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Show uu THE STATE APPROVES OF THE HOME GUARD. At the Armory, last evening, just hpforp IllA fnrrrmtinn nf din mamliort! of the Home Guard into squads, for drilling purposes, C. C. Richards, general gen-eral chairman of the committee of preparation and safety, publicly road to the members a letter which he had just received from the Adjutant General Gen-eral of the State. Believing that it would interest the public to know how this movement is regarded by the governor and officers of the National Guard we asked and obtained permission permis-sion to copy and publish tho letter from the adjutant general as well as the letter of inquiry setting out the needs of the guard. The letters follow: fol-low: The Committee of Preparation and Safety. Ogden, Utah, April 12, 1917. Hon. Simon Bamberger, Governor of the State of Utah Salt Lake City, Sir: I have the honor to Inform you that the Citizens' Committee of Preparation and Safety, for this county, Is proceeding, according to the plan submitted to you by our committee last Saturday, to procure pro-cure enlistments for a Home Guard of sufficient size to protect the interests of this community In case of rioting or disturbance of any kind during the absence of the National Guard. We have issued is-sued a call for 500 volunteers, ablfi hfldlpfl moil hntwonn iVia nrrnn of 45 and 65 years, and for men between 20 and 45 years who are Ineligible or not required for National Na-tional Guard or the regular service ser-vice as a foundation for tho Home Guard. We may find it difficult or unnecessary to raise so many, but we have issued the call so as to get a start. We desire to know, and will thank you to advise us, whether there are either national or state laws or regulations providing for the organization or discipline of Home Guards and if there are to send ub copies of same. Whether there are or not we invite any suggestions or recommendations you may have to make relative to the plan, and its feasibility. When the guard is organized it will be necessary for the men to have guns and ammunition, at least, and it would be helpful if uniforms and still further equipment equip-ment could be furnished. Will you please advise whether the armB, ammunition and equipment equip-ment can be furnished by the State or Federal government, or whether the men will have to fur-nlBh fur-nlBh themselves with those neces-sarlos? neces-sarlos? Assuring you of the committee's desire to render any service within with-in Its power to promote the welfare wel-fare of the state and nation, either eith-er at home or abroad, In the present pres-ent and future crisis, and thanking thank-ing you for an early reply, I remain, in behalf of the committee, com-mittee, Very respectfully, C. C. RICHARDS, Chairman. State of Utah, Office of Adjutant Adjut-ant General, 420 State Capitol Bldg., Salt Lake City, Utah. April 17, 1917. Mr. C. C. Richards, Ogden, Utah Dear Sir: Your letter of the 12th instant to the governor regarding re-garding tho organization of the Citizens' Committee of Preparation Prepara-tion and Safety for Weber county has been handed to me by the governor for reply. This is a very laudable and commendable undertaking under-taking for the citizens of Ogden and any suggestions and services that this office can render will be cheerfully given and performed at any time upon advice from you. There is at the present time no state law or regulation providing for the organization or discipline of Home Guards and we know of no national law covering the same. I believe, however, that an organization organi-zation along military lines, that is, with the several hundred men whom you have into companies, platoons, squads, etc., with designated desig-nated leaders, would be tho best scheme of organization. Under the present national law, the state has no authority, in fact, it is strictly prohibited, to loan any arms or equipment of any kind or put the same In the hands of any persons other than the regular organizations of tho National Na-tional Guard. I wish we could be of some assistance to you along these linos, but, as stated above, this is absolutely prohibited. It is true that tho state at the present pres-ent time has plenty of arms but no uniforms, in fact, we haven't enough uniforms to outfit the present enlisted strength of the guard. I believe, therefore, that it will be necessary if you desiro to provide the Home Guards with uniforms that this will have to be done by the city or county governments. gov-ernments. If, at any time, the officers of the National Guard can bo of any assistance to you whatever in any way, kindly advise me and we will do all we can to further your interests. in-terests. Yours very truly W. G. WILLIAMS, "Adjutant General. ' |