| Show IN BEHALF OF NATIONAL GUARD General Drain Appeals for the Interest and Support I of Citizens RIFLE PRACTICE ESSENTIAL OUTLINES PURPOSE OF UTAH STATE RIFLE ASSOCIATION General James A Drain of New York chairman of the executive board of the National Guard association on and president of the National Rifle association who organized a state rifle association in Salt Lake on Wednesday evening gave out the following interview for the purpose of en enlisting enlisting enlisting listing interest in the National Guard of Utah and encouraging rifle practice among Its members One of the first duties which a state of this Union owes to the nation is Its best efforts to maintain within its bor borders borders borders ders a National Guard organization of reasonable strength and high efficiency A progressive state one which desires to tomake tomake tomake make itself Itsel a worthy part of this great nation has many obligations to fulfill not the least of which is a due clue considers consideration tion for the welfare of the National Guard The Constitution of the United States declares A well regulated militia being necessary to tho the security of a free state the right of citizens to keep and bear arms shall not be Infringed There Is no question that the framers of the were right when they said that a well regulated militia is necessary to the security of a free freo state It is doubtless a realization of this as a fun fundamental fundamental fundamental truth which has lias quite generally general led our people to designate the state sub subdivisions subdivisions subdivisions divisions of the militia by a more ex cx expressive expressive and truthful title viz the Na National National Guard This force is in truth the guard of the nation It stands as a first line ine behind b the regular army to protect and anI defend the country in time of war warn warIn warIn In n It the best young men of our land are taught in peace how to do those things which they would have to do when trou trouble trouble trouble ble comes to shoot to cook to camp to march to give and to obey orders Obligation of Citizens In a country like ours where the bur burden burden burden den ot o a standing army Is not placed upon the he people where we must of necessity depend in time of ot war upon the citizens every male Inhabitant ought to feel proud and glad to give as much time as he can afford in peace to preparing himself to fight the battles in war War of nf Itself is essentially an evil an n evil which we we would al sA avoid when we can I with honor but the surest way to lessen the chances of our becoming Involved in war the plainest plan to preserve peace is preparation The National Guard then thenis is primarily a training school In which citizens are trained in peace for service when peace has fled secondarily it itis Is the strong right light arm of the state to reinforce the civil authority but its aid ought not notto notto notto to be and cannot be lawfully lawf lly or rightfully be Invoked unless the ordinary peace officers officers cers have hae shown inability or disinclination to o preserve peace The appropriations to support the Na National National National Guard come from the United L States and the states but an Investigation of the conditions will disclose that the real contribution which makes the National Guard Guaro what it is Is patriotic devotion the unselfish service and the zeal of the themen themen themen men who serve In It A proper er militia pol pot policy policy icy for this country Involves s the main maintenance maintenance maintenance of a small but well trained army a strong navy a national which Is In fact as well as name the guard of the nation and the instruction pf so many Of our citizens as can be Instructed In the use of the military rifle Support Is Essential The men who serve in the National Guard make many sacrifices to do their work because every hour spent in the service is taken from their civil employ employments employments ments or their pleasures We cannot ap appreciate appreciate predate nor praise them too highly for their noble unselfishness but all their la Ia labor labor bor and Interest goes for nothing unless the people among whom they live believe In them and stanl stan l behind them theta In late years more than formerly the realization has come to our people that the National Guard ought to be so organized In peace as IlS to closely resemble the regular army so sq 5 that when ordered Into the field in inthe Inthe Inthe the event of war there might be practically practically ally no difference between the organizations organizations That I say has been the idea of our people and It has been also the tendency of recent national legislation but it is not possible to accomplish the desired result unless the citizens of the state feel their responsibility for doing It It Not all citi cUl citizens zens are so situated as to allow them to serve in the National Guard not all citi citizens citizens citizens zens are physically fit to do so but every everyone ever everone everyone one of such citizens can discharge in part the debt he owes to his country by assist assisting assistIng assisting ing aiding and supporting those who are trying to make mahe the National Guard of the United States what it ought to be Rifle Practice Vital One of the most Important Items of knowledge to a soldier Is that which al allows allows allows lows him to make the fullest use of the weapon with which he Is armed Skill with the rifle is becoming less common each year in this Country among the gen general general general eral body of our citizens as the supply of game grows less and less The purpose of the National Rifle Association of America is to encourage rifle practice among our citizens with every form of rifle but to particularly assist in the instruction of men in the use of the mili mill military military tary rifle It seeks to accomplish this purpose largelY through affiliated organ organizations organIzations organizations viz State associations regimen regimental tal tat associations civilian rifle clubs col cot college college lege lego rifle clubs and schoolboy rifle clubs Most of the states already have state as associations associations associations and I 1 have organized here the Utah State Rifle association It should be of much use In accomplishing the pro promotion promotion promotion motion of rifle practice In Utah Rifle practice has taken a very de tie decided step forward in this country during the thi past year or two The great national I rifle matches of the United States were held this year at Camp Perry Ohio Over 1 contestants were present teams of twelve men each representing respectively the infantry of the army the cavalry of the army the navy marine corps naval academy and states and territories competed Utah was not represented In this match but I am assured that she sho will be in the one which will take place next year After the conclusion of this match the National Rifle association took to Otta Ottawa Ottawa OttaWa wa Canada a team of American rifle riflemen riflemen riflemen men to compete against teams from Can Canada Canada Canada ada Australia and England for the cele celebrated celebrated celebrated range rifle trophy The American team Steam finished first In the con contest contest contest test breaking every w worlds record for similar conditions The result was WaI es especially to all Americans Americana Inas Inasmuch Inasmuch inasmuch much as the weapons used were ere the mili military military tary arms of the respective countries and also that the American team finished fir firing firIng ing In at every range from to minutes before the other con contestants contestants contestants An additional cause for gratification gratification cation was the fact that the teams from the other countries were acknowledged to tobe tobe tobe be the best b st which had bad ever been sent seat out from 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