Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1919-05-19

Action.
WANT ORGANIZATION
Petition Signed at Recent
Guard Meeting in St.
Louis.
The future of the Iowa National
Guard depends very largely on the
action of congress in the coming
weeks AND ON the recognition and en-
cOuragement given the guard by. both
state and nation. This is the opinion
Of national guard officers who have
been with the guard for many years.
S@' The average guardsmen, after Sc
curing his discharge from term of
service under the regular army, and
untold hardships, is inclined to, declare
Never again" and to insist that he
is through with military life forever.
Guard officers say this was the at
[titude at the close Of the Spanish
American war, ION the return of the
soldiers from the border, and that it
lis the attitude Of many of them who
have borne the burdens Of the struggle
overseas.
They Can't Quit.
But, these guard officers declare,
there is spirit among these. men
which will not let them quit the guard
even. though they loathe war and the
military dictatorship of the regular
army. 1t is their patriotism and their
sense of duty which holds them, de-
spite the hazard which membership
in the guard entails, the guard officers
declare.
Leaders in the national guard are
now asking to be divorced from the
regular army and want the establish
ment of national guard corps OF the
army of the United States under the
administration of bureau Of the war
department.
Guarflsmen from every state, in the
union In attendance on a special meet
ing of the National Guard association
recently held in st. Louis unanimously
declared for reform in their affairs
in resolutions which set out the follow
ing: -
Petition For Guard.
'"rhat congress he requested to pro-
csed at once, tostake the necessary
steps as will periait.the establishment
Of d National Guard corps Of the army
of the United States under the admin
istration Of bureau to be known as
the National Guard bureau Of the war
department..
THAT each state shall organize ma
tional guard associations which shall
adopt the resolutions Of this conven-
ton.
"That each state legislature shall be
nlemorialized to apportion a definite
sum toward the maintenance Of the
national aud state association.
"That congress shall be requested to
enact legislation authorizing the Is
suanteN Of horses, clothing and equip
merlt material for the national guard
from the surplus stores now on hand.
.T'hat enlistments be for three years
with the privilege Of reenlistmcnt for
one year.
'That former officers OF the army
of the United States who have not
been discharged for INCOMPETENCE may
lie appointed to the same 6r lower
grades in which they served In the
army Of the United States. without ex-
amina tion, If application Is made with
in six months from the passage OF this
act, amending section "a OF the national
defense act.
Pay For Soldiers.
'.Tl,at enlisted, men shall be Mid not
less than 81 per drill night, not to ex-
coed five nights per month; and that
second lielftenants shall he paid n;
first lieutenants S. and above that
grade 50, provided that fifty per cent
of the commissioned strength and W
per cent Of the enlisted strength is
present at drill.
THAT the company strength be fixed
at sixty men.
''That the retirement for disability
received in actual service in the war
with the central powers shall be on
an equal basis and shall include the
officers and enlisted men of the armed
forces Of the United States.
THAT the. war department issue
to all officers or enlisted
men who were recommended for such
commissions prior to the date Of the
:.,k3c a-