132
WEST SHORE.
NATIONAL GUARD CONVENTION.
A session of the Oregon National Guard Association is being held in the
armory of the First Regiment in this city, lor the purpose of considei ing the
question of necessary legislation at the coming session of the legislature, and
other ntieetioni effecting the Increased efficiency and higher standing of the
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COI.ONKL CHARMS r. 1IKK11K, NHST RIUT 0. N. II.
national guard of Die state as a serviceable and reliable military arm of the
irovernment. Huch an object is certainly a worthy one, and deserves the
hearty sympathy and co-operation of the people. The time has gone by
when the militia ran be charged with " playing loldier." Service In the
national guard means plenty of hard work, the expenditure of tome money,
the giving of conilderahle time, and the reaching of a fairly effective stand
ard of military excellence on the part of even the privates, while on the part
of the cillowrs it means all this Increased from two-fold to ten-fold, in ac
cordant with the position occupied. Under the most discouraging condi
tions, as compared with the guard of other states, the service in Oregon has
been brought to a state of elllolency much higher than In tome states, and
fully aa high as It will ever b possible to raise it unless many of the insur
mountable obstacles now in the way are removed. This high state has been
na bed through the uiieolflih labors of men who have given freely of both
time and money to accompllah It, and it can not always be expected to re
main there under the same conditions, for unsupported energy must flag
and a thankless tark must sometime become Irksome.
Nearly every state In the union makes provision for the proper equip
ment of ita national guard and for placing it in ramp of Instruction at least
one week annually. California and even Die new states of Washington and
Montana do this, but Oregon has as yet failed to attempt It. A sudden call
for service would find the Oregon national guard unc quipped, and therefore,
practically unserviceable anywhere save In the towns where the various
t omanlea belong, and not even there for night duty. There is not an over
coat in the servlie that is not the private property of the wearer, not a blan
ket, not a tin cup or any other utensil, not a tent, and it may be said noth
ing whatever that would enable the regiments to go into ramp or respond to
a rail fur duty that would lake them Into the field. To be sure, under the
stress of andden emergency, when the public welfare was at stake, patriotic
rltiaena might, and probably nould, come to the rescue and contribute the
new equipment and supplies to render the urgently-needed service, of
IhVguard available; but should the state rely upon such a iuppos. ion, and
Invite the inevitable delay and loss of the advantage, of prompt act.on at .
flXSLrt. undoubtedly, be th.h.mingof.bm
to be presented to the legislature appropriating a .urn sufficient to prov.de
camp equipage, pay the expenses of two annual encampment, equip the
Z'ZZZl and pay the excuse, of the first six month, of the
military organization left unprovided for when the national guard was or
ganiw d in 1887. The military law passed that year went into effect on the
first of July, while the appropriation for the support cf the guard under iU
provisions did not become available until January, 1888. Thi. permitted
the expense, of maintenance to accumulate for six month., and the military
board is, consequently, just six month, .bortr in It. funds. Jbi. .hortage
should be provided for. To it can be charged, to a considerable extent, the
failure of the board to provide overcoat, and other necewane., and to in
.titute many needed measures for the improvement of the guard.
One at all familiar with the life and requisites of a soldier doe. not need
to be told of the necessity for giving him practical instruction In the camp
and field. Theory never can usurp the place of practice. A soldier not
trained in the life of the camp, the duties of the sentinel and the practical
experience of drill in the field, has all thi. to learn when called upon for
active lervice, and is, therefore, not as efficient, serviceable and reliable as
one who i, nor can he be considered as competent to answer satisfactorily
a sudden call to duty. Camp instruction and discipline, combined with
rifle practice, are far more important than a high state of perfection in com
pany drill, which the uninformed Individual is prone to consider the sign of
a serviceable and trained soldier. The efficient soldier is the one who
know, what to do and how to do it when active service i. demanded, not
the one who can stand up in the armory and drill the best in the manuel of
arms, though, under proper conditions the two will generally be found unit
ed In one perron. In like manner the company that can go into camp and
take the field in a eilf-reliant and effective way, i. far euperior to the one
that can only boast of the ability to execute the school of the company in a
faultless manner before a hoet of admiring friends. Again It may be faid
that under proper condition., these two companies will often be found com
bined in one; for the eame spirit that actuate, the individual and the com-
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