Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 173, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 August 1917 — TO ORGANIZE STATE MILITIA [ARTICLE]

TO ORGANIZE STATE MILITIA

J. M. SAUSER, THE CHAIRMAN OF MILITARY AFFAIRS, STARTS MOVEMENT.

There has been considerable discussion of the organization of a Home Guard in this county. J. M. Sauser, who is chairman of the military affairs of the Jasper County Council of Defense, has taken this matter up with the state council and in answer has been advised that in place of thd Home Guards he is asked to organize a militia company, for which the following plan is offered : I. GENERAL PLAN. 1. Local units may be organized in any county where the manifested interest seems to justify such an organization. 2. Various local units will be mustered in as regular units of the state militia as soon as qualified according to adopted regulations. (a) Regulations —1. Strength of 50 enlisted men and 3 officers; 2. Officers and men must pass a fairly rigid mental and physical examination. ,3. Enlistment to be for duration of war and for service within the gtate only. 4. No financial compensation will be given except in case of active duty, said compensation to not exceed that of national guard members. 5. Best of units mustered into state militia to be equipped as rapidly as possible. Equipped units to be distributed as generally as possible throughout the satte. 6. After being mustered in state militia units must drill air least once each week and must maintain an average attendance of at least 60 per cent, otherwise they will be subject to dismissal. 7. State militia to be subject to call of governor at all times. 8. qualification will be 18 to 45 years. Men of conscription age must be exempt from federal service to be eligible for state militia. 9. Number of units mustered in will probably have to be limited. 10. Units will be assigned to battalions and regiments as rapidly as pRIMARy STEPS 1. Secure services of press in campaign. Such information as now available will be sent to county organizers and disseminated throughout the county by him through the medium of the press. 2. Any town so desiring may begin orgnaizing at once with the understanding that the local unit will eventually become a part of the state militia provided it meets specified requirements. 3. The requirements will be explained through the press. 4. As soon as the requirements have been met by local units applications for mustering in as regular units of the state militia may be made to the State Council of Defense. All patriotic citizens, either natural born or naturalized, who desire to be enrolled in this organization and who can fulfill the above requirements, should apply immediately to the undersigned, statitag P. 0. address and telephone number. Greatlv undersized men should not apply. y J. M. SAUSER, County Organizer.