows of the 4th
regiment opposing the two officers of
the 5th. With such a makeup the
officers of the fifth could block any
action detrimental to the interests of
their regiment. The proposal adopted
by the board satisfied all members.
All infantry regiments are to be
retained for the present. Colonel G.
A. Lewis is to continue in command
of the 5th regiment with headquart-
ers at Mankato, Colonel George c.
/ Bookstaver with headquarters at st.
Paul, and Colonel H. A. Bellows of
the 4th regiment with headquarters
at Minneapolis. This leaves a part
of the control in the hands of the
small cities as the men of the 5th
regiment desired.
All this will hold true, at least,
until the 151st is reorganized by
Colonel Leach and ready for recogni-
tion. Meanwhile Governor Burnquist,
Adjutant General Rhinow and Col
onels G.. A. Lewis and G. c. Book
staver left Monday night for Wash
ington to ask the War Department
to continue the national guard as
recommended by the State Military
Board with three infantry regiments
and with the 151st field artillery
added when ready. Minnesota will ask
for one regiment in excess of allot-
ment on the strength of the fact that
since there are Fl states in the union
who have been unable to recruit their
apportionment and have no national
guard regiments it is only just that
Minnesota should receive part of the
allotment from some other state
when she has shown interest enough
to organize three regiments of in
fantry and one of artillery beside.
The plan will be submitted direct to
Newton D. Baker, secretary of war.
The State Armory Board is evid-
emily confident that the application
will go through, for their $4,000 ap-
preparation for the Morris armory
followed close on the recommends
ton of the State Military Board.
Meanwhile the Stevens County Mem
orial Finance Committee will carry
on their drive for funds so that the
building can be started as soon as
the sanction comes through from the
War Department. In this drive the
people of Stevens county will be able
to show their appreciation for what
the boys have done in the war for
most of this fund would otherwise
have to be raised by taxation.