Evening star., 1939-07-26
Apathetic Attitude
OF Marksmen Here
Puzzles n. R. A.
Organizations Offices
Show National Interest
In Sport Is Keen
BY LEWIS F. ATCHISON.

Dy LIE "lS +. n SnlSON.
Two weeks vacation with all ex-
penses paid sounds good to the aver
age taxpayer, especially we patriots
anchored in this sweltering Federal
community, so Arthur Thomas, a
member of the District civilian
team, wondered why more Wash
ingtonians didn't 60 in for rifle
shooting. Two weeks of fun on the
cuff sounded good to us, but didn't
jibe with gun totin', so Mr.. Thomas
had to explain.
1t had to do with the annual
Camp Perry national championship
matches scheduled next month, and
to slake our burning thirst for
knowledge on the subject we found
our feet beating pigeon-toed path
to the National Rifle Associations
headquarters at Scott Circle Here
among other things we discovered
Larry Bradley slumped back in a
big swivel chair also puzzling over
the city's indifferent attitude toward
sporting firearms. Mr.. Bradley
squinted over a sheaf of important
looking papers as if drawing a bead
on our left ear and admitted he
was plenty puzzled
"Yessir," he said, rifle shooting
isn't very popular around here, al
though it is showing unmistakable
signs of improvement, but it's BOOM
ing throughout the country. We
have an organization of more than
$4,000 members shooting regularly
and right now they're tuning up for
the Camp Perry matches. That's
their big objective"
U. S. Pays S5O0O0 Bill.
Mr.. Bradley insisted on showing
us around the premises while ex-
planning the organizations aims.
purposes and setup. The building
formerly housed an embassy and is
as neat and attractive as a Dutch
Wife's kitchen. Charts of gun
mechanisms. trophies and un-
healthy-looking carving knives used
in ancient battles decorate the walls
and target patterns are outlined in
the slick hallway linoleum Office
carpets are rich looking and thick
and they keep the furniture we'll
busted.
We learned that the Government
picks up a check of about $500,000
for the Camp Perry matches an
nually and considers the money well
invested in national defense, for
those who 60 at its expense must
take weeks instruction in the use
of firearms. This practice has been
in vogue since the World War, when
Gen. Pershing found that his Army
was making a lot of racket at the
front, but wasting its ammunition.
The boys couldn't shoot straight.
The N. R. A. helped remedy the
situation by supplying instructors
for rockies in training on this side
of the pond.
TWelve-man civilian teams from
every State and Territory in the
Union are represented at the
matches, along with military aggre-
Sdl4Ollo, dlld Ol1SlC odlll pays all
transportation and maintenance
costs for two weeks. Thus, when you
consider freight charges from Hawaii
and Alaska it isn't difficult to see
how the bill adds up.
Gun Is Too Good to Shoot.
On the second floor of the N. r. A.
Building we were introduced to
Johnny Scofeld of the publicity
staff. He's pleasant young fellow
and collector of arms. He had
some small cannon in the Office
Schuetzenfest guns he called them
that, in our opinion, only a small
crane can lift, although he declares
otherwise. They are ponderous
things and derive their name from
the old German Schuetzenfest, or
rife, meets, held years ago in the
fatherland. A couple of Schuetzen
organizations are active in this coun-
try today, but the sport is nearly
extinct. The proper way to COM