The courier-index., 1921-01-07
MAJOR BEESON
 IN MAR!ANNA
ARMY OFFICERS HERE TO AS- SYST IN ORGANIZATION OF NATIONAL GUARD-TALKS AT LIONS CLUB.

Under the direction of Major FL gan c. Robertson the organization of an infantry company in the Arr kansas National Guard is being per fected in Marianna this week. The organization has the moral and if nancial backing of every business man in the city, and under the com mand of home officers, with strictly local personnel gives prom ise of being the best organization of it's kind in the state.
 Under the army reorganization plan the National Guard comprises two-thirds of the armed forces of the United States, standing ready in times of national peril to go to the defense of the nation, and as safe guard against internal strife and uprisings in local or state affairs. Also giving former service men a chance to keep in touch with mili- tary affairs, and youths without mil- itary training a chance to acquire this much needed and desirous train ing.
 Major Virgil A. Beeson, of the Adjutant Generals department at Little Rock, is here to assist in the organization, and in a talk before the Lions Club on Wednesday em- phasized the following points:
 Enlistment in the National Guard does not in any way conflict with the civil rights of the members, un- less local, state or national peril should arise. The state furnishes the personnel and armory facilities, together with club room. Local busi- ness men will be asked to furnish clubroom equipment. In return the national government furnishes full equipment, including all necessary clothing, arms and ammunition, and in addition brings to the county payroll of approximately $10,000 a year. This payroll is entirely i'm dependent of any other resources of the county and can be secured in this manner only.
 Sixty per cent of the enlisted strength of the company is required to devote an hour and a half each week to drill" said Major Beeson,
 anu III IctdIn lncTtiOE, cdtH fudH present receives full days regular army pay, according to his rank These drills are generally held at night, to suit the convenience of the members, and thus do not interfere with the daily work of the members, but does give each man an addition al income which may become a neat sum in the course of years time-
 Two weeks encampment is held each summer as a vacation reward to which each member is entitled to go and participate in maneuvers and target practice, and for which each man receives regular army pay, all transportation expenses, clothing and rations being furnished.
 'For the present the state can only rent building for armory pur- poses, but for this expense which must not exceed $1,800 per year, the government cxpends sum ap- proximating $10,000. A bill to be presented to the coming legislature by the State Council of Defense asks that the National Guard be placed becomes a law the state will then be enabled to erect armories in counties where companies are or ganized, and instead of paying out thousands of dollars in rentals each year, the state will be enabled to erect it's own armories, thus build ing for the future and at the same time giving the larger towns of the state much needed auditorium fa- cilities. Adequate buildings where mass meetings, conventions, fairs or shows may be held.
 Arkansas by 1924 is entitled to quota of 7,200 men in the Ma tional Guard. This will mean a pay roll of over half a million dollars coming into the state from the na- tional government. This sum has only two strings tied to it. Arkan- sas must furnish the personnel and armory facilities. Is it worth while to comply herewith? As q finan- cial deal any sane business man would answer emphatically in the affirmative. As a moral obligation the young men of the county are anxious to do their part. Those who, for various reasons, cannot join themselves should give their full moral support. You did it in time of peril. You are now asked to stand behind them in times of peace. Do not give them reason to think that Kipling was right when he said, For it's Tommy this, and Tommy that, and Tommy go away; L n