The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1919-08-28
PEOPLE GAN SAVE
MACHINE GUN Unit
$1,000 DOLLAR BOND ISSUE WILL
HOLD LOCAL MILITARY Or
GANIZATION.
TO CALL SPECIAL ELECTION
STATE OF MINNESOTA WILL
SUPPLY $4,000 AND MAIN
TAIN ARMORY.

AT meeting of the Commercial
CIuD neId TUESDAY eveL,lg 1t develop
Gu mat There was a line opportunity
Tor Sauk tenure retaining It's Macnlne
Gun company OF the SMJh Regiment
Oh the Minnesota National Guard.
A lew WEEKS ago The nerald carried
story that the local. unit was apt
to pass out OF existence because of the
proposed reducUlon OF National Guard
regiments In the state. In;s story
was written after concerning with
Capt. Parker and Lieut.. Caughren.
Saturday of last week at largely
attended meeting those particularly
interested in the National Guard
movement was held in the senate
chamber OF the State Capitol. At this
meeClng 1t was decided to send a
deiegarlon to Washington and see If
the present organization could not be
retained and also permit of the re-
organization of the 151st Field Artil-
Ter of Minneapolis.
At meeting of the Armory board
following this session, Sank Centre
was one of two cities voted the ap-
preparation of $4,000 for a National
Guard Armory. Of course the APP
preparation is contingent upon tie
successful negotiations of the Mime
sofa committee with the war depart
ment.
The location decided upon for the
Armory is on Third street and will
cover an unsightly spot. Under the
terms of the laws governing armories
the state pays for the maintenance
and upkeep OF an armory after it is
constructed.
The purpose of Mondays meeting
was to get the concensus of opinion
of the business men as to whether or
not an effort should be made to re-
tain the local military organization.
The state can only appropriate $685.
600 for this work, and it is quite ap-
parent under present conditions that
the amount will not build structure
which will be a credit TO the COM
munity.
The officers of the local organize
ton insisted that they must have the
cooperation of the people of the city
if the machine gun unit was to be
retained. They also insisted that it
will take an additional $4,000 to erect
the building required. A motion was
finally passed directing the chair to
appoint a committee to circulate a
referendum petition Wednesday ask
ing for special election to vote
$4,000 bonds for this purpose. Over
100 names were secured in less than
two hours and the council met in
special session last evening to call
the election. :
During the past year Sank Centre
citizens have had ample evidence of
the benefit of military or semi
military organization to community
and state. Following the forest fires
in the northern Minnesota counties
last fall the Sank Centre Home Guard
rendered yeomen service in relieving
the distressed. A few weeks ago the
local machine gun unit was among
the first on the ground following the
catastrophe at Fergus Falls and main
tanned the splendid name set by the
Home Guard organization few
months before.
The physical training is of inestim-
able value to the young men in any
community, and if Sank Centre is
fortunate enough to retain the mach
inc gun unit, it will be the smallest
city having membership in the Sixth
regiment. -
For $4,000 building costing $780,
600 will be added to the permanent
improvements of the city. There VIII
no doubt be opposition to the bond IS
sue, but if the real friends OF the
Guard movement and the armory VIII
get busy the bonds can be voted. :,
At the meeting of the city councii
called for last evening, no formal
action was taken because there was no
quorum present. The meeting was
1.&:1 4b;c ovaniuU