The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1921-10-04
NATIONAL GUARD
MEMORIAL PLAN
GENERAL RICHARDS SUGGESTS
SUITABLE RECOGNITION OF
ITS SERVICES IN WAR.
BUILDING IN CAPITAL CITY
Chief of the Militia Bureau of the
War Department in Letter to Ad-
jutant Generals of States, Gives tho
Outline Of His Proposal.
BY EDWARD 8. CLARK.

WaShingtOn.-FOr the first time in
the history of This government an
officer of the National Guard is on duty
as chief Of the militia bureau of the
War department.. This post always
| has been held by regular army
officer, but under Il change In the law
National Guardsman holding fine
place-Brig. Gen. George &. Richards
Of Pennsylvania.
General Richards has just sent a
letter to the aujutant general of each
state proposing the erection If men,
orial building in the Capital city in
memory and in appreciation OF the
services of the National Guardsmen of
the nation.
1t seems likely that in course of
time there will be emplaced in Wash
ingtOn permanent memorials to the
! men Of all services who have served
Che country from its foundation. The
National Guard memorial is new
proposition, but already the plan has
received marks of sympathy and ell
couragement from all parts of the
country.
General Richards in his letter to the
a1jutant generals gives the plan, and
the reasons for its carrying out. sue
cinctly. The letter gives the facts in
the case and shows that it is a letter
of personal conviction.
General Richards Suggestion.
The communication to the adjutant
generals of the different states in part
is as fellows:
"From time immemOril it has been
proper and popular custom to erect
monuments and buildings of one des-
criptiOn or another in coInmemoratiOn
of those individuals and organizations
who have rendered conspicuous service
to community. state or nation.
"Memorials have been built to the
colder, sailor, statesman, scientist
and inventor; to the army and its
units; to the navy and its ships; to
| the Red Cross, the Knights Of Col
lmbus, the Salvation Army and others
which have been identified with the
great problems of war. Perhaps no
epoch has been productive Of such
mementOs as the present which has
been actuated and ,Ecentuated by the
World war and the tpart played in it
by this nation.
For years the National Guard
struggled on in the face of many dis
advantages, it's officers and men TN
applauded in their efforts, making
personal sacrifices without the hope or
expectation Of recOmpense, unless per-
chance the emergency would arise
whereby their military teaching and
learning through these years Of volun-
tary service might he employed to the
use and advantage of their nation.
Thrice in the ordinary lifetime Of man
has it been the privilege of many
National Guardsmen to have volun'
teered their services to'the federal gov.
eminent in common cause, one for
which every citizen should feel as
deeply obligated.
Memorial BuiIdingsProposed.
Guardsmen worth cOmnNemOrating? If
50, how can il best be accomplished,
and what would be 4 fitting tribute to
the memory of those National Guards
men who have voluntarily given their
lives in their country's cause?
Il suggest that nothing could be
more fitting or Indicative of the ap-
preciatiOn of the services and sacri-
fees of these officers and men who
gave their lives on these occasions
than to erect in the city Of Washing
ton a monumental building sacred to
their memories, a monument built by
the contributions from their living
comrades Of both past anu present,
and dedicated to the use and advance
ment of the National Guard.
| "Within this building establish the
Headquarters of the National Guard,
the militia bureau Of the war Depart
ment (so-called for the reason that
our federal Constitution does not pro-
vide for the term National Guard), in
which department all of the business
of the National Guard is transacted. It
may embrace assembly rooms for the
purpose of holding meetings of tho
adiutantS general and National Guard
association meetings. 1t might we'll
contain National Guard museum. and
many of the features of intense in
tcreSt and value to the National Guard
"Whle | have consulted no one on
this project, ! am sure that congress
would look upon it with enough favor
to provide the site for such build
ing. equip it for the militia bureau and
under satisfactory stipulations main
/ tain it as al other buildings of this
character are maintained under federal
control"
Publicity Plans Of Conference.
How much will the public be
allowed to know of the &C
tual daily inner proceedings of the
conference on disarmament and Ia,
East problems which is to start in
Washington on ArmiStice day? The
belief Is that considerable part OF
the proceedings will De secret, but II