The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-08-28
new INDIANA
GUARD Chief
REAL SOLDIER.
MunCie Pastor, Chosen a.
Adjutant General, Asks
Pacifists' Prayers.
LED TROOPS IN EURoP1
William Graham EVerSor
Will Continue in Church
Service.
BY DAN NJ. KIDNEY.
Times Staff Correspondent

Times Stan correspondent
MUNCIE, Ind. Aug. 28,-"Ye pac-
fists, pray for me" is the prayer to-
day of the Rev. William Graham
EverSon, pastor of the new $346,00O
First Baptist church of this city,
who, on Sept. 3, is to head the
states war department by assuming
the Office OF adjutant- general.
"All I ask of the pacif1sts are
their prayers" this real fighting
parson" explains. Il want them to
ask God to direct me so that I can
build up the Indiana National
Guard to such a state that, when an
emergency arises and our boys must
answer the call to defend their
country they will be sent into the
field as competent troops under ade-
quately trained officers.
This is the work of mercy to
which this new job challenges. If
war does come, my pacifiSt friends
will be agreeing with my conclu-
sions. This will be the better way,
rather than send out unprepared
youth like sheep to slaughter. Surely
such a job has nothing to do with
organized murder the phrase of
which my pacif1st friends are SO
fond"
Experienced as Soldier
Mr.. Everson knows whereof nc
speaks. But fortnight ago he was
in the field as Brigadier- General
EYerson, commanding the Seventy
sixth infantry brigade of the ma
tional guard in training at Camp
Knox.
II will keep my command arr
also my passionate when 1 take oyel
the adjutant- generals Office" tn
ier-clergyman declared.
This plan has the approval Of
Governor Harry G.. Leslie, who has
tried for months to get him to ac-
cept the state post.
Since he was ordained a rlinistc;
OII guy 10, l0Ol, MI. ENBISOu Ilt-
experienced no diff1culty in recon
Cling the preaching of the gospel
of the Prince of Peace with active
defense of his country.
Even before that time he had SOL
diered in the Spanish American
war. During the World war he COM
manded 5000 troops in six coun-
tries AS a colonel of infantry, he
headed the American expeditionary
forces in the fighting in Italy and
after the ar1nistice was the Arneri-
can officer In command of the
troops at Fiun1e.
Led Troops in Europe
He led troops in France, Austria,
Dalnnatia, Serbia and Montenegro,
and at one time commanded all
American arms east Of the Adri-
attic sea.
This service brought citations and
decorations from England, Francc.
Italy, Fiume, Serbia and the United
States, including three battle clasps.
Born at Wooster, O., July !, 1879.
the new Acknowledgements first In
diana contact was at Franklin coll
lege, where she received the A. B.
degree in 1903. He married Miss
Mary Coon of Franklin, who Is ALSO
an A. B. of the college there. The
children, John David and Mary
Louise, are HooSier born.
Indiana pulpits which Mr.. Ever
son has filled include Baptist
churches at Morgantown, Lewis
Creek, Columbus, Indianapolis, and
the present one at Muncie, where
he has been for the last nine years.
But there have been others, in
GLIDING the Norwood church at Gin
cinnai, where he erected a $250,000
ediflce.
Church Is His Pride
The new Muncie church, opened
last May, is his special pride. Hero
he feels is a concrete Cor rather
Bedford stone) challenge to his pa
cifist- preacher critics, if any.
How is General Everson going to
handle his pastoral duties and the
new state jobP
Well, he says he takes about two
steps to the average mans one, and
any one trying to follow him on a
brief inspection tour Of the beauti-
ful and extensive new church build
ng is convinced of the truth Of his
Each year Ahe has given consid-
,rable time to lectures and chautau-
lua work. This will be eliminated.
lie has assured the Governor that
le will give the acknowledgement
hip "all the time it needs" IN
Ter the retiring officer, Adjutant-
General William H. Kershner, 1t has
,een full-tirne job paying a SAL
Try Of $1,000 year.
Politics Is Banned
'I intend to make the office of
acknowledgement of interest to the
public at large as well as to the ma
ional guard" the new of1icer as
ierted. It want no secrets and will
invite the citizens to come in and
earn our plans for caring for their
Joys in time Of emergency"
He has ruled against politics in
he office, he says, and expects to
delegate the work to competent sub
)rdinates and have it done prep
.rly
Refusing to announce, at this
lime, any definite armory policy, 1t
S unlikely that he will try TO con-
inue the holding-company build
ng program of the Jackson regime,
,rdered halted by the state legis-
atures