Col. Lewis Defends the Militia Against Corporate Capture

The battalion drill at the Armory Wednesday evening of Companies H, D and E was made the occasion of a sensational speech by Col. James Hamilton Lewis, in which he roundly scored those persons who are seeking to have the militia abolished, and who say it exists in the interest of corporations. His speech was greeted by rounds of applause and he proved the hero of the hour, the militiamen cheering him to the echo. Fully 1,500 people witnessed the drill and listened to the colonel's speech. Each of the three companies turned out its full complement of men.

During the dress parade Col. Lewis, who was but recently reappointed lieutenant colonel on the staff of Brigadier General Ashton, made his appearance and the 'boys' immediately called on him for a speech. He was formally introduced by Maj. E. S. Ingraham and after complimenting his superior, Gen. Ashton, he said:

'I am compelled, in the opportunity this occasion gives, to remind you, soldiers, that you are not without your opponents; you are surrounded by a strong contingent of citizens of this state who are seriously questioning your usefulness, or the fitness of your longer existence. These have, in their delegated ambassadors, besieged the gates of the capitol, and shadow the threshold of the legislative house; combining in opposition to any appropriation or legislation which looks to your further continuance, or reward for your past services. To these unreflective people you are held out as but an ornament in yourself and a burden to the state. They openly charge that you serve no purpose greater than that of the peacock, to strut in your gilded light and be persuaded that you are beautiful in the flattery of your colors. They deny the taxpayers' duty to maintain you. They slander the purpose of your organization. They do not hesitate to charge that you are now, in view of the election of your new brigadier general, but to be an annex to a certain railroad enterprise for the menacing of its employes, and the service of its personal desires. That such was the ultimate end agreed upon when the year began with your new election of officers. This unholy slander I believe is premeditated. As much as I deprecate it, I advise you not to treat it silently but to advance like soldiers and meet these libels and refute them. As for me—and I am sure I speak for all of you—should the hour come when the sovereignty of the state and the manhood of free citizenship would be ordered to surrender to the dictates of any private institution or other enterprise or against the plain duty of men and contrary to the plain demand of the law—in such a scene I would hasten to surrender my sword and fling back my ensign of authority at the feet of the state in disdain and defiance. (Cheers.) But conscious as we are that the purpose of the future, as has been the object of the past in the military organization, is but to preserve the law, uphold the institutions of the state, and stand as a guard against the outraging of law and peace of society, we will defend its existence against its maligners and insist that by the honorable record of its unblemished past, it be honored by the people and maintained by the state as becomes the dignity of a well organized militia preserved for the peace of the state.'

After the colonel's speech orders were read regarding the resignation of First Lieutenant and Quartermaster Sergeant Herman Chapin, and the promotion of Quartermaster Sergeant Albert Bryan, also the promotion of Color Sergeant Clough to regimental quartermaster sergeant. Following the drill was a banquet, during which a lunch was served by the lady managers of the Sarah B. Yesler Home, the proceeds to go toward the payment of taxes on the Armory.