Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 121, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 May 1916 — MONTICELLO COMPANY SHOULD BE SAVED [ARTICLE]

MONTICELLO COMPANY SHOULD BE SAVED

Order From War Department Did Not Take Into Consideration Fact Of Its Reorganization. The order for the mustering out of several companies of the Indiana National Guard because they have not met federal requirements came as a shock in some cases. By every consideration of fairness the order shou ! d not have included the company at Monticello, which had just been reorganized and which under its new commander showed signs of developing one of the best companies in the state. 1

What if anything can be done to save it remains to be seen. Major George H. Healey, of Rensselaer, commander of the battalion which includes Monticello, went to Indianapolis today, Saturday, to take the matter up with Adjutant-General Frank Bridges, military secretary to Governor Ralston, and with Captain John J. Toffey, Jr., the inspector-instructor with the Indiana National Guard. Captain Toffey inspected the company on March 16th and at that time expressed .himself as very well pleasedwith the progress made by Captain A. B. Cray, who had only recently taken command. Captain Cray had a big task confronting him.'*The property was in bad condition, there were no officers- to aid him and a part of the personel of the old company had to be discharged in order to get things started. He found an able aide in E. G. Halstead, who was elected a lieutenant and has made a splendid showing, having passed a very creditable examination by the state military board. The Monticello Chamber of Commerce took hold of the affairs last fall when informed that there was danger of the company being mustered out and it was through the influence of that organization that Dr. A. B. Cray agreed to take command. He has done much that deserves for himself and the city of Monticello better treatment than it has received and it is difficult to see where the government is to get any advantage in its proclaimed effort at preparedness when such unfair and unpatriotic treatment is accorded an organiaztion as the one in Monticello. The company there was mustered in some ten years ago and during that time has performed a splendid work in giving military training to young men. There are a half dozen or more who have had experience as officers, and a dozen or more who, would make excellent non--commissioned officers of ability under any condition of service. There are a number who would make

excellent drill masters in the training of volunteers or recruits and among the young men who have been trained during these ten years are a number of splendid riflemen. Their service has been patriotic, unpaid, made at a personal sacrifice and deserves at this tijne greater consideration than it has received at the hands of Washington officials, where the conditions existing throughout the states are not understood and where the recommendations of the officers the war department have detailed are not respected. Captain Toffey in his report explained that Company C had been reorganized and urged that it be retained, but his recommendation was not regarded. The cohference military measure

provides for the payment of those who make the sacrifices to secure training. It is fair and necessary if the National Guard is to. exist and is to become a valuable asset of military efficiency. Right on the verge of its becoming a law it is certainly no more than just that the efforts of Captain Cray, Lieutenant Halstead and others at. v Monti cello be given the opportunity to save this organization for that city, for the state and for the nation.