Evening star., 1934-08-12

Wv National Guard half
through its annual en-
campment period. and
scheduled to return to the city next
Sunday to begin Its armory train
ing again In the unsatisfactory ar
mory. members of the Militia are be-
ginning to turn their attentions to
Congress again In the hope that body
might. at the coming session. answer
q squarter-of-a-century-old plea and
provide facilities here beginning an
organization in the National Capital.
IL Is here that the only Federal Mill
tia In the country Is located, and one
expected TO be an example to the
States In the matter Of armories and
equipment, etc.
Several Of the States seized the
opportunities to borrow funds under
the Public Works Administration and
have gone ahead with much-needed
armory construction, but while the
District Of Columbia Militia author
tiles have made strenuous efforts TO
provide for the construction with pub
lie works funds they have so far met
with defeat. The State of Pennsyl-
vania passed legislation which per-
mitted the State to borrow $4,000, 900
for armory purposes and the extensive
construction program now Is being
carried out.
The late Mai. Gen. Anton Stephan.
who commanded the local Militia for
many years, was an ardent worker
up to the time Of his death In the in
rkf g.
here, and his work will be carried on
by his successors In the hope that q
structure may be obtained in the near
future.
Every organization IN the city, civic
and veteran, has been Fundamentally
behind the armory movement. and
even the National Guard Association
OF the United States, at its last an
nual convention, indorsed the project
In the following resolution:
Whereas the District Of Columbia
National Guard has never had ade-
quate armory facilities and now Is
housed In an old hotel building. which
was built over 100 years ago in the
City Of Washington, such building
being neither safe nor adequate and
being located on ground which will
be utilized In the development Of
other proposed municipal activities
which will result in the removal of
the District of Columbia National
Guard therefrom; and
Whereas the Commissioners Of the
District of Columbia have requested
grant of s2.5oo.0 900 by the Federal
Emergency Public Works Administra-
ton for the construction of an arm
ory for the District of Columbia Ma
tional Guard; and
Whereas the President OF the
United States, who Is commander in
chief Of the National Guard of the
District of Columbia, has urged
through the War Department, that
the various States provide adequate
State-owned armories for the Ma
tional Guard throughout the country,
while at the same time the District
Of Columbia National Guard has not
been quartered in a suitable Gov
ernment-owned armory In the city OF
Washington; therefore,
BE it resolved that the National
Guard Association of the United
States does tndorse the proposed
project for the erection of an armory
for the National Guard Of the Dis
trict Of Columbia and does recon-
mend the grant Of Federal funds for
the construction Of such an armory
and
BE It further resolved that the
officers of this association are hereby
directed to make this matter one OF
the principal items of business of this
association during the coming year,
and they are further directed to take
such aggressive action as will insure
the approval Of this proposed project
and the allotment of the necessary
funds for the construction Of an
armory for the National Guard Of the
District Of Columbia"
While the local militia offlcials re-
ceived practically no aid from the
National Association officers subse-
quent TO the action Of the convention,
1t is the hope that they will receive
some aid in the forthcoming efforts.
It was the hope Of the Guard ofacials
that, through the National Associ-
alton, they might be able to bring
enough political pressure to bear to
have the funds allocated for the
armory.