The Coconino sun., 1921-02-04
COLONEL BONIFACE SPEAKS VERYHIGHLY OFBATTERY"A REPRESENTATIONS

f Congress has appropriated large sums of money-millions- the reorgan- ization of the guard and this money supplies uniforms, equipments, horses, arms, ammunition, forage, veterinary treatment, shipping charges and many other things essential to the guard. Naturally, the war department looks to the states to do something also, and still farther, expects cities and towns to do their bit. The equipment, horses and other supplies furnished are ex- pensive and must be properly stored | in suitable warehouses or almories. The enlistments in the guard through out the country naturally are in di- rect proportion to the advantages of | fered men who would enlist, advan- tages of uniforms, of pay, of training, of comfortable drill armories, of prop CT social diversions, of physical train ing, of the local enthusiasm and sup port they see given the guard. With some S6,000 men now enlisted in the guard, it is the desire of congress that this number increase to some 426,OOO | by June 30, 1924, and we can all see that it will mean localities must help.
 This help should take the form of enthusiastic local "rooting" for the national guard units, and without this the young men of city will forget all about any obligation on their part and the guard will be mere incident in that city, instead of something we'll known, often seen, understood, and now and then positive asset for law, good order, peace and protection. This help should go farther and prepare and provide for the national guard units comfortable, slightly, well-heated and well-lighted armories; these arm ories become civic centers, where in many instances public functions are held; they are most necessary and an addition to city from every stand point. States appropriate money for their erection and cities are expected to add to such appropriations enough that the armories may represent the spirit of both the state and the local town wherein they are built. Military training is expected to teach neatness, erect carriage, good health, discipline, team work, obedience to lawful author ity, trained efficiency in rife and>pistol shooting, riding, in handling artillery guns, and many other worthwhile things. These things are all done best in an armory. Where young men join ing a national guard unit find they must drill, dress and undress, exer- else, listen to lectures, etc., in some cold, barren, poorly located and un- slightly building, or out in the street at night, they feel forgotten, neglect ed and we have a unit that fails to re- spond, can not properly respond, when it is needed badly at times of trouble Many a fine chap will keep out of the guard if he is shown such poor place and if he sees no interest in his town Every city, every state, the whole country, wants its national guard to bt representative of the very best man
 hood therein. Military training bene
 fits the individual, it thereby benefits the city, the state and the nation Military training teaches physical cul
 ture, mental culture and moral cul
 ture. If a young man seeks the evi
 in city, he finds it there to be had If he seeks the evil about camp ot men, he will find it there also. It i' not the fault of the military training it is the mans own fault; he looks low ,and he seeks low, and he finds low things. So, where he has fine arm
 ory, in fine location, with heat, light lockers, drill floor, the inspiring inter for of fine city and state, he grow' finer himself and the money invested by city and state return to that com
 munity in finer manhood.
 Instructions from the war depart
 ment contemplate the armories being built by state and city appropriations not by the federal government. Where federally recognized national guard organizations exist, as in Phoenix ana